Max Stassi

Max Robert Stassi (born March 15, 1991) is an American professional baseball catcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Oakland Athletics drafted him in the fourth round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft. In 2013, Stassi made his MLB debut with the Houston Astros.

Max Stassi
Stassi with the Los Angeles Angels in 2019
Los Angeles Angels – No. 33
Catcher
Born: (1991-03-15) March 15, 1991
Woodland, California
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 20, 2013, for the Houston Astros
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Batting average.216
Home runs19
Runs batted in63
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Amateur career and draft

Stassi attended Yuba City High School in Yuba City, California. He played for his school's baseball team, and was twice named The Sacramento Bee's player of the year.[1] Stassi also competed for the United States national baseball team, winning gold in the 2006 Pan American Games in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, and the International Baseball Federation's 16 and Under Baseball World Championship in 2007.[2] He finished his high school career with a .514 batting average, 40 home runs, and 162 runs batted in.[3] Stassi committed to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), to play college baseball for the UCLA Bruins.[1]

Heading into the 2009 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft, Sporting News called Stassi the best available high school catcher. Stassi made it clear that he expected a large signing bonus to agree to a professional contract. A potential first round pick, Stassi was not selected in the first three rounds, which Baseball America called "one of the biggest surprises" of the draft.[4] The Oakland Athletics selected Stassi in the fourth round, with the 123rd overall selection, of the draft.[5] He received a $1.5 million bonus, a record for a fourth round pick, forgoing his commitment to UCLA.[1] Stassi also negotiated in his contract that the Athletics would invite him to spring training with the major league team in 2010.[6]

Professional career

Stassi played for the Vancouver Canadians of the Class A-Short Season Northwest League, and batted .280/.345/.360.[6] In 2010, he performed well at spring training, impressing team officials, who assigned him to the Kane County Cougars of the Class A Midwest League, where he batted .229/.310/.380.[7][8][9]

He played for the Stockton Ports of the Class A-Advanced California League in 2011, batting .231/.331/.331,[7][10] but missed the end of the season with shoulder surgery. The Athletics invited him to spring training in 2012.[11] He batted .268 with 15 home runs and 45 RBIs in 84 games with Stockton during the 2012 season.[12]

Houston Astros

On February 4, 2013, the Athletics traded Stassi to the Houston Astros with Brad Peacock and Chris Carter for Jed Lowrie and Fernando Rodriguez.[12] Playing for the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Class AA Texas League in 2013, Stassi hit home runs in five consecutive games in July.[13] He was named the Texas League's player of the week twice in July,[14] and was named the Texas League's player of month for July.[15]

Stassi playing for the Oklahoma City RedHawks in 2014

The Astros promoted Stassi to the majors on August 20, 2013,[14] to serve as a backup to Jason Castro when the Astros placed Carlos Corporán on the disabled list. Making his MLB debut that day, he recorded two hits.[15] In his second MLB game, Stassi was hit in the face by a 96 miles per hour (154 km/h) fastball,[16] which resulted in his being placed on the disabled list.[17][18] Since the bases were loaded at the time he was plunked, he earned his first major-league RBI. Stassi began the 2014 season with the Oklahoma City RedHawks of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL).[19] He finished the season with the Houston Astros, batting .350 (7-for-20) and driving in four runs in seven games played.

Stassi played for the Fresno Grizzlies of the PCL in 2015, batting .211/.279/.384, before being promoted to the major leagues in August due to an injury to Castro.[7] [20] He played in 11 games for the Astros. Following the offseason trade of Hank Conger, Stassi entered spring training in 2016 expected to become the backup to Castro.[21] In March, he had surgery on a fractured hamate bone in his left wrist.[22] The Astros activated Stassi from the disabled list in May and optioned him to Fresno, where he batted 230/.294/.374.[23][7]

The Astros removed Stassi from their 40-man roster in March 2017. He played for Fresno before the Astros promoted him to the major leagues when Brian McCann was injured on August 14.[24] Stassi went on the disabled list on August 25 with left hand inflammation caused by a blister.[25] In 14 games in 2017, Stassi finished with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs and batted .167/.323/.458. The Astros finished the season 101-61, and eventually won the 2017 World Series, their first ever championship. Stassi did not see any postseason action, but was still on the 40-man roster at the time and won his first championship title.[26]

Stassi playing for the Houston Astros in 2018

Stassi was named to the Astros' Opening Day roster in 2018 as a backup to McCann.[27] In 221 at bats in 2018 he batted .226/.316/.394. On June 26, Stassi came into the game as pitcher in the 9th inning in a blow out loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In 2019, Stassi had a limited role with the Astros as a backup catcher to Robinson Chirinos and only appeared in 31 games where he had just 15 hits in 90 at-bats with one homerun and three RBIs.

Los Angeles Angels

On July 31, 2019, the Astros traded Stassi to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for minor leaguers Rainier Rivas and Raider Uceta.[28]

In 2020, on defense he led major league catchers in stolen bases allowed, with 32, in 31 games.[29][30] On the offensive side, he hit .278 with 7 home runs and 20 RBI.

Personal life

Stassi's father, grandfather, and great-grandfather played as catchers in minor league baseball. His father, Jim, coached him at Yuba City.[31] Max's great uncle, Myril Hoag, played in three World Series, batting .320 in them.[32][33] His brother, Brock Stassi, has also played in MLB. Max and Brock Stassi have raised more than $100,000 with an annual charity event held in Yuba City, called "Homers for the Hungry." The money goes to local food banks.[34]

References
  1. "Stassi takes bonus over Bruins. UCLA Ride is Off; Yuba City Grad Gets $1.5 Million Bonus From A's". The Sacramento Bee. August 18, 2009. p. C5. Retrieved December 18, 2012. (subscription required)
  2. "Max Stassi catches on with USA". Marysville, California: Appeal-Democrat. August 11, 2007. Archived from the original on August 23, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  3. Klocke, Ryan (August 12, 2009). "Decision time approaching for Stassi | stassi, offer, round - Local Sports". Appeal-Democrat. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  4. Paterson, Bill. "Prep Blog: Oakland scouting director loves Stassi, but can they sign him?". Sacbee.com. Archived from the original on June 15, 2009. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  5. "A's pick Stassi in fourth; Phils tab Susac". The Sacramento Bee. June 11, 2009. p. C8. Retrieved August 23, 2013. (subscription required)
  6. "Stassi gets Spring Training invite | stassi, training, spring - Local Sports". Appeal-Democrat. December 14, 2009. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  7. "Max Stassi Minor, Fall & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. "The ups and downs | stassi, three, team - Local Sports". Appeal-Democrat. April 26, 2010. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  9. "Yuba City's Cates, Stassi prepare for full seasons | cat - Local Sports". Appeal-Democrat. April 7, 2010. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  10. The Record (April 22, 2011). "Stassi's slam leads slugfest". Recordnet.com. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  11. "National media spotlight awaits Manny Ramirez' arrival to Oakland A's camp - San Jose Mercury News". Mercurynews.com. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  12. Smith, Brian T. (February 4, 2013). "Ultimate Astros » Astros trade Jed Lowrie to Oakland in 5-player deal". Blog.chron.com. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  13. Cahill, Teddy (July 22, 2013). "Houston Astros prospect Max Stassi hit his fifth home run in as many games Sunday". MLB.com. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
  14. McTaggart, Brian (August 20, 2013). "Catcher Stassi, righty Martinez called up by Astros". MLB.com. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
  15. Tesfatsion, Master (August 21, 2013). "Memorable debut for Stassi includes two hits: DH also commits rare baserunning mistake in eventful first game". MLB.com. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  16. Kruth, Cash (May 24, 2013). "Astros catcher Max Stassi's CAT scan, X-ray results rule out fracture". MLB.com. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  17. de Jesus Ortiz, Jose (August 23, 2013). "Ultimate Astros » Stassi goes on 7-day DL, Cody Clark gets a shot in the majors". Blog.chron.com. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  18. "Catching prospect Max Stassi putting injuries behind him". Ultimate Astros. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  19. "OKC RedHawks catcher Max Stassi on the way back". NewsOK.com. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  20. "Astros welcome catcher Max Stassi back as Jason Castro lands on DL". Ultimate Astros. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  21. "Jason Castro, Max Stassi to catch for Astros". Major League Baseball. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  22. Jose de Jesus Ortiz (March 15, 2016). "Astros catcher Max Stassi has wrist surgery". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  23. Kaplan, Jake (May 8, 2016). "Astros activate Max Stassi from DL, option him to Class AAA". Houston Chronicle.
  24. Kaplan, Jake (August 14, 2017). "Astros place Brian McCann on disabled list". Houston Chronicle.
  25. Kaplan, Jake (August 25, 2017). "Astros activate Evan Gattis from disabled list". Houston Chronicle.
  26. McTaggart, Brian; Gurnick, Ken. "Houston Astros win 2017 World Series". MLB. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  27. "Stassi makes Astros' Opening Day roster". MLB.com.
  28. "Angels pick up catcher Max Stassi before trade deadline". July 31, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  29. "2020 American League Catcher". Baseball-Reference.com.
  30. "2020 Major League Baseball Fielding Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  31. Bryan DeMain/Appeal-Democrat (April 20, 2009). "One of the nation's best | stassi, year, jim - Top Stories". Appeal-Democrat. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  32. Winston, Lisa (May 13, 2009). "Bloodlines run deep during Draft". MLB.com. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  33. "All in the Family: Yuba City is grateful the three Stassi boys have continued a tradition". The Sacramento Bee. April 25, 2007. p. C1. Retrieved August 23, 2013. (subscription required)
  34. Appeal-Democrat newspaper, November 30, 2014
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