Jeff Mathis

Major League Baseball catcher Jeff Mathis currently plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Mathis was originally drafted by the Angels on June 5, 2001, in the 33rd overall pick of the MLB Draft. He immediately was placed with the Angels' minor league affiliates for his first few years.

On August 12, 2005, Mathis was called up to make his MLB debut with the Angels. He played a total of five games that season, hitting his first major league run that year in three attempts at bat.

Mathis continued to split his next two seasons between the Angels and their minor league teams. He played in 23 games during the 2006 season, hitting nine runs and finishing with a .145 batting average.

In 2007 he saw more playing time in the majors, joining the Angels for 59 games. Mathis also made his first post season appearance with the Angels in 2007, where they lost the American League Divisional Series to the eventual World Series Champion Boston Red Sox.

Mathis is expected to share the catching duties for the Angles in the 2008 season with Mike Napoli.

Fast Facts

1. Full name: Jeffrey Stephen Mathis
2. Born: March 31, 1983
3. Birthplace: Marianna, Florida
4. Bats: Right
5. Throws: Right
6. 2001: Drafted with Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
7. 2005: Earned the Angels' minor league Defensive Player of the Year award
8. 2005: Debuts with Angels

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