Matt Walbeck
Born: 10/2/1969 in Sacramento, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1993-04-07 | Final Game: 2003-09-28
Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 195 lbs
Full name: Matthew Lovick Walbeck
Biography
Matt Walbeck was a professional baseball player born in 1969, who played as a position player in Major League Baseball from 1993 to 2003. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 682 games, where he showcased his skills primarily as a catcher and utility player. Walbeck recorded a total of 492 hits, with 28 home runs and 208 runs batted in, culminating in a career batting average of .233. Known for his defensive capabilities behind the plate, he also demonstrated speed on the bases, stealing 13 bases throughout his tenure in the league.
Walbeck's career unfolded during a transformative era in baseball, marked by the increase in offensive production and a focus on power hitting. While his statistics may not reflect the prolific power of some of his contemporaries, he was valued for his versatility and resilience. After retiring from playing, Walbeck continued to contribute to the game, transitioning into coaching and player development roles, influencing a new generation of players with his extensive experience and knowledge of the sport.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 682 | 2109 | 215 | 492 | 79 | 5 | 28 | 208 | 13 | 133 | 343 | 0.233 | 0.280 | 0.315 | 0.596 | -8910.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | CHC | NL | 11 | 30 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1994 | MIN | AL | 97 | 338 | 31 | 69 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 35 | 1 | 17 | 37 | 0.204 | -2054.8 |
| 1995 | MIN | AL | 115 | 393 | 40 | 101 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 44 | 3 | 25 | 71 | 0.257 | -1436.4 |
| 1996 | MIN | AL | 63 | 215 | 25 | 48 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 24 | 3 | 9 | 34 | 0.223 | -1180.5 |
| 1997 | DET | AL | 47 | 137 | 18 | 38 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 12 | 19 | 0.277 | -186.3 |
| 1998 | LAA | AL | 108 | 338 | 41 | 87 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 46 | 1 | 30 | 68 | 0.257 | -655.0 |
| 1999 | LAA | AL | 107 | 288 | 26 | 69 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 2 | 26 | 46 | 0.240 | -1190.2 |
| 2000 | LAA | AL | 47 | 146 | 17 | 29 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 7 | 22 | 0.199 | -671.9 |
| 2001 | PHI | NL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.0 |
| 2002 | DET | AL | 27 | 85 | 4 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0.235 | -454.6 |
| 2003 | DET | AL | 59 | 138 | 11 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 26 | 0.174 | -1080.6 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| C | 651 | 565 | 3303 | 248 | 34 | 25 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | CHN | C | 11 | 7 | 49 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | MIN | C | 95 | 89 | 496 | 45 | 4 | 3 |
| 1995 | MIN | C | 113 | 107 | 604 | 35 | 6 | 3 |
| 1996 | MIN | C | 61 | 54 | 326 | 19 | 2 | 2 |
| 1997 | DET | C | 44 | 38 | 240 | 15 | 3 | 2 |
| 1998 | ANA | C | 104 | 91 | 682 | 46 | 7 | 3 |
| 1999 | ANA | C | 97 | 79 | 407 | 46 | 5 | 9 |
| 2000 | ANA | C | 44 | 38 | 200 | 16 | 2 | 0 |
| 2000 | ANA | 1B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 | DET | C | 27 | 24 | 127 | 8 | 1 | 2 |
| 2003 | DET | C | 55 | 38 | 172 | 16 | 4 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 651 |
| First Base | 2 |
| Designated Hitter | 6 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | DET | AL | $400,000 |
| 2000 | ANA | AL | $925,000 |
| 1999 | ANA | AL | $825,000 |
| 1998 | ANA | AL | $700,000 |
| 1997 | DET | AL | $550,000 |
| 1996 | MIN | AL | $225,000 |
| 1995 | MIN | AL | $166,000 |
| 1994 | MIN | AL | $115,000 |
| 1993 | CHN | NL | $109,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $4,015,000 | ||