Mike Borzello

Michael Ross Borzello (born August 14, 1970) is an Italian-American professional baseball coach who has worked for the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Mike Borzello
Borzello with the Cubs in 2016
Coach
Born: (1970-08-14) August 14, 1970
Yonkers, New York, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Teams
Career highlights and awards

In June 1991, Borzello signed with the St. Louis Cardinals.[1] After five years as a minor league catcher in the Cardinals organization, he became a bullpen catcher and batting practice pitcher for the New York Yankees. From 2007 to 2010, he was a Los Angeles Dodgers catching instructor.[2] From 2011 through 2021, he served as a catching and strategy coach for the Chicago Cubs.

Early life

Borzello grew up in Tarzana, Los Angeles.[3] He is of Italian descent.[4] He is the godson of former Major League manager Joe Torre, who was friends with Borzello's father.[5][6] 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.[7]

Career

Borzello graduated from Taft High School in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California and was a baseball player during his college years at California Lutheran University.[6] 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.[8]

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.[6] 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.[9]

In 2011, Borzello left the Dodgers to join the Cubs as a coach, working with the catchers and scouting.[10] He earned another World Series ring with the Cubs in the 2016 World Series. He was ejected for the first time in his career on August 29, 2020 (along with Cubs manager David Ross, Reds manager David Bell, Reds Designated Hitter Joey Votto, and Reds Left Fielder Jesse Winker).[11][12] He was suspended for 1 game for his actions.[13][14] On October 6, 2021, Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer announced that Borzello was departing the organization.[15] Borzello coached under five different Cubs managers: Mike Quade, Dale Sveum, Rick Renteria, Joe Maddon, and Ross.

References
  1. "Root, Hiljus Sign to Play Pro Baseball". Los Angeles Times. June 13, 1991.
  2. "With a friend like this . ." Los Angeles Times. March 29, 2008.
  3. "From the Bushes to Yankee Bullpen". Los Angeles Times. August 21, 1997.
  4. "Italy to begin World Baseball Classic preparation in the US". World Baseball Softball Confederation.
  5. 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
  6. DAVE DESMOND (August 21, 1997). "From the Bushes to Yankee Bullpen". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  7. NC Times Archived April 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine retrieved March 10, 2011
  8. "Mike Borzello Statistics (1991-1994)". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  9. "Manager and Coaches | dodgers.com: Team". Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  10. "Cubs announce 2012 coaching staff".
  11. "MLB Ejections 39-43 - Lentz, Bellino (CHC-CIN)".
  12. "Cubs and Reds clear benches during doubleheader; Cincinnati wins Game 2 on walk-off wild pitch".
  13. "Cubs' Mike Borzello receives one-game suspension after ejection at Reds". RSN.
  14. "Cubs Catching Coach Mike Borzello Suspended After Benches-Clearing Incident vs. Reds".
  15. Taylor, Brett (October 6, 2021). "Long-Time Chicago Cubs Strategy Coach Mike Borzello Will Not Be Returning". Bleacher Nation. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
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