Matt Quatraro

Matthew John Quatraro (born November 14, 1973) is an American professional baseball former minor league player and minor league manager, and current coach. He is the bench coach of the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Matt Quatraro
Tampa Bay Rays – No. 33
Coach
Born: (1973-11-14) November 14, 1973
East Selkirk, New York
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Teams

Quatraro played college baseball for Old Dominion University from 1993 through 1996, where he was named an All-American. Quatraro played in the minors from 1996 through 2003, without reaching the majors. 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

Quatraro attended Bethlehem Central High School in Delmar, New York, graduating in 1992.[1] 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.[2] 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[3] 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.[4]

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays selected Quatraro in the eighth round of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft.[5] 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.[1] 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.[5]

Coaching and managing career

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.[6][7] He managed the Columbus Catfish of the Class A South Atlantic League (SAL) in 2008,[8] and the Bowling Green Hot Rods, also in the SAL, in 2009.[9]

Quatraro also served as an assistant coach for the University at Albany Great Danes baseball team from 2004 through 2008.[10][11]

From 2010 through 2013, Quatraro was the minor league hitting coordinator for the Tampa Bay Rays.[5][12] The Cleveland Indians hired Quatraro to their major league staff as their assistant hitting coach for the 2014 season.[5] The Rays hired him as their third base coach after the 2017 season.[13] When Charlie Montoyo was hired as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays after the 2018 season, the Rays promoted Quatraro to bench coach.[14]

Personal life

In 2004, Quatraro was inducted into the Old Dominion University Sports Hall of Fame.[15] Quatraro graduated from Old Dominion with a History degree.[16]

References
  1. Jonas, Rob (July 12, 2006). "Q's new path". Spotlightnews.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  2. 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)
  3. "Star Track: Matt Quatraro". Newport News, Virginia: Daily Press. June 29, 2006. p. B.2. Retrieved November 15, 2013. (subscription required)
  4. "Star Track: Matt Quatraro". Daily Press. August 24, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  5. Bastian, Jordan (November 13, 2013). "Indians to hire Matt Quatraro as assistant hitting coach". MLB.com. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  6. Witt, Kevin (January 20, 2006). "Quatraro will manage Renegades". Times Herald-Record. recordonline.com. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  7. "5 questions with former Renegades manager Matt Quatraro". recordonline.com. June 27, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  8. "Star Track: Matt Quatraro". The Daily Press. August 24, 2008. Retrieved November 15, 2013. (subscription required)
  9. 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)
  10. Leif Skodnick (August 18, 2018). "Skodnick: Quatraro helping Rays take the next step". Times Union. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  11. "University at Albany, The State University of New York". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  12. McMann, Sean T. (June 23, 2010). "Quatraro returns to Dutchess Stadium as hitting instructor". The Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved November 15, 2013. (subscription required)
  13. 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.
  14. https://www.mlb.com/news/matt-quatraro-promoted-to-rays-bench-coach/c-300038896
  15. "SESSOMS AMONG 5 ODU WILL INDUCT INTO HALL". The Virginian-Pilot. April 4, 2004. p. C9. Retrieved November 19, 2013. (subscription required)
  16. "Rays Roster & Staff: Matt Quatraro #33". MLB.com. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
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