Jason LaRue

A native of Bulverde, Texas,{{Cite web |date=2007-11-19 |title=Cardinals sign catcher Jason LaRue |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/stl/y2007/m11/d19/c2303956.jsp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312111553/http://mlb.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/stl/y2007/m11/d19/c2303956.jsp |archive-date=2016-03-12 |website=MLB.com}} after being selected in the fifth round of the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft out of Dallas Baptist University, LaRue debuted with Cincinnati on June 15, 1999, and became Cincinnati's starting catcher in 2001. 2005 was his best overall season with 14 HR, 60 RBI, and .260 batting average.

File:Jason LaRue 2006.jpg in 2006]]

LaRue agreed to a two-year, $9.1 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds on December 20, 2005. On November 20, 2006, LaRue was traded to the Kansas City Royals for a player to be named later. Since a player could not be agreed upon, the Royals opted to send the Reds cash considerations in the amount of one dollar.{{Cite web |last=Kaegel |first=Dick |date=2008-04-07 |title=Mailbag: Projecting Butler, Gordon |url=http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080407&content_id=2501099&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301003800/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080407&content_id=2501099&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |archive-date=2012-03-01 |website=MLB.com}}

On Mother's Day, May 14, 2006, LaRue was one of more than 50 hitters who brandished a pink bat to benefit the Breast Cancer Foundation. He was also one of a handful of players to hit a home run with a pink bat.

On November 19, 2007, he signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals as the backup to Yadier Molina.{{Cite web |last=Strauss |first=Joe |date=2007-11-20 |title=Cardinals sign catcher, minor-league pitchers |url=http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/3DF5FCFDADE27FB086257399001C4715?OpenDocument |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121043529/http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/3DF5FCFDADE27FB086257399001C4715?OpenDocument |archive-date=2007-11-21 |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}} During the season, he was used primarily for his defensive ability as his hitting stats had dwindled. LaRue re-signed with the Cardinals following the 2008 season for one year.{{cite news |date=October 31, 2008 |title=Cardinals sign catcher Jason LaRue; veteran backstop agrees to one-year pact for 2009 |url=http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20081031&content_id=3657188&vkey=pr_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303190556/http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20081031&content_id=3657188&vkey=pr_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl |archive-date=2016-03-03 |work=MLB.com}}

LaRue returned to the Cardinals for 2010, his third season with the team. On August 10, 2010, he suffered a concussion caused by a kick to the head by the Cincinnati Reds' Johnny Cueto, during a bench-clearing brawl.{{Cite news |last=Alper |first=Josh |date=August 18, 2010 |title=Jason LaRue May Be Out For Season After Johnny Cueto's uncalled for Kick to the Head |url=http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/08/18/jason-larue-may-be-out-for-season-after-johnny-cuetos-kick-to-t/?synd=fanhouse |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710105801/http://www.aolnews.com/2010/08/18/jason-larue-may-be-out-for-season-after-johnny-cuetos-kick-to-t/ |archive-date=2012-07-10 |work=MLB FanHouse}} On August 19, LaRue was placed on the 60-day disabled list, ending his season.{{cite news |last=Bleach |first=Michael |date=August 19, 2010 |title=Cards acquire third baseman Feliz |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100819&content_id=13648788&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023010900/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100819&content_id=13648788&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |archive-date=2013-10-23 |work=MLB.com}}

The concussion was initially thought to be slight, but LaRue experienced severe post-concussion symptoms. On September 18, LaRue announced his retirement from Major League Baseball. He told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that his symptoms were so severe that he'd been ordered to go back to his home in San Antonio, where he lived during the offseason because he was in no condition to be left alone. He could not drive or cook for himself for a time, could not watch television or even ride in a car as a passenger with his eyes open. He'd suffered close to 20 concussions dating to his days as a high school football and baseball player, and doctors told him that as a catcher he was vulnerable to a concussion that was at least as severe as the one he'd suffered in the brawl.{{cite news |last=Strauss |first=Joe |date=August 10, 2010 |title=Catcher LaRue says career is over |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/professional/mlb/cardinals/article_324aa4d7-ff34-5706-b12a-b1a023d58d00.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914174035/http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/article_324aa4d7-ff34-5706-b12a-b1a023d58d00.html |archive-date=2012-09-14 |accessdate=2024-10-19 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}}

LaRue was known throughout his career to be a defensive specialist. In 2001, he led the major leagues with a 61% caught-stealing percentage, and he has a career 39% caught-stealing percentage.

LaRue lives in Blanco, Texas, with his wife Heather, and three sons: Tyler, Dylan, and Brayden. He has a brother, Shaun LaRue and two sisters, Tricia Maynard and Brooke Albert.{{Cite web |title=Jason LaRue Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/jason-larue-150178 |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}

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Category:1974 births

Category:Living people

Category:Baseball players from Houston

Category:Major League Baseball catchers

Category:Cincinnati Reds players

Category:Dallas Baptist Patriots baseball players

Category:Indianapolis Indians players

Category:Louisville Bats players

Category:Kansas City Royals players

Category:St. Louis Cardinals players

Category:People from Blanco, Texas

Category:People from Bulverde, Texas

Category:Sportspeople from Greater San Antonio