Matthew Aaron Treanor (born March 3, 1976) is an American former professional
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding ...
catcher
Catcher is a position in baseball and softball. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the (home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to this primary duty, the catcher ...
in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL) ...
(MLB). He played for the
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park.
The fra ...
,
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
,
Texas Rangers,
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expa ...
, and
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brookly ...
.
High school years
Treanor attended
Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California and was a standout baseball player. As a senior, he was a second-team All-America pick and was named to the all-tournament team at the Upper Deck high school baseball tournament.
Professional career
Kansas City Royals
Treanor was drafted by the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expa ...
as a high school player in
1994 MLB draft. He played with the Gulf Coast Royals in 1994, the
Springfield Sultans in 1995, the
Lansing Lugnuts
The Lansing Lugnuts are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. They are located in Lansing, Michigan, and play their home games at Jackson Field.
The Midwest League came to Lans ...
in 1996 and the
Wilmington Blue Rocks
The Wilmington Blue Rocks are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They are located in Wilmington, Delaware, and play their home games at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium.
...
in 1997.
Florida Marlins
Treanor was traded to the
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park.
The fra ...
in for
Matt Whisenant. Treanor spent 10 years in the minor leagues–seven in Single-A—before finally making his MLB debut on June 2, against the
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
, when he went 1 for 3 with a
run scored
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted bal ...
. In the highlight of his season, Treanor recorded his first
RBI
RBI most often refers to:
*Reserve Bank of India
*Run batted in
RBI may also refer to:
Organisations
*Radio Berlin International
*Raiffeisen Bank International
*Reed Business Information
*Restaurant Brands International
*Ruđer Bošković In ...
on a walk-off
single against the
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and ...
on June 17.
He played with the Marlins'
Triple-A affiliate, the
Calgary Cannons
The Calgary Cannons were a minor league baseball team located in Calgary, Alberta, for 18 seasons, from 1985 until 2002. They were a member of the Triple-A (baseball), AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL) and played at Foothills Stadium. The Cannons d ...
then the
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. They play home games at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at an ...
, being called up to the MLB twice in 2004. In , Treanor played his first full season with the Marlins, as a backup to starting catcher
Paul Lo Duca
Paul Anthony Lo Duca (born April 12, 1972) is an American retired professional baseball player and television personality. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers (–), Florida Marlins (2004–, ), New York Met ...
. He showed off his defensive prowess on April 15 against the
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadi ...
, when he threw out all three base runners who attempted to
steal. Treanor hit his first MLB
home run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run is ...
, against
Daniel Cabrera
Daniel Alberto Cabrera Cruz (born May 28, 1981) is a Dominican former professional baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Nationals and Arizona Diamondbacks a ...
of the
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. As one of the American League's eight charter ...
on June 20, . In 2006, he led NL catchers in caught stealing percentage, at 47.1%.
On December 10, , Treanor was released by the Florida Marlins in order to make room on the team's 40-man roster for the
Rule 5 draft on December 11, 2008.
Detroit Tigers
On December 18, 2008, Treanor signed with the
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
. In April 2009, he suffered from a
bone spur
An exostosis, also known as bone spur, is the formation of new bone on the surface of a bone. Exostoses can cause chronic pain ranging from mild to debilitatingly severe, depending on the shape, size, and location of the lesion. It is most commonl ...
on his right hip and was placed on the
disabled list
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the injured list (IL) is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players. Before the 2019 season, it was known as the disabled list (DL).
General guidelines
...
for the remainder of the season. He was released from the Tigers at the conclusion of the 2009 season and granted free agency. Treanor only played in four games with Detroit.
Texas Rangers
On December 18, 2009, Treanor signed a minor league contract with the
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. The Brewers are named for the city's association wi ...
with an invitation to spring training, however on March 22 he was traded to the
Texas Rangers in exchange for
Ray Olmedo. On April 27, Treanor doubled and homered against the
White Sox, a game in which he had his first extra base hits with the Rangers. On June 15, Treanor returned to Florida to face his former team for the first time in interleague play, and hit a go-ahead two-RBI triple in the ninth inning and lifted the Rangers to a 3–2 win. On July 23, Treanor was injured trying to beat a throw to first base when he tripped over
Angels
In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God.
Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles include ...
' first baseman
Kevin Frandsen.
Kansas City Royals

On March 28, 2011, the Rangers traded Treanor to the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expa ...
for cash considerations. He was the 2011 Opening Day catcher for the Royals. On April 3, he hit a three-run walk-off homer in the 13th inning to beat the Anaheim Angels 12–9. On July 31, he was placed on the seven-day
disabled list
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the injured list (IL) is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players. Before the 2019 season, it was known as the disabled list (DL).
General guidelines
...
with a
concussion
A concussion, also known as a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), is a head injury that temporarily affects brain functioning. Symptoms may include loss of consciousness (LOC); memory loss; headaches; difficulty with thinking, concentratio ...
after a collision with
Matt LaPorta of the
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive ...
.
Return to the Texas Rangers
On August 31, 2011, the Royals traded Treanor to the Texas Rangers for cash considerations. In 2011, he batted .214 with 3 home runs, between the two teams.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On November 15, 2011, Treanor signed a one-year contract with the
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brookly ...
. Serving as the backup to Dodgers catcher
A.J. Ellis, he spot-started throughout the season. On July 22, in New York, Treanor hit a two-run single in the top of the 12th inning, sparking a 5-run rally to beat the
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major leagu ...
8-3. He played in 36 games in 2012 for the Dodgers, hitting .175. On October 29, the Dodgers elected to decline Treanor's club option for 2013 worth $950K, instead paying him the $150K buyout.
Cleveland Indians
On December 17, 2013, Treanor signed a minor league deal, with an invitation to spring training, with the
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive ...
. He retired on May 8, 2014.
Personal life
In November 2003, Treanor met
beach volleyball star
Misty May
Misty Elizabeth May-Treanor (; née May; born July 30, 1977) is a retired American professional beach volleyball player. She is a three-time Olympic gold medalist, and , was the most successful female beach volleyball player having won 112 tou ...
at a sports therapy facility in California. They became engaged in March 2004 and married that November. They have three children: daughter Malia Barbara, born on June 3, 2014, as well as twins, daughters Mele Elizarin and Mia Kanoelani, born in November 2017.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Treanor, Matt
1976 births
Living people
Albuquerque Isotopes players
American expatriate baseball players in Canada
Baseball players from California
Brevard County Manatees players
Calgary Cannons players
Florida Marlins players
Detroit Tigers players
Gulf Coast Marlins players
Gulf Coast Royals players
Jupiter Hammerheads players
Kane County Cougars players
Kansas City Royals players
Lansing Lugnuts players
Los Angeles Dodgers players
Major League Baseball catchers
Northwest Arkansas Naturals players
Oklahoma City RedHawks players
People from Garden Grove, California
Portland Sea Dogs players
Springfield Sultans players
Texas Rangers players
Toros del Este players
American expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic
Wilmington Blue Rocks players