Mike Borzello

Michael Ross Borzello (born August 14, 1970) is a Major League catching coach for the Chicago Cubs.

Mike Borzello
Borzello with the Cubs in 2016
Chicago Cubs – No. 58
Catcher / Infielder / Pitcher / Coach
Born: (1970-08-14) August 14, 1970
Yonkers, New York
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Teams
Career highlights and awards

In June 1991, Mike Borzello signed with the St. Louis Cardinals.[1] After five years as a minor league catcher in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, he became a bullpen catcher and batting practice pitcher for the New York Yankees. He grew up in Tarzana and was a baseball player during his college years at California Lutheran University.[2] From 2007-2010, he was a Los Angeles Dodgers catching instructor.[3]

Early life

Borzello is the godson of former Major League manager Joe Torre, who was friends with Borzello's father.[4][5] His sister, Keri Borzello, was an NCAA Women's College World Series participant in 1994, as a catcher and first baseman for the Missouri Tigers. She later transferred to UCLA after a career ending rotator cuff injury.

Early in his life, a then-12-year-old Borzello had been serving as a batboy for the Atlanta Braves - at that time, managed by Torre - and found himself in the middle of a series of brawls between the Braves and the visiting San Diego Padres on August 12, 1984 at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium. "When the fans started throwing stuff and jumped onto the field, I was like, 'OK, I gotta get out of here,' Borzello later said.[6]

Career

Borzello graduated from Taft High School in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, and California Lutheran University.[5] He played as a catcher in Minor League Baseball in the farm system of the St. Louis Cardinals organization from 1991 through 1994, never getting above class A.[7]

Borzello participated in spring training "replacement player" games in 1995. In 1996, after his playing career ended, Torre offered him a job with the New York Yankees as a bullpen catcher and batting practice pitcher.[5] Borzello earned four World Series rings with the New York Yankees during the 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000 seasons

When Torre left the Yankees for the Dodgers in 2007, he brought Borzello with him as catching instructor.[8] In 2011, he left the Dodgers to join the Cubs as a coach, working with the catchers and scouting.[9] He earned another World Series ring with the Cubs in the 2016 World Series.

References
  1. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-06-13-sp-769-story.html
  2. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-aug-21-sp-24671-story.html
  3. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-mar-29-sp-briefing29-story.html
  4. Borzello was born in New York and raised in L.A. He attended University of New Mexico and graduated with a B.A. In Communication Arts from California Lutheran University
  5. DAVE DESMOND (1997-08-21). "From the Bushes to Yankee Bullpen". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
  6. NC Times Archived April 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine retrieved 10th March 2011
  7. "Mike Borzello Statistics (1991-1994)". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
  8. "Manager and Coaches | dodgers.com: Team". Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
  9. Cubs announce 2012 coaching staff
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