Kurt Suzuki
Born: 10/4/1983 in Wailuku, HI, USA
MLB Debut: 2007-06-12 | Final Game: 2022-10-04
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 210 lbs
Full name: Kurt Kiyoshi Suzuki
Biography
Kurt Suzuki, born in 1983, was a professional baseball player who had a distinguished career spanning from 2007 to 2022. Primarily known for his role as a catcher and position player, Suzuki appeared in 1,635 games over his 15 seasons in Major League Baseball. He established himself as a reliable offensive contributor, finishing his career with 1,421 hits, 143 home runs, and 730 runs batted in, culminating in a batting average of .255. His ability to handle pitchers and manage games behind the plate made him a valuable asset to every team he played for.
Suzuki was selected as an All-Star once during his career, highlighting his impact during the peak years of his playing days. As one of the veteran catchers in the league, he was known for his strong defensive skills, leadership qualities, and consistent offensive production, which included a total of 20 stolen bases. His career unfolded during an era of significant evolution in baseball, where the role of catchers expanded beyond just defensive duties, and Suzuki adapted well, becoming a respected figure in the clubhouse and a mentor to younger players. He retired with a notable legacy, remembered not just for his statistics but for his contributions to the teams he played for, including the Washington Nationals and the Oakland Athletics.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1635 | 5563 | 594 | 1421 | 295 | 6 | 143 | 730 | 20 | 387 | 751 | 0.255 | 0.314 | 0.388 | 0.702 | -4715.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | OAK | AL | 68 | 213 | 27 | 53 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 39 | 0 | 24 | 39 | 0.249 | -143.5 |
| 2008 | OAK | AL | 148 | 530 | 54 | 148 | 25 | 1 | 7 | 42 | 2 | 44 | 69 | 0.279 | -324.4 |
| 2009 | OAK | AL | 147 | 570 | 74 | 156 | 37 | 1 | 15 | 88 | 8 | 28 | 59 | 0.274 | -412.9 |
| 2010 | OAK | AL | 131 | 495 | 55 | 120 | 18 | 2 | 13 | 71 | 3 | 33 | 49 | 0.242 | -801.8 |
| 2011 | OAK | AL | 134 | 460 | 54 | 109 | 26 | 0 | 14 | 44 | 2 | 38 | 64 | 0.237 | -487.6 |
| 2012 | OAK | AL | 75 | 262 | 19 | 57 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 9 | 53 | 0.218 | -1261.1 |
| 2012 | WAS | NL | 43 | 146 | 17 | 39 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 25 | 1 | 11 | 20 | 0.267 | -1261.1 |
| 2013 | OAK | AL | 15 | 33 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.303 | 0.0 |
| 2013 | WAS | NL | 79 | 252 | 19 | 56 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 25 | 2 | 20 | 32 | 0.222 | 0.0 |
| 2014 | MIN | AL | 131 | 452 | 37 | 130 | 34 | 0 | 3 | 61 | 0 | 34 | 46 | 0.288 | 385.4 |
| 2015 | MIN | AL | 131 | 433 | 36 | 104 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 50 | 0 | 29 | 59 | 0.240 | -1255.0 |
| 2016 | MIN | AL | 106 | 345 | 34 | 89 | 24 | 1 | 8 | 49 | 0 | 18 | 48 | 0.258 | -391.2 |
| 2017 | ATL | NL | 81 | 276 | 38 | 78 | 13 | 0 | 19 | 50 | 0 | 17 | 39 | 0.283 | 952.7 |
| 2018 | ATL | NL | 105 | 347 | 45 | 94 | 24 | 0 | 12 | 50 | 0 | 22 | 43 | 0.271 | 418.5 |
| 2019 | WAS | NL | 85 | 280 | 37 | 74 | 11 | 0 | 17 | 63 | 0 | 20 | 36 | 0.264 | 340.1 |
| 2020 | WAS | NL | 33 | 111 | 15 | 30 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 1 | 11 | 19 | 0.270 | 23.9 |
| 2021 | LAA | AL | 72 | 219 | 17 | 49 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 16 | 0 | 12 | 44 | 0.224 | -484.5 |
| 2022 | LAA | AL | 51 | 139 | 10 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 29 | 0.180 | -484.9 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 55 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 0.164 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | NLCS | WAS | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0.125 |
| 2019 | NLDS1 | WAS | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0.000 |
| 2019 | WS | WAS | 3 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0.200 |
| 2019 | NLWC | WAS | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 2018 | NLDS2 | ATL | 4 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0.250 |
| 2012 | NLDS1 | WAS | 5 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0.235 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| C | 1540 | 1461 | 10869 | 596 | 73 | 62 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | OAK | C | 66 | 61 | 431 | 32 | 2 | 0 |
| 2008 | OAK | C | 141 | 136 | 927 | 53 | 6 | 4 |
| 2009 | OAK | C | 135 | 132 | 923 | 68 | 5 | 7 |
| 2010 | OAK | C | 123 | 121 | 825 | 35 | 8 | 5 |
| 2011 | OAK | C | 129 | 127 | 914 | 55 | 7 | 7 |
| 2012 | OAK | C | 75 | 72 | 491 | 37 | 2 | 4 |
| 2012 | WAS | C | 42 | 41 | 324 | 24 | 3 | 3 |
| 2013 | OAK | C | 15 | 9 | 65 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | WAS | C | 78 | 73 | 556 | 30 | 5 | 5 |
| 2014 | MIN | C | 119 | 115 | 737 | 39 | 4 | 1 |
| 2015 | MIN | C | 130 | 123 | 825 | 35 | 3 | 8 |
| 2016 | MIN | C | 99 | 92 | 679 | 28 | 5 | 2 |
| 2017 | ATL | C | 77 | 71 | 553 | 42 | 3 | 2 |
| 2018 | ATL | C | 93 | 83 | 744 | 33 | 5 | 5 |
| 2019 | WAS | C | 75 | 70 | 666 | 27 | 3 | 1 |
| 2020 | WAS | C | 30 | 30 | 271 | 10 | 0 | 2 |
| 2021 | LAA | C | 69 | 63 | 597 | 33 | 10 | 5 |
| 2022 | LAA | C | 44 | 42 | 341 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| 2022 | LAA | 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 1539 |
| First Base | 1 |
| Designated Hitter | 42 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | MIN | AL | $6,000,000 |
| 2015 | MIN | AL | $6,000,000 |
| 2014 | MIN | AL | $2,750,000 |
| 2013 | WAS | NL | $6,487,500 |
| 2012 | OAK | AL | $5,037,500 |
| 2011 | OAK | AL | $3,437,500 |
| 2010 | OAK | AL | $420,000 |
| 2009 | OAK | AL | $410,000 |
| 2008 | OAK | AL | $395,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $30,937,500 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State University Fullerton | Fullerton | CA | 2002, 2003, 2004 |