Pronunciation
Last name is pronounced "MOT".

Current Contract
Signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on March 4, 2008. Added to the Cardinals 40-Man Roster on November 20, 2007. Contract renewable through 2009.

Became a Cardinal
Selected in the 19th round (575th overall) of the June 2003 First-Year Player Draft.

2007 Season
Added to the 40-Man Roster in November, Motte, a converted catcher pitched very well in 07, splitting playing time between Palm Beach and Springfield, finishing the season with a combined record of 4-3 with a 1.98 ERA with 11 saves, appearing in 53 games. In the Arizona Fall League, Motte appeared in 11 games, pitched 12 innings and picked up two wins and a save.

The converted catcher combined for 69 strikeouts in 59.0 IP and walked 23. The hard throwing righty held opponents to a .184 BA and 0.90 ERA in nine games at Palm Beach and .208, 2.20 marks in his 44 games at Springfield.

Motte allowed runs in just seven of his 44 appearances for Springfield. He's just a phone call away from the Majors.

Career Notes
Entering the 2006 season with a career .188 average, Motte decided to give-up catching in May and pursue a career as a pitcher. Motte joined short-season Class A State College in June, and went 1-2 with a 3.08 ERA, striking out 25 in 26.1 innings of work. Promoted to low Class A Quad Cities in August, Motte posted a 4.97 ERA in eight games for the Swing.

A 19th round selection by the Cardinals in the 2003 draft out of Iona College, Motte spent the first three years of his professional career and the first month of the 2006 season as a catcher. But after hitting a combined .190 while racking up 160 assists in 181 games as a backstop, the 24-year-old headed to extended spring training in early May in order to be converted into a pitcher.

In 2005, Motte went on the disabled list for High-A Palm Beach on June 29 with a right thumb fracture that would require surgery and cause him to miss the remainder of the season.

Player Awards
Birdhouse Top 40 Prospect 2008: #22
Cardinals 'Pitcher of the Month' July 2008
Birdhouse 'MiLB Reliever of the Month' July 08

Scout.com Photo