Anthony Recker

Amateur career

Born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Recker was raised by mother Alicia and stepfather Kip. He attended Catasauqua High School, where he also played football and basketball, and later continued his baseball career at Alvernia College, a small NCAA Division III school in Reading, Pennsylvania. One of Recker's college teammates was Zach Lutz, and the pair were coached by Lutz's father. While playing for the Crusaders, Recker spent some time on the mound, where he occasionally threw a knuckleball. Despite growing up in Pennsylvania, Recker's favorite team growing up was the Oakland Athletics.

Oakland Athletics

Recker was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 18th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft out of Alvernia College. He began catching and, on occasion, playing first base professionally.

On August 23, 2011, he was promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He was named to the All-PCL Team in 2011. He made the Athletics' 2012 Opening Day roster, but was optioned to the minor leagues in May.

Chicago Cubs

Recker was traded to the Cubs for Blake Lalli on August 27, 2012.

New York Mets

On October 24, 2012, Recker was designated for assignment. He was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets the next day.

Recker made the Mets' 2013 Opening Day roster as a backup catcher. Although Recker is a position player, he pitched the ninth inning for the New York Mets to preserve their regular pitchers in a lopsided game on June 30, 2013, where the Mets were defeated by the Washington Nationals by a score of 13-2. The last position player to pitch for the Mets before Recker did so was catcher Rob Johnson on May 18, 2012. He was optioned to the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s on August 19. He was later called back up on August 28 as a back up to Travis d'Arnaud due to the trade that sent catcher John Buck and outfielder Marlon Byrd to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Recker made the Opening Day roster in 2014 as a backup to Mets' catcher Travis d'Arnaud. On April 12, Recker hit a solo home run in the top of the 13th off Matt Shoemaker to break the 6-6 tie between the Mets and Angels and win the game for the Mets 7-6.

Despite an early-season injury to Travis d'Arnaud in 2015, the Mets kept Recker as a backup catcher, and promoted prospect Kevin Plawecki to serve as the starter. On May 14, Recker had his first career multi-homer game against the Chicago Cubs, a game that the Mets went on to lose. On November 6, Recker was outrighted off the 40-man roster making him a free agent. Recker hit .125 with two home runs, five RBIs in 80 at-bats in 32 games in 2015. From 2013 to 2015 as a Met, Recker hit 15 home runs in 140 games. However, Recker did manage to hit 8 home runs in just 108 plate appearances while playing for the Las Vegas 51s.

Cleveland Indians

On November 27, 2015, Recker signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians, including an invitation to spring training. He appeared in 19 games for the AAA Columbus Clippers.

Atlanta Braves

Recker was traded to the Atlanta Braves on May 9, 2016 for cash considerations, and assigned to the Triple A Gwinnett Braves. The Braves promoted Recker to the major leagues after an injury to Tyler Flowers. On December 2, 2016, Recker and the Braves avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to an $800,000 contract for the 2017 season. He was initially optioned to Gwinnett at the end of spring training, but eventually was selected as one of the last two players to make the Braves 2017 Opening Day roster, alongside Chaz Roe. He had his contract purchased on July 21, 2017.

Minnesota Twins

On July 24, 2017, the Braves traded Recker and Jaime García to the Minnesota Twins for prospect Huascar Ynoa. The Twins subsequently outrighted Recker to the minor leagues on July 28, 2017.

Personal life

Recker married Kelly Shepardson on November 2, 2013. His wife Kelly gave birth to their first child Camden Anthony Recker on December 29, 2014.