Omar Infante

Omar Infante
Infante in 2012 for Detroit
Detroit Tigers – No. 4
Second baseman
Born: (1981-12-26) December 26, 1981 Puerto la Cruz, Anzoátegui, Venezuela
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 7, 2002 for the Detroit Tigers
Career statistics (through May 22, 2013)
Batting average	.276
Hits	1,069
Home runs	67
Runs batted in	385
Teams
Detroit Tigers (2002–2007) Atlanta Braves (2008–2010) Florida/Miami Marlins (2011–2012) Detroit Tigers (2012–present)
Career highlights and awards
All-Star (2010)

Omar Rafael Infante [in-FAHN-tay] (born December 26, 1981) is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed.

In his career, Infante is a .276 hitter with 59 home runs and 347 runs batted in (RBIs) in 1019 games.

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. Midway through the season, Tigers manager Alan Trammell sent Infante to the minor leagues for failing to hustle on a consistent basis.^{[citation needed]} 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 (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.^{[citation needed]} On December 4, 2007 Infante was traded again, this time along with Will Ohman to the Atlanta Braves for José Ascanio. 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.

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. On September 27, 2011, it was announced that Infante and the Marlins had agreed on a two-year extension, worth around $8 million.

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.

See also

• List of players from Venezuela in Major League Baseball

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)