June 30, 2004
BALTIMORE, Md. - Former UCF standout Chad Mottola has been promoted to the Baltimore Orioles after the O's sent Jay Gibbons to the disabled list Wednesday. Mottola is slated to join the Orioles Wednesday in Kansas City.
The former Golden Knight was batting .270 with 13 doubles, seven home runs, 29 RBI and 32 runs in 64 games with the Ottawa Lynx, the Orioles' triple-A affiliate. He played 50 games in the outfield and nine at first base.
Mottola joins the Orioles after Baltimore drafted Mottola in the 10th round in 1989 out of high school, but instead he signed with UCF. Mottola was later selected by the Reds with the fifth overall choice in the first round in 1992, the highest draft selection ever for a Golden Knight.
Mottola has seen action in 43 games in the Majors with the Reds, Blue Jays and Marlins, hitting .200 with three home runs and nine RBI. He last appeared in the Majors in 2001 with the Marlins, going 0-for-7 in five games.
Over his three-year UCF career, Mottola hit .331 with 23 home runs and 148 RBI. He is listed among UCF's all-time leaders in runs, RBI, total bases, at-bats and home runs.