He played as a catcher at Pickerington High School in Ohio and Seminole Community College, where he later served as an assistant while taking classes at University of Central Florida. He took a summer job as a bullpen catcher for the Chicago Cubs' Double-A Southern League affiliate, which later became the Orlando Rays under the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (now the Tampa Bay Rays) organization.[1] Cursi served as Orlando's bullpen catcher for three seasons, from 1996 to 1998,.[2]
In 1999, Larry Rothschild, then Tampa Bay manager, offered Cursi a job as bullpen catcher on the recommendation of Orlando manager Bruce Kimm.[3] Cursi began catching in Tampa Bay's bullpen on Easter Sunday in 1999, working home games while he completed his college degree, before becoming the full-time bullpen catcher later that season.[4] Cursi went to the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game with the Rays' coaching staff, as Tampa Bay was the defending American League champions.[4] There, Cursi warmed up pitchers and caught two rounds of the Home Run Derby.[3]
Cursi previously coached at Bishop Waterson High School in Columbus, Ohio for four years, following his high school graduation in 1989.[3]
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