Tony Batista

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**Tony Batista**
Image:Tony batista.jpg
Free Agent — No. --
Third base
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
June 3, 1996 for the Oakland Athletics
Selected MLB statistics (through September 4, 2006)
Batting Average	.251
Home Runs	219
RBI	702
Teams
Oakland Athletics (1996 – 1997) Arizona Diamondbacks (1998 – 1999) Toronto Blue Jays (1999 – 2001) Baltimore Orioles (2001 – 2003) Montreal Expos (2004) Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (2005) Minnesota Twins (2006)

Leocadio Francisco "Tony" Batista (born December 9, 1973 in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic) is an infielder who most recently played for the Minnesota Twins, who played in the major leagues from 1996 to 2004, and played with the Softbank Hawks of the Japanese Pacific League in 2005. After the season ended, he was fired by the Hawks because of his low OBP and the team's policy of raising young players.

His major league career began in 1996. He played for the Oakland A's, the Baltimore Orioles, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Montreal Expos, before moving on to Japan for the 2005 season. He has played second base, shortstop, third base and designated hitter. He is known for his unusual (fully open) batting stance.

He was elected to the American League All-Star team twice (2000 and 2002).

On December 15, 2005, Batista signed a one-year contract with the Twins, worth $1.25 million if he made the team out of Spring Training. On June 13, 2006, the Twins designated him for assignment, ending his tenure with the team. He was replaced at third by Nick Punto.