Thursday, July 5, 2018

Phillies Missing Links of the 2000s - #16 Matt Kata

#27
Matthew John Kata
Second Base

Reliever Tim Worrell missed nearly two months during the 2005 season with "personal psychological issues," and upon his return his set-up role had been assumed by the recently acquired Ugueth Urbina.  The Phillies dealt Worrell to the Diamondbacks on July 21st so that the veteran could be closer to his home in Scottsdale.  The return from the trade was utility infielder Matt Kata.

Kata played in five games for the Phillies, collecting his lone Phillies hit in his very first at-bat, before being sent down to the Red Barons for the month of August.  A September call-up, Kata was used sparingly in the final month of the season, pinch-running, pinch-hitting or coming in for a few late-inning double switches in five more games.  He was a late cut from spring training in 2006, claimed off waivers by the Reds.

Kata tied his career high in games played in 2007, suiting up 78 times for the Rangers and Pirates.  He played in 40 games for the 2009 Astros and then spent three complete seasons (2010-2012) playing for Triple-A Round Rock before calling it a career.

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  195
Born:  May 15, 1974, Waverly, IA
Drafted:  Drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 3rd round of the amateur player draft, June 22, 1996.
Major League Teams:  Oakland Athletics 1998-2000; Kansas City Royals 2001-2002; Detroit Tigers 2003; Phillies 2004
Professional Affiliations:  Oakland Athletics 1997-2000; Kansas City Royals 2001-2002; Detroit Tigers 2003; Phillies 2004-2005

Phillies Career
10 games as PH, PR, 2B, RF, SS - .167 (1 for 6), 1 run scored
Acquired:  July 21, 2005 - Acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks for Tim Worrell and cash.
Debut:  July 21, 2005 - Pinch-hit for Ryan Madson in the 7th and singled to center off the Padres' Clay Hensley.
Final Game:  September 16, 2005 - Replaced Chase Utley at second base in the 9th in a 13-3 blow-out win against the Marlins.
Departed:  March 15, 2016 - Selected off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds.

2003 Upper Deck #505
2003 Topps Traded #T199
2005 Topps #71
2005 Chachi #44
0 Kata Baseball Card in My Collection

Complete Chachi Checklist
2005 Chachi #44

Other Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  2003 Upper Deck #505
First Topps Base Card:  2003 Topps Traded #T199
Last Mainstream Card:  2005 Upper Deck #11
Other Notable Cards:  2004 Topps #562, 2004 Topps Heritage #395, 2005 Topps #71, 2005 Topps Total #296

Sources:  Baseball Reference and The Trading Card Database

Phillies Missing Links of the 2000s
1 Kirk Bullinger
2 Chris Pritchett
3 Bryan Ward
4 Mark Holzemer
5 Turner Ward
6 P.J. Forbes
7 Matt Walbeck
8 Kelly Stinnett
9 Valerio de los Santos
10 Josh Hancock
11 Brian Powell
12 Paul Abbott
13 Todd Jones
14 A.J. Hinch
15 Ramon Martinez
16 Matt Kata

This is a continuing series looking at those players who spent time with the Phillies but possess no baseball card proof of their time in Philadelphia.  In some cases, the First and Last Mainstream cards listed above have been subjectively chosen if multiple cards were released in that year.

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