born october american retired professional baseball player played seasons major_league_baseball mlb outfielder considered played professionally appearing mlb games minor league games hitting coach season contract renewed alumnus played college baseball knights baseball team highly regarded prospect selected cincinnati_reds fifth overall selection mlb draft played minor league baseball different organizations receiving major league playing time cincinnati_reds florida baltimore_orioles received playing time began mentor younger teammates helped transition coaching career career amateur career attended thomas high school florida graduating leading high school players batting average home runs runs batted rbis senior named florida class state team high school baltimore_orioles selected tenth round overall selection sign opting pursue college baseball career enrolled chose attend closer home played knights baseball team ncaa division freshman hit games hit home run gained pounds sophomore season sophomore named player week april batting home run rbis games season batted home runs rbis college offseason played collegiate summer baseball junior season batted home runs tying single season record professional scouts considered round prospect intelligence size ability hit power strong throwing arm running speed instincts polish professional career cincinnati_reds drafted round major_league_baseball draft fifth overall selection selection ahead signed reds day draft receiving signing bonus attended united_states national baseball team summer olympics want contract status mind athlete selected round mlb draft professional season led championship batting home runs runs batted rbis rated best prospect baseball season playing season time batted salem spirits home runs led class advanced league rbis named outfielder season prior season rated 43rd best prospect baseball started season class southern league receiving promotion class aaa indianapolis indians international_league season despite minor league success path reds blocked reds spring training season general manager commented needed minor league promoted reds major league debut cincinnati_reds april games reds batted home runs rbis indianapolis batted home runs rbis stolen bases games considered prospect reds held winter league baseball offseason reds added outfield competition season prompting question reds commitment spent season minors reds traded texas_rangers player named later april spent season class aaa pacific coast league suffered broken thumb required surgery limiting season granted free agency season signed chicago_white_sox season batted hits doubles home runs syracuse class aaa affiliate batted games bats hits runs doubles triples home runs rbi walks stolen bases strikeouts led league home runs slugging percentage second highest rbi fourth league hits extra base hits seventh highest batting average named outfielder won named minor league player year season earned promotion september season traded player named later cash played class aaa affiliate appeared games returned syracuse began season organization playing released signed boston_red_sox june replace signed play japan class aaa red signed season splitting time mlb returned organization playing syracuse promoted mlb spent majority seasons syracuse transition coaching retired season final seasons began play serve mentor younger players making transition coaching career season accepted job hitting coach rookie level october announced minor league hitting instructor season hitting coach las_vegas toronto triple affiliate time november promoted hitting coach season october announced returning season november hired minor league hitting personal born georgia grew florida signed reds bought parents house father died heart attack age october mother works administrative assistant school florida met wife emily played school team son luke
Chad Mottola