June 14, 2007

Nikkei Catcher Kurt Suzuki Makes Debut for Oakland

From the Nichi Bei

Catcher Kurt Kiyoshi Suzuki, the former College World Series MVP while at Cal State Fullerton, has made it to the show.

He was called up on June 10 to take the place of Oakland Athletics backup catcher Adam Melhuse, who was traded to the Texas Rangers a day earlier. With veteran starter Jason Kendall in the last year of his contract, Suzuki, 23, may be the catcher of the future.

"It’s awesome," Suzuki told MLB.com before the finale of a three-game series against the host San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.

In 55 games with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, Suzuki was batting .280 with three home runs and 27 RBI. Suzuki, who bats and throws right-handed, had been heralded for his defensive work.

"He’s a very, very good defensively," A’s Director of Player Development Keith Lieppman said recently, as quoted on MLB.com. "There’s some room for growth there offensively, but behind the plate he’s as close to being ready for the big leagues as a prospect can be."

Selected in the second round of the June 2004 draft, the 6-foot, 205-pound native of Wailuku, Hawai’i won the Johnny Bench Award, given annually to the nation’s top collegiate catcher.

In his first game on June 12, Suzuki grounded out to third in the 10th inning in a 5 to 4, 11-inning loss to the Houston Astros.