Curtis attended Issaquah High School, where he played baseball for the school. As a freshman, in 2000, Issaquah won the Class 3A state championship.[1] Curtis was named to the All-King County Class 3A team in 2001, 2002, and 2003. He was named to the All-State team in 2002 and 2003.[2]
Curtis repeated Double-A in 2008, hitting .255 with 10 home runs, 20 doubles, three triples and 71 RBI over 132 games. He reached Triple-A in 2009, but struggled when he hit .235 with six home runs and 29 RBI in 70 games for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.[9] After the season, Curtis played in the Arizona Fall League.[10]
He had a strong showing in spring training before the 2010 season, going 6-for-12 with two home runs in eight RBI.[11] Curtis was called up to the major leagues on June 21, 2010.[12][13] That night, he made his major league debut by pinch hitting for A. J. Burnett in the 5th inning.[14] On June 22, Curtis recorded his first major league hit, a double off of Chad Qualls of the Arizona Diamondbacks.[15] On July 21, he hit his first career home run against Scot Shields of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He was pinch hitting for Brett Gardner, who was ejected while batting with an 0–2 count in the bottom of the seventh inning.[16] On July 31, Curtis was optioned back to Triple-A following the acquisition of outfielder Austin Kearns.[17] He was promoted again on September 6.[18]
In 2011, Curtis dislocated his shoulder making a catch in spring training.[19] After an initial attempt to rehab the injury, he underwent surgery in April and missed the entire season.[20][21] He was designated for assignment in the offseason.[22] In 2012, the Yankees invited Curtis to big league spring training as a non-roster invitee.[23] He was released by the Yankees on August 1.[24]
During his freshman year of high school, at the age of 15, Curtis was diagnosed with testicular cancer. It spread to the veins in his stomach and around his lymph nodes. The treatment involved surgery to remove the tumor and parts of the affected veins and regular blood tests. While battling the disease, fellow testicular cancer survivorLance Armstrong gave him an autographed book.[1][27]
