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Matt Quatraro

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Matt Quatraro
Kansas City Royals – No. 33
Coach / Manager
Born: (1973-11-14) November 14, 1973 (age 50)
Selkirk, New York, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Career statistics
(through 2024)
Managerial record142–182
Winning %.438
Teams
As coach
As manager

Matthew John Quatraro (/kwɑːˈtrɛəroʊ/ kwah-TRAIR-oh;[1] born November 14, 1973) is an American professional baseball former minor league player, minor league manager, and major league coach, and the current manager of the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was previously the bench coach for the Tampa Bay Rays from 2019 to 2022.

Quatraro played college baseball for the Old Dominion Monarchs baseball team from 1993 through 1996, where he was named an All-American. Quatraro played in the minors from 1996 through 2003, without reaching the majors. While primarily a catcher, he also spent significant time at first base and left field, and occasionally played right field and third base.[2]

He began coaching in 2004, and was enshrined in the Old Dominion University Sports Hall of Fame that year. He was the assistant hitting coach for MLB's Cleveland Indians from 2014 through 2017, and served as the Rays' third base coach in 2018.

Playing career

[edit]

Quatraro attended Bethlehem Central High School in Delmar, New York, graduating in 1992.[3] He then enrolled at Old Dominion University. He played college baseball for the Old Dominion Monarchs baseball team in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). As a sophomore in 1994, Quatraro won the CAA Tournament Most Valuable Player Award and was named to the CAA's second-team as a first baseman.[4] In 1994 and 1995, Quatraro played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[5][6] He was named to the CAA's first-team as a catcher in 1995 and 1996, his junior and senior seasons. Quatraro, who hit .400 for his entire career at ODU was also named first team CoSIDA Academic All-American in 1996[7] As a senior, he was named a second team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association and a third team All-American by Collegiate Baseball.[8]

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays selected Quatraro in the eighth round of the 1996 Major League Baseball draft.[9] Though he reached Class AAA, the highest level in Minor League Baseball, Quatraro did not play in the major leagues. The Devil Rays released Quatraro after the 2002 season. He signed with the New York Yankees organization for the 2003 season, but the Yankees released him during spring training.[3] As a player, Quatraro had a career .286 batting average, 23 home runs, and 202 runs batted in in 415 games played in Minor League Baseball, without reaching the majors.[9]

Coaching and managing career

[edit]

After retiring as a player, Quatraro worked as a manager and catching instructor in the Devil Rays' minor league system. He served as the hitting coach of the Hudson Valley Renegades of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League in the 2004 and 2005 seasons, and managed the Renegades in 2006 and 2007.[10][11] He managed the Columbus Catfish of the Class A South Atlantic League (SAL) in 2008,[12] and the Bowling Green Hot Rods, also in the SAL, in 2009.[13]

Quatraro also served as an assistant coach for the University at Albany Great Danes baseball team from 2004 through 2008.[14]

From 2010 through 2013, Quatraro was the minor league hitting coordinator for the Tampa Bay Rays.[9][15] The Cleveland Indians hired Quatraro to their major league staff as their assistant hitting coach for the 2014 season.[9] The Rays hired him as their third base coach after the 2017 season.[16] When Charlie Montoyo was hired as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays after the 2018 season, the Rays promoted Quatraro to bench coach.[17] After the 2021 season, he interviewed with the Oakland Athletics and New York Mets for their open managerial positions.[18]

On October 30, 2022, the Kansas City Royals hired Quatraro as their manager. In his first season with the team, the Royals went 56–106 (.346), second worst in the MLB only to the Oakland Athletics, whose record in the 2023 season was 50–112 (.309). The 2023 Royals tied the 2005 Royals squad for the lowest winning percentage in a season in franchise history (.346). [19][20]

Quatraro's second season started much better than his first. He led the Royals to a 31-19 (.620) record through the first 50 games of the season, tying the 1976 Royals for the best start of a season through 50 games in franchise history.[21]

Managerial record

[edit]
As of 2024 season
Team Year Regular season Postseason
Games Won Lost Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
KC 2023 162 56 106 .346 5th in AL Central – – –
KC 2024 162 86 76 .531 2nd in AL Central 3 3 .500 Lost ALDS (NYY)
Total 324 142 182 .438 3 3 .500

Personal life

[edit]

Quatraro is of Italian descent.[22] In 2004, he was inducted into the Old Dominion University Sports Hall of Fame.[23] Quatraro graduated from Old Dominion with a History degree.[24]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Stimpert, Michael. "Indians Name Matt Quatraro Major League Assistant Hitting Coach," Cleveland Guardians, Thursday, November 21, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  2. ^ "Matt Quatraro Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Jonas, Rob (July 12, 2006). "Q's new path". Spotlightnews.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  4. ^ Black, James C. (May 13, 1996). "DRAFT REMAINS UNCERTAIN FOR ODU'S QUATRARO EVEN WITH BIG NUMBERS, THE MAJOR LEAGUE DRAFT IS "A STRANGE PROCESS."". The Virginian-Pilot. p. C6. Retrieved November 19, 2013. (subscription required)
  5. ^ Eldred, Rich (July 19, 1994). "Mariners Catch a Breeze, Win Three Straight". The Cape Codder. Orleans, MA. pp. 10, 11.
  6. ^ "Cape Cod Baseball League Roundup". The Cape Codder. Orleans, MA. July 7, 1995. p. 23.
  7. ^ "Star Track: Matt Quatraro". Newport News, Virginia: Daily Press. June 29, 2006. p. B.2. ProQuest 343382078. Retrieved November 15, 2013. (subscription required)
  8. ^ "Star Track: Matt Quatraro". Daily Press. August 24, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  9. ^ a b c d Bastian, Jordan (November 13, 2013). "Indians to hire Matt Quatraro as assistant hitting coach". MLB.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  10. ^ Witt, Kevin (January 20, 2006). "Quatraro will manage Renegades". Times Herald-Record. recordonline.com. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  11. ^ "5 questions with former Renegades manager Matt Quatraro". recordonline.com. June 27, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  12. ^ "Star Track: Matt Quatraro". The Daily Press. August 24, 2008. ProQuest 343586951. Retrieved November 15, 2013. (subscription required)
  13. ^ Pike, Daniel (January 8, 2009). "Quatraro picked to lead BG Hot Rods: Manager a veteran of Rays' organization, minor leagues". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved November 15, 2013. (subscription required)
  14. ^ Leif Skodnick (August 18, 2018). "Skodnick: Quatraro helping Rays take the next step". Times Union. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  15. ^ McMann, Sean T. (June 23, 2010). "Quatraro returns to Dutchess Stadium as hitting instructor". The Poughkeepsie Journal. ProQuest 507875995. Retrieved November 15, 2013. (subscription required)
  16. ^ Hoynes, Paul (October 24, 2017). "Tampa Bay hires Cleveland Indians hitting coach Matt Quatraro as third base coach". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  17. ^ "Rays promote Quatraro to bench coach". MLB.com.
  18. ^ "Rays' Matt Quatraro interviews with A's, will talk next to Mets". Tampa Bay Times.
  19. ^ "Royals hire Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro as manager". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 30, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  20. ^ Rogers, Anne (October 30, 2022). "Royals hire Matt Quatraro as next manager". MLB.com. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  21. ^ "Kansas City Royals' win-loss record through the first 50 games of each season in franchise history, in order from most to fewest wins". Stathead. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  22. ^ Vaccaro, Chris (July 13, 2021). "Italian Americans Make 2021 MLB All-Star Roster as Players, Coaches, Officials – Italian American Baseball Foundation". Italian American Baseball Foundation.
  23. ^ "SESSOMS AMONG 5 ODU WILL INDUCT INTO HALL". The Virginian-Pilot. April 4, 2004. p. C9. Retrieved November 19, 2013. (subscription required)
  24. ^ "Rays Roster & Staff: Matt Quatraro #33". MLB.com. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
[edit]
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Position Created
 Cleveland Indians assistant hitting coach
2014–2017 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Tampa Bay Rays third base coach
2018 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Tampa Bay Rays bench coach
2019–2022 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Kansas City Royals manager
2023–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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