Omar Infante
Encyclopedia
Omar Rafael Infante [in-FAHN-tay] (born December 26, 1981 in Puerto la Cruz
, Anzoátegui, Venezuela
) is a Major League Baseball
utility player
who is currently on the Miami Marlins. He bats and throws right-handed.
In his career, Infante is a .272 hitter with 46 home run
s and 295 RBI
in 892 games
.
. Ramón Santiago
, considered a better glove-man started the season at second base. Considered 2 of the Tigers better prospects, both proved overmatched; Infante hit only .222 with 0 home runs and 8 RBI in over 200 at-bats. Midway through the season, Tigers manager Alan Trammell
sent Infante to the minor leagues for failiing to hustle on a consistent basis. Santiago switched to shortstop after Infante was sent down.
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 (Ramón 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 RBI 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.
for Jacque Jones
. On December 4, 2007 Infante was traded again, this time along with Will Ohman
to the Atlanta Braves
for Jose Ascanio
. A Cub for less than a month during the off-season, Infante never appeared in a game.
.
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.
were traded to the Florida Marlins for second baseman Dan Uggla
. On September 27 it was announced that Infante and the Marlins had agreed on a two-year extension, worth around $8 million.
Puerto la Cruz
Puerto la Cruz is a port city located in Anzoátegui State, in Venezuela. It is the seat of the Juan Antonio Sotillo Municipality. The city has road connections to the state capital, Barcelona, to Lecheria and to Guanta, and has the potential to become the largest and most important metropolitan...
, Anzoátegui, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
) is a Major League Baseball
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....
who is currently on the Miami Marlins. He bats and throws right-handed.
In his career, Infante is a .272 hitter with 46 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 295 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 892 games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
.
Detroit Tigers
Infante entered the 2003 season as the starting shortstop for the Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. Ramón Santiago
Ramón Santiago
Ramón D. Santiago is a Major League Baseball shortstop. He has spent most of his major league career at shortstop, but has also played a significant amount of time at second base...
, considered a better glove-man started the season at second base. Considered 2 of the Tigers better prospects, both proved overmatched; Infante hit only .222 with 0 home runs and 8 RBI in over 200 at-bats. Midway through the season, Tigers manager Alan Trammell
Alan Trammell
Alan Stuart Trammell is a retired American baseball shortstop of the Detroit Tigers from to . Trammell, nicknamed "Tram", played his entire career with the Tigers, highlighted by a World Series championship in and an American League East division championship in . Although his arm was not...
sent Infante to the minor leagues for failiing to hustle on a consistent basis. Santiago switched to shortstop after Infante was sent down.
In 2004, Infante lost any chance to claim the starting shortstop role when the Tigers acquired Carlos Guillén
Carlos Guillén
Carlos Alfonso Guillén is a Major League Baseball second baseman and switch-hitter....
, who went on to be an All-Star that year (Ramón Santiago had been included in the trade for Guillén) . With Guillén at 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 free agent acquisition Fernando Viña
Fernando Viña
Fernando Viña is a retired Cuban-American Major League Baseball second baseman and current MLB analyst for Oakland Athletics...
at second base, Infante was likely to spend much of the season in the minors
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. 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 RBI 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
Plácido Polanco
Plácido Enrique Polanco is a Major League Baseball player who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies and has also played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers. He is a third baseman, but in the past has played second base and shortstop...
, who had been filling a utility role 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...
. 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 CubsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
for Jacque Jones
Jacque Jones
Jacque Dewayne Jones is a Major League Baseball outfielder who currently is a free agent-Early life:...
. On December 4, 2007 Infante was traded again, this time along with Will Ohman
Will Ohman
William McDaniel Ohman is a left-handed pitcher, who is currently a member of the Chicago White Sox. He lives in Agoura Hills, California.-Chicago Cubs:...
to the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
for Jose Ascanio
Jose Ascanio
José Eleazar Ascanio is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball.-Baseball career:...
. 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 BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
.
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 DunnMichael Dunn (baseball)
Michael G. Dunn is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Miami Marlins.-Baseball career:Dunn played collegiate baseball for the Community College of Southern Nevada from 2003 to 2005...
were traded to the Florida Marlins for second baseman Dan Uggla
Dan Uggla
Daniel Cooley Uggla is an American professional baseball second baseman with the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball....
. On September 27 it was announced that Infante and the Marlins had agreed on a two-year extension, worth around $8 million.