Topic: Kelly Shoppach

Kelly Brian Shoppach (pronounced SHOP-ick; born April 29, 1980) is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Tampa Bay Rays. He is nicknamed Shop.

Shoppach was traded to the Indians from the Boston Red Sox organization on January 28, 2006, as part of the same deal that saw outfielder Coco Crisp sent to Boston and highly regarded prospect Andy Marté sent to Cleveland. Shoppach was considered to be one of the better positional prospects in the Red Sox organization before the trade. Shoppach is a top-line defensive catcher with a strong arm and reliable glove. He hits the ball to all fields, and has excellent power for a catcher.

Shoppach attended Brewer High School in White Settlement, Texas, and was a student and a letterman in baseball and football. In football, he played running back and linebacker, was a three-time All-District selection and as a senior, he was named the District Most Valuable Player.