Mike Napoli

Michael Anthony Napoli (born October 31, 1981) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and catcher who is currently the first base coach for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB).

He was selected in the 17th round (500th overall) of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft, then played in MLB for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, and Cleveland Indians.

He signed a letter of intent to play college baseball for Louisiana State, but instead signed with the Anaheim Angels after being selected in the 17th round (500th overall) of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft.

Napoli began his professional career with the rookie-level Butte Copper Kings, batting .231, but sat out most of the year after suffering a lower back strain.

He returned in 2001 with the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, batting .200, before transferring to Single-A Cedar Rapids, where he batted .232.

In 2002, he returned to Cedar Rapids, hitting .251 with 10 home runs and 50 runs batted in (RBIs) and 104 strikeouts in 362 at bats as the Kernels' primary designated hitter.

He also started at catcher for 37 games.

After being transferred to Rancho Cucamonga in 2003, he only played 47 games after injuring his right shoulder.

In 2004, he hit .282 with 29 home runs and 118 RBI, ranking seventh in RBIs and ninth in walks in all of the minor leagues, with 166 strikeouts (leading the California League) in 482 at bats.

Napoli played for the Águilas Cibaeñas of Santiago in the Dominican Republic during the winters of 2004 and 2005.

In 2005, he was promoted to Double-A Arkansas, batting .237 with 140 strikeouts (3rd in the Texas League) in 439 at bats and 14 errors at catcher in 109 games, and finishing second in the league in extra-base hits and fifth in runs scored.

Napoli made his Major League Baseball debut on May 4, 2006, against the Detroit Tigers in Comerica Park, and hit a home run in his first Major League at-bat off starting pitcher Justin Verlander.

Eventually, Napoli worked his way to become the Angels' regular starting catcher.

In 2006, Napoli hit .228 with 16 home runs in 268 at-bats.

He was fourth among AL catchers in errors, with eight, in 96 games at catcher.

Napoli began 2007 as the Opening Day starting catcher, and split time with José Molina through the first half of the season.

The second half of the season was injury-marred for Napoli, as he suffered a sprained ankle on a game-winning play at the plate during the final game before the All-Star break, causing him to miss 12 games.

He then suffered a strained hamstring only five games after returning, causing him to miss all of August.

For the season, Napoli hit .247 with 10 home runs, appearing in only 75 games.

He was fifth among AL catchers in errors, with seven.

Napoli again was the Angels' Opening Day starter at catcher, and after recovering from his 2007 injuries, began the 2008 season by hitting six home runs in April.

Napoli continued to share time behind the plate with Jeff Mathis, who had assumed the back-up duties after the Angels' trade of Molina during the 2007 season.

Napoli again was injured in July, causing him to miss 28 games with shoulder issues.

However, after recovering from the injury, Napoli led all of Major League Baseball with a .457 batting average in the month of September.

For the season, Napoli tallied a .273 batting average and 20 home runs, both career highs, and a .960 OPS.

On defense, he was fifth in the AL in passed balls, with seven.

The Angels won the 2008 American League West Division championship, with a 100–62 record.

During Game 3 of the 2008 American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox, with the Red Sox holding a 2–0 series lead, Napoli hit two home runs against Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Beckett, helping extend the game into extra innings.

In 2009 he led all American League catchers in errors, and in 2016 he led all AL first basemen in errors.

Born in Hollywood, Florida, Napoli attended Charles W. Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines, Florida.

Napoli continued to compete with Jeff Mathis for the leading catching spot in 2009.

He also started 18 games at designated hitter while teammate Vladimir Guerrero was injured.

Napoli set or matched career highs in games played (114), at bats (382), runs scored (60), hits (104), doubles (22), and RBIs (56).

He also finished the season with a .272 batting average and hit 20 home runs for the second season in a row.

On defense, he led AL catchers in errors, with eight, and allowed 74 stolen bases (fifth-most in the AL).

In 2010, the Angels reduced Napoli's playing time at DH after signing Japanese slugger Hideki Matsui.

Napoli went into spring training with a bigger glove and worked on fundamentals in hopes of getting more playing time as a catcher.

He then singled and scored the game-winning run in the 11th inning, helping the Angels avoid playoff elimination.

Up to 2013, Napoli was primarily a catcher.

He holds the all-time single-season records for most strikeouts by both a Red Sox player and an Indians player.