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.

**40-Man Roster**

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

2008 Season
Motte made his major league debut in September, appearing in 12 games for the Cardinals posting a record of 0-0 with 1 save and an ERA of 0.82. Prior to his call up, Motte had recorded 110 strikeouts in just 66.2 Triple A innings. In his 12 games in majors, 11 innings, he struck out 16 batters, while walking only three. Rumor has it, that Motte could be in the mix for the Cardinals closer job in 2009.

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.

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
Scout.com Cardinals Top Prospect 2009: #7
Scout.com Cardinals MiLB Reliever of the Year, 2008
Scout.com Memphis Reliever of the Year, 2008
Cardinals MiLB Pitcher of the Month, July 2008
Scout.com Cardinals Top Prospects 2008: #22
Scout.com Cardinals AA Reliever of the Year, 2007

Photo: Doug Benc/Getty Images