Nick Punto

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**Nick Punto**

Minnesota Twins — No. 8
Third base
Bats: Switch	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
September 9, 2001 for the Philadelphia Phillies
Selected MLB statistics (through 2005)
Avg	.238
OBP	.302
Fielding %	.981
Teams
Philadelphia Phillies (2001 – 2003)

Nick Punto (born Nicholas Paul Punto on November 8, 1977 in San Diego, California, USA) is a Major League Baseball infielder. He currently plays third base for the Minnesota Twins. Punto is a switch hitter, throws right-handed, and wears number 8.

Punto is a 1996 graduate of Trabuco Hills High School in Mission Viejo, California. After high school, he attended Saddleback College, also in Mission Viejo. His father, Lou, was drafted by the Boston Red Sox.

Punto made his Major League debut with the Philadelphia Phillies on September 9, 2001. After playing in a career-high 64 major-league games in 2003, he was acquired by the Twins in 2004 (along with Carlos Silva) for Eric Milton. He started the season with the team, but he was injured twice and spent the majority of his time in 2004 on the disabled list. In 2005, he competed for the starting job at second base, which he eventually won, and in 2006 became the starting third baseman.

Punto is one of four Twins players known for speed and small ball, nicknamed "The Piranhas" by White Sox manager, Ozzie Guillen. The Twins have embraced the term. The other Piranhas are Jason Tyner, Jason Bartlett, and Luis Castillo.

For his relatively small stature and good "small ball" skills, Twins fan/blogger Anne Ursu bestowed upon him the nickname "Little Nicky Punto, Tiny Superhero." He is also known for his habit of delighting teammates with pictures of unicorns, a habit beloved by readers of Ms. Ursu's blog.