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Gabe Kapler Profile |
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Birth Date: July 31, 1975
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Birth Place: Hollywood, California, USA
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Birth Name: Gabriel Stefan Kapler
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Biography |
Gabriel Stefan ("Gabe") Kapler (born August 31, 1975,
Hollywood, California) is an American backup outfielder in
Major League Baseball.
Kapler, who is Jewish, is an avid weightlifter and used to
be a body builder. He was on the cover of several
bodybuilding magazines and became renowned for being the
focus of an entire shoe campaign before he had even reached
the pros.
Kapler is well-known around baseball for his extraordinary
musculature. Bob Ryan once wrote a column in which he
nicknamed Kapler "The Body." and mused on the fact that,
traditionally, bodybuilder-type physiques have not been
considered desirable for baseball players (as speed and
reflexes are more important than pure muscle).
A 57th-round draft pick (1,487th overall) in 1995, Kapler
has played with the Detroit Tigers (1998-99), Texas Rangers
(2000-02), Colorado Rockies (2003), and Boston Red Sox
(2003-04, 2005-06). He bats and throws right handed.
In 1998 he won the Southern League MVP award, as he batted
.322 with 28 home runs, 47 doubles, and 146 RBIs. That year
he set the SL record for RBI, breaking the 1986 record of
132 set by Terry Steinbach. He also set league records with
81 extra-base hits and 319 total bases, and broke the old
doubles record of 44.
He made his major league debut in 1998 at the age of 22.
In 1999 he hit 18 home runs in just over 400 at bats.
In 2000 he batted .302.
In 2001 he stole 23 bases, and had 8 assists from center
field, for Texas.
Kapler played a career-high 136 games in 2004, hitting 6
home runs and driving in 33 runs in 290 at-bats.
Less than one month after the Red Sox dramatic 2004 World
Series victory over the Cardinals, Kapler departed the
Boston Red Sox for Japan's Yomiuri Giants. He struggled in
Japan and was placed on the inactive list by Yomiuri in the
2005 midseason. Kapler was waived in July, and signed by the
Red Sox just a few hours after clearing Japanese Central
League waivers.
In his first at-bat for Boston in 2005, Kapler roped a
single up the middle.
In September 2005, Gabe Kapler ruptured his Achilles tendon
while running the bases on what turned out to be a home run
by teammate Tony Graffanino. This ended Kapler's season.
Kapler was usually the go-to guy in the outfield in case of
an injury. Kapler, who hits lefties very well, usually would
play instead of Trot Nixon in right field when lefties were
slotted in as the opposing pitcher.
Kapler is not an automatic out at the plate, though his
career-high 28-game hitting streak in 2000 does stand out as
an isolated incident. An aggressive swinger who doesn't walk
much, his swing is long and slow with occasional power. He
is as aggressive on the bases as he is at the plate, and
will not hesitate to try for the extra base.
In 9 major league seasons, Kapler has posted a .270 batting
average with 64 home runs and 302 RBI.
Much of Kapler's value is his defense. He fields well at all
3 outfield positions, combining good range with a strong
arm. On September 29, 2002, playing right field for
Colorado, Kapler fielded an apparent single off the bat of
John Patterson, and threw to first to beat Patterson to the
bag, for a very impressive and unorthodox assist. He did not
make an error in either 2005 or 2006. |
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Other Information |
Children: Chase Ty (b. October 8, 1999) and Dane Rio (b.
November 3, 2001).
Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 57th round of the 1995
amateur draft out of Moorpark Junior College. Has played for
the Tigers (1999-2001), the Texas Rangers (2002), the
Colorado Rockies (2003), the Boston Red Sox (2004), and the
Yomiuri Giants (2005).
Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 57th round of the 1995
amateur draft out of Moorpark Junior College. Outfielder
with the Tigers (1998-1999), the Texas Rangers (2000-2002),
the Colorado Rockies (2002-2003), the Boston Red Sox
(2003-2004)(2005-), and the Yomiuri Giants (2005).
Made major league debut on 20 September 1998. |
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