Kelly Shoppach

Kelly Shoppach was a professional baseball player born in 1980, who played as a position player in Major League Baseball from 2005 until his retirement in 2013. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 572 games, accumulating 361 hits, including 70 home runs and 216 RBIs. Shoppach finished his playing days with a career batting average of .223 and recorded a single stolen base. His contributions as a catcher were marked by his strong defensive skills and ability to handle pitching staffs, which made him a valuable asset to the teams he played for. Shoppach's career unfolded during a period that saw a significant evolution in the role of catchers in baseball, with an increasing emphasis on offensive production alongside traditional defensive responsibilities. He played for several teams, including the Cleveland Indians, where he began to make a name for himself, and later stints with the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, and New York Mets, among others. While not known for a high batting average, Shoppach's power numbers were respectable for a player at his position, and he left a lasting impression on the teams he contributed to throughout his time in the league.