Mark Kolozsvary
Kolozsvary with the Dayton Dragons in 2018
Boston Red Sox
Catcher
Born: (1995-09-04) September 4, 1995 (age 28)
Eustis, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 20, 2022, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.200
Home runs1
Runs batted in3
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2020 Tokyo Team

Mark Daniel Kolozsvary (/ˈkoʊloʊzvɑːriː/ KOH-lohz-var-ee;[1] born September 4, 1995) is an American professional baseball catcher in the Boston Red Sox organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles. He was drafted by the Reds in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB draft.

Career

Amateur career

Kolozsvary attended Mount Dora Christian Academy in Mount Dora, Florida, and transferred to Tavares High School in Tavares, Florida, for his senior year.[2] He enrolled at the University of Florida, where he played college baseball for the Florida Gators. With the Gators, he was a member of the 2017 College World Series (CWS).[3] Kolozsvary had one plate appearance during the CWS, hitting a single off of Nick Lodolo.[4]

Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds selected Kolozsvary in the seventh round, 197th overall, of the 2017 MLB draft,[2] and he signed with the team.[5] He made his professional debut with the rookie-level Billings Mustangs, posting a .305/.362/.411 slash in 28 games. In 2018, Kolozsvary played for the Single-A Dayton Dragons, where he hit .225/.310/.324 with 3 home runs and 27 RBI. The following season, Kolozsvary received a promotion to the High-A Daytona Tortugas, and slashed .188/.341/.321 in 79 games with the team.[6]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season, the Reds included Kolozsvary in their 60-man player pool at their alternate site, but did not see any game time in the major leagues.[7] Kolozsvary was assigned to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts to begin the 2021 season. In August, the Reds promoted him to the Triple-A Louisville Bats.[8] On September 20, 2021, Cincinnati selected Kolozsvary's contact and added him to the active roster,[9] but he was optioned back on September 22 without making an appearance with the Reds.[10]

Kolozsvary began the 2022 season with Chattanooga. He was selected to the 40-man roster and made his major league debut on April 20, appearing as a defensive substitute for the Reds.[11] On April 28, Kolozsvary collected his first MLB hit and RBI, lacing a double off of San Diego Padres starter and former Team USA teammate Nick Martinez.[12] On July 23, Kolozsvary hit his first career home run, a solo shot off of Junior Fernández of the St. Louis Cardinals.[13]

Baltimore Orioles

On October 14, 2022, Kolozsvary was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles.[14] On November 19, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides.

Kolozsvary was assigned to the Double–A Bowie Baysox to begin the 2023 season, and was quickly elevated to Triple–A Norfolk. In 20 games for Norfolk, he struggled to a .162/.250/.265 batting line with 2 home runs and 7 RBI. On June 13, 2023, Kolozsvary was selected to the major league roster after Ryan Mountcastle was placed on the injured list with vertigo.[15] He appeared as a defensive replacement for Adley Rutschman in that day's game against the Toronto Blue Jays, and was optioned to Triple–A the following day.[16] Kolozsvary was designated for assignment by the Orioles on June 14, following the promotion of Reed Garrett.[17] On June 16, he cleared waivers and elected free agency in lieu of an outright assignment.[18]

Minnesota Twins

On June 20, 2023, Kolozsvary signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins.[19] He played in six games for the Triple–A St. Paul Saints, going 3–for–14 (.214) with one home run and four RBI. Kolozsvary elected free agency following the season on November 6.[20]

Boston Red Sox

On December 22, 2023, Kolozsvary signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox.[21]

International career

Kolozsvary played for the United States national baseball team for qualifying for baseball at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[22] After the team qualified, he was named to the Olympics roster on July 2.[23][24] The team went on to win silver, falling to Japan in the gold-medal game.[25]

References

  1. ^ Nichols, Tom. "Hunter Greene Headlines Dragons 2018 Roster," Dayton Dragons, Monday, April 2, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Frank Jolley (June 14, 2017). "Tavares, MDCA standout Mark Kolozsvary drafted by Reds - Sports". Dailycommercial.com. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  3. ^ "Champions!". Daily Commercial. June 29, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  4. ^ "From unknown to Olympic starter, Reds' Mark Kolozsvary is making the most of his chance in Tokyo". The Athletic. August 4, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  5. ^ Florida Catcher Mark Kolozsvary Signs With Cincinnati Reds (July 7, 2017). "Florida Catcher Mark Kolozsvary Signs With Cincinnati Reds - ESPN 98.1 FM - 850 AM WRUF". Wruf.com. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  6. ^ "Mark Kolozsvary Amateur, College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History".
  7. ^ "Cincinnati Reds add prospect Hunter Greene to alternate camp site". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  8. ^ "Saturday's top prospect performers". MLB.com.
  9. ^ "Reds Select Mark Kolozsvary". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  10. ^ "Reds' Mark Kolozsvary: Sent to minors". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  11. ^ "Reds 0, Padres 6 (Final Score)". MLB.com. April 20, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  12. ^ https://www.mlb.com/video/nick-martinez-in-play-run-s-to-mark-kolozsvary
  13. ^ "Cardinals even up series with a 6-3 over the Reds on Saturday". redlegnation.com. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  14. ^ Polishuk, Mark. "Orioles Designate Louis Head, Beau Sulser; Claim Aramis Garcia, Mark Kolozsvary," MLB Trade Rumors, Friday, October 14, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  15. ^ "Orioles' Mark Kolozsvary: Selected from Norfolk". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  16. ^ "Orioles' Mark Kolozsvary: Optioned to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  17. ^ "Orioles' Mark Kolozsvary: Dropped from 40-man roster". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  18. ^ "Mark Kolozsvary: Elects free agency". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  19. ^ https://www.mlb.com/twins/roster/transactions
  20. ^ "2023 MiLB Free Agents". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  21. ^ "Red Sox's Mark Kolozsvary: Receives NRI from Boston". cbssports.com. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  22. ^ "Team USA Announces Olympic Qualifying Roster". usabaseball.com. May 30, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  23. ^ "USA Baseball announces Olympics roster". MLB.com. July 2, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  24. ^ "Former Dragons catcher will represent Reds organization in Olympics".
  25. ^ "Cincinnati Reds minor-league catcher leads Team USA to silver in Olympics; injury updates".

External links

Florida Gators 2017 College World Series champions
United States roster – 2020 Summer Olympics silver medalists
Categories