Michael Cuddyer

Did You Know?

• Cuddyer made starts at every defensive position except catcher and shortstop during his MLB career.
• He was named head manager of the United States national under-18 baseball team in February 2023.

Early life

Cuddyer was born in Norfolk, Virginia, and graduated from Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, in 1997. He was a standout in baseball, basketball, and football, served as student body president, and was a National Honor Society member. He played for the United States national under-18 baseball team in 1996 and 1997, and was named Virginia's Player of the Year and Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year in 1997. He also played American Legion Baseball and was named the 2014 American Legion Graduate of the Year.

Professional career

The Minnesota Twins selected Cuddyer with the ninth overall pick of the 1997 Major League Baseball draft. He initially committed to Florida State but signed after the Twins increased their offer from $700,000 to $1.3 million. He made his professional debut in 1998 with the Fort Wayne Wizards and reached the majors on September 23, 2001, after hitting .301 with 30 home runs and 87 RBI at Double-A New Britain. In 2002 he was called up again and hit over .300 in the postseason.

He played mostly in the outfield early in his career, then saw time at second and third base. He had surgery on his right lateral meniscus in October 2005 and signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract in January 2006. That season he became a regular in right field and cleanup spot, finishing with a .284 average, 24 home runs, and a career-high 109 RBI. In January 2008 he re-signed with the Twins for three years and $24 million, with a $10.5 million club option for 2011.

Personal life

Cuddyer is the son of Henry Cuddyer and Marcia Harris and has a younger sister named Katie. He married English teacher Claudia Rente on November 11, 2006; they have a son born June 20, 2008, and fraternal twin daughters born December 6, 2011. The family resides in Chesapeake, Virginia. Since age 11, Cuddyer has been deaf in his left ear due to a childhood virus, but he states it has never interfered with hearing teammates on the field.