Nick Punto
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Paul Punto is a Major League Baseball
utility player
. He has played second base, third base
, shortstop
, and center field. Punto is a switch hitter
and throws right-handed.
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
. Nick and his wife, Natalie have two children, Nicole Jayne born on May 30, 2008 and a son, Nash.
Punto made his major league debut with the Philadelphia Phillies
on September 9, . After playing in a career-high 64 major-league games in , he was acquired by the Twins in the offseason (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 , he competed for the starting job at second base, which he eventually won, and in became the starting third baseman
.
Punto was one of four Twins players nicknamed "The Piranhas"
by White Sox manager, Ozzie Guillén
. The Twins have since embraced the term as affirmation of their selfless, aggressive play. The other Piranhas were Jason Tyner
, Jason Bartlett, and Luis Castillo. His Twins teammates called him "The Human Highlight Reel", in reference to his defensive prowess.
In , Punto experienced his statistically worst full season with Minnesota, batting .210 with 25 runs batted in in 150 games. He posted the lowest slugging percentage (.271) of any major league player with at least 200 at-bats in a single season. This was the lowest slugging percentage by a player with over 400 at-bats since José Lind
recorded a .269 slugging percentage for the Pittsburgh Pirates
in . Punto also posted a −27.1 VORP
in 2007, 8.5 runs worse than the second-worst position player in baseball, White Sox
infielder Andy González. However, he has always played excellent defense and believed in his defensive abilities which the Twins are so keen on. On May 27 during an MPR broadcast Punto said, "I take too much pride in my defense to ever let (offensive struggles) affect me or affect my team. The one thing I can control is how I play defense."
Punto also became famous for his renowned "Punto Slush," over the course of the 2007 season. Then-reigning American League MVP Justin Morneau made a habit of eating the same meal before a game, which included a turkey sandwich and a Mountain Dew slush made by Nick Punto.
Punto signed a new two-year deal with the Twins worth $8.5 million following the 2008 season, with a club option for 2011 worth $5 million.
Punto represented Team Italy in the 2009 World Baseball Classic
.
. After returning from the disabled list
, Punto was re-inserted into the regular lineup at second base, following the struggles of infielders Alexi Casilla
and Matt Tolbert
. He finished the season batting .228 with 38 RBI over 440 plate appearances.
, but he continued to play regularly due to injuries to Orlando Hudson
and J.J. Hardy
.
On July 30, the Twins placed Punto on the disabled list again due to a strained hamstring. Through the end of July, Punto had appeared in 80 games, hitting .251 with a .642 OPS.
On October 29, the Twins declined Punto's $5 million team option, making him a free agent.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
utility player
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
. He has played second base, third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
, shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
, and center field. Punto is a switch hitter
Switch hitter
In baseball, a switch-hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed.-Baseball:Usually, right-handed batters hit better against left-handed pitchers and vice-versa. Most curveballs break away from batters hitting from the same side as the opposing pitcher. Such pitches are often...
and throws right-handed.
Punto is a 1996 graduate of Trabuco Hills High School
Trabuco Hills High School
Trabuco Hills High School is a high school in Mission Viejo, California, United States. It is the largest school in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District in terms of attendance, with over 3,400 students enrolled as of the 2010-2011 school year....
in Mission Viejo, California
Mission Viejo, California
Mission Viejo is a city located in southern Orange County, California, U.S. in the Saddleback Valley. Mission Viejo is considered one of the largest master-planned communities ever built under a single project in the United States, and is rivaled only by Highlands Ranch, Colorado, in its size...
. After high school, he attended Saddleback College
Saddleback College
The athletic programs are supported in part by the Associated Student Body at Saddleback College. Revenue generated from attendance at athletic events helps support the entire student activities program.-On-campus media outlets:*The Lariat...
, also in Mission Viejo. His father, Lou, was drafted by the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. Nick and his wife, Natalie have two children, Nicole Jayne born on May 30, 2008 and a son, Nash.
Punto made his major league debut with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
on September 9, . After playing in a career-high 64 major-league games in , he was acquired by the Twins in the offseason (along with Carlos Silva) for Eric Milton
Eric Milton
Eric Robert Milton is a former American left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball...
. 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
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
. In , he competed for the starting job at second base, which he eventually won, and in became the starting third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
.
Punto was one of four Twins players nicknamed "The Piranhas"
Piranhas (baseball)
"Piranhas" was a nickname applied to a group of hitters for the Minnesota Twins baseball team. Specifically, the term applied to shortstop Jason Bartlett, third baseman Nick Punto, outfielder Jason Tyner, and second baseman Luis Castillo.Midway through the 2006 season, the Twins opted for a...
by White Sox manager, Ozzie Guillén
Ozzie Guillén
Oswaldo José "Ozzie" Guillén Barrios is a Venezuelan-American former Major League Baseball player and current manager of the Miami Marlins. He managed the Chicago White Sox from 2004 to 2011 before asking for his release at the end of the 2011 season....
. The Twins have since embraced the term as affirmation of their selfless, aggressive play. The other Piranhas were Jason Tyner
Jason Tyner
Jason Renyt Tyner is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. Tyner stands at 6'1" tall and weighs 175 pounds...
, Jason Bartlett, and Luis Castillo. His Twins teammates called him "The Human Highlight Reel", in reference to his defensive prowess.
2005 season
In 2005 Nick Punto batted .239, with a career high 4 home runs, and 26 runs batted in over the duration of 112 games.2006 season
Punto had his best full season in Minnesota during the 2006 season when he batted .290 with 45 runs batted in, and posted 17 stolen bases in 135 games.2007 season
José Lind
José Lind Salgado, nicknamed "Chico", is a former Major League Baseball player, and former manager of the Atlantic League's Bridgeport Bluefish. He is the cousin of Onix Concepcion, another MLB player. Primarily a second baseman, Lind was highly regarded for his defensive skills, winning a Gold...
recorded a .269 slugging percentage for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in . Punto also posted a −27.1 VORP
Value over replacement player
In baseball, value over replacement player is a statistic popularized by Keith Woolner that demonstrates how much a hitter contributes offensively or how much a pitcher contributes to his team in comparison to a fictitious "replacement player," who is an average fielder at his position and a below...
in 2007, 8.5 runs worse than the second-worst position player in baseball, White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
infielder Andy González. However, he has always played excellent defense and believed in his defensive abilities which the Twins are so keen on. On May 27 during an MPR broadcast Punto said, "I take too much pride in my defense to ever let (offensive struggles) affect me or affect my team. The one thing I can control is how I play defense."
Punto also became famous for his renowned "Punto Slush," over the course of the 2007 season. Then-reigning American League MVP Justin Morneau made a habit of eating the same meal before a game, which included a turkey sandwich and a Mountain Dew slush made by Nick Punto.
2008 season
After being injured most of the first half of the season, Punto was activated from the DL on June 25, 2008 and finished the season batting .284 with 28 runs batted in. Punto spent most of the 2008 season as the Twins' primary shortstop.Punto signed a new two-year deal with the Twins worth $8.5 million following the 2008 season, with a club option for 2011 worth $5 million.
Punto represented Team Italy in the 2009 World Baseball Classic
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
.
2009 season
After struggling as the Twins regular shortstop, Punto began losing time in the lineup to fellow Twin Brendan HarrisBrendan Harris
Brendan Michael Harris Brendan Michael Harris Brendan Michael Harris (born August 26, 1980 in Albany, New York is a Major League Baseball utility infielder who is a free agent.Brendan grew up in Queensbury, New York and led the Spartans to the 1998 State Baseball Tournament. He graduated from the...
. After returning from the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
, Punto was re-inserted into the regular lineup at second base, following the struggles of infielders Alexi Casilla
Alexi Casilla
Alexi Casilla Lora is a Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop for the Minnesota Twins.-Professional career:...
and Matt Tolbert
Matt Tolbert
Christopher Matthew Tolbert is an American professional baseball second baseman who is a free agent. After graduating from Centreville Academy in 2000, Tolbert attended University of Mississippi for four years; he was later drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2003 and the Minnesota Twins in 2004...
. He finished the season batting .228 with 38 RBI over 440 plate appearances.
2010 season
Punto began the season as the Twins' starting third baseman, but ended up on the disabled list before the end of April with a strained groin muscle. Punto returned to the lineup in May, playing at third base, shortstop, and second base as injuries cropped up among other players. In July, he was essentially replaced as the starter at third base by Danny ValenciaDanny Valencia
Daniel Paul Valencia is a third baseman for the Minnesota Twins.In high school, he was all-county three times and all-state twice. In college, he was Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, second-team all-conference, and on his all-regional team...
, but he continued to play regularly due to injuries to Orlando Hudson
Orlando Hudson
Orlando Thill Hudson is an American professional baseball second baseman with the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball.-Early life and high school career:...
and J.J. Hardy
J.J. Hardy
James Jerry "J.J." Hardy is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles.-Early life:...
.
On July 30, the Twins placed Punto on the disabled list again due to a strained hamstring. Through the end of July, Punto had appeared in 80 games, hitting .251 with a .642 OPS.
On October 29, the Twins declined Punto's $5 million team option, making him a free agent.