Omar Infante
| Omar Infante | |||
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Infante with the Kansas City Royals | |||
Kansas City Royals – No. 14 | |||
| Second baseman | |||
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Born: December 26, 1981 Puerto la Cruz, Anzoátegui, Venezuela | |||
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MLB debut | |||
| September 7, 2002 for the Detroit Tigers | |||
Career statistics (through 2014 season) | |||
| Batting average | .276 | ||
| Hits | 1,298 | ||
| Home runs | 80 | ||
| Runs batted in | 487 | ||
Teams | |||
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Career highlights and awards | |||
Omar Rafael Infante [in-FAHN-tay] (born December 26, 1981) is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball. He has also played in MLB for the Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, and Miami Marlins. He was an All-Star in 2010.
Career
Detroit Tigers
Infante entered the 2003 season as the starting shortstop for the Detroit Tigers. Ramón Santiago, considered a better glove-man started the season at second base. Considered two of the Tigers better prospects, both proved overmatched; Infante hit .222 with no home runs and eight RBIs in over 200 at-bats.
In 2004, Infante lost any chance to claim the starting shortstop role when the Tigers acquired Carlos Guillén, who went on to be an All-Star that year (Santiago had been included in the trade for Guillén) . With Guillén at shortstop and free agent acquisition Fernando Viña at second base, Infante was likely to spend much of the season in the minors. Then he received an opportunity in mid-May to play every day at second base when Viña was sidelined for the year by a hamstring injury. He responded by playing solid defense and hitting .264 with 16 home runs and 55 RBIs in 142 games.
Infante's rebound in 2004 fueled speculation that he may one day become a star at second base. In 2005, however, he regressed, and the Tigers sought his replacement. In June of that year, the Tigers traded for Plácido Polanco, who had been filling a utility role with the Philadelphia Phillies. Polanco became the starting second baseman, and Infante moved to the bench.
Following his move to the bench, Infante played seven different positions during the 2007 season.
Chicago Cubs
On November 12, 2007 Infante was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Jacque Jones.[1] On December 4, 2007 Infante was traded again, this time along with Will Ohman to the Atlanta Braves for José Ascanio.[2] A Cub for less than a month during the off-season, Infante never appeared in a game.
Atlanta Braves
On January 12, 2009, Infante signed a two-year contract worth $4.3 million with the Atlanta Braves.[3]
National League manager Charlie Manuel selected Infante to the 2010 National League All-Star Team, earning Infante his first selection after proving to be one of the most valuable utility men in the National League. Infante was one of six Braves on the All-Star team.
Florida/Miami Marlins
After the 2010 season, Infante and reliever Michael Dunn were traded to the Florida Marlins for second baseman Dan Uggla.[4] On September 27, 2011, it was announced that Infante and the Marlins had agreed on a two-year extension, worth around $8 million.[5]
In 2011, Infante lead the Majors in fielding assists.
On June 21, 2012, Infante played in his 1000th game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Return to Detroit
Infante and Aníbal Sánchez were traded by the Marlins to the Tigers, on July 23, 2012, for Jacob Turner, Rob Brantly, and Brian Flynn.[6]
In Game 4 of the 2012 World Series on October 28, 2012, Infante suffered a broken left hand after being hit by a pitch.
Omar had a stellar 2013 season for the Tigers, despite spending over a month on the disabled list with a lower leg injury. He hit .318, his highest batting average since his career best .321 in 2010 with the Braves along with 10 home runs and 51 RBI. He also posted the highest slugging percentage of his career (.450).
Kansas City Royals
On December 16, 2013, Infante signed a four-year, $30.25 million contract with the Kansas City Royals, with a club option for 2018.[7]
After struggling in the post season, on October 22, 2014 Infante hit a 2 run home run against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the 6th inning in a 5 run inning to lift the Royals past the Giants in a 7-2 victory.
See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Omar Infante. |
- List of players from Venezuela in Major League Baseball
References
- ↑ "Cubs acquire infielder Omar Infante from Detroit...". MLB.com. Retrieved November 12, 2007.
- ↑ Bowman, Mark (December 4, 2007). "Braves get Ohman, Infante from Cubs". MLB.com. Retrieved December 4, 2007.
- ↑ Bowman, Mark (January 12, 2009). "Infante signs two-year contract". MLB.com. Retrieved November 18, 2009.
- ↑ Post Comment (November 17, 2010). "Florida Marlins trade Dan Uggla to Atlanta Braves". Msn.foxsports.com. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Omar Infante, Marlins reach agreement". Florida.marlins.mlb.com. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
- ↑ Frisaro, Joe and Tom Green. Marlins deal Anibal, Infante for Tigers prospects MLB.com. Retrieved July 23, 2012
- ↑ Royals announce $30.25M, 4-year deal for 2B Omar Infante AP report at foxsports.com on 16 December 2013.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- Infante maturing rapidly (article)
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