Jason Varitek

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JASON VARITEK

FULL NAME: Jason Andrew Varitek
AGE (on Opening Day): 35
DOB: April 11, 1972
BIRTHPLACE: Rochester, Michigan
HEIGHT: 6’2”
WEIGHT: 230lbs
BATS: Switch
THROWS: Right
COLLEGE: Georgia Tech

MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT: September 24, 1997
ACQUIRED: Traded with Derek Lowe from the Seattle Mariners for Heathcliff Slocumb on July 31, 1997

PERSONAL INFORMATION

The second son of Joseph and Donna Varitek, Jason grew up in Longwood, Florida with his older brother Joe and young brother Jared and Justin. When he was 12 years old his Altamonte Springs (FL) Little League team represented the U.S. South in the 1984 Little League World Series that lost to Seoul, South Korea in the finals. The young Varitek played third base, shortstop and catcher that year. All ready with a Little League World Series on his resume, Varitek attended in LakeBrantley High School where his Patriots won the 1990 Florida state championship before enrolling at Georgia Tech in the fall of 1990. While at Georgia Tech, Varitek majored in international relations and lead the Yellow Jackets to the 1991 ACC Finals. After his junior year in 1993 the Minnesota Twins selected Varitek in the first round with the 21^st pick overall, right after they selected outfielder Torii Hunter at 20. But Varitek and Minnesota could not come to terms regarding his signing bonus by the fall of 1993 and Varitek returned to the Atlanta campus. It turned out to be good for both Varitek and the Yellow Jackets. In the spring of 1994 along with future teammates Nomar Garciaparra and Jay Payton, Varitek helped lead Georgia Tech to the 1994 NCAA Division I College World Series where they lost to Oklahoma. After college he was selected by the Seattle Mariners with the 14^th pick of 1994 Major League Baseball Draft just two spots after teammate Garciaparra was selected. Currently Jason Varitek resides in Newton, Massachusetts with his wife Karen Mullinax and his three daughters Alexandra Rose (1/14/2000), Kendall Anne (9/30/2001)
and Caroline Morgan (6/13/2005).



Varitek and two of his three daughters at the 2005 All Star Game in Detroit. (Gettysimages)