Tony Batista

Infobox MLB player
name=Tony Batista


width=200
birthdate=birth date and age|1973|12|9
position=Infielder
team=Free Agent
number=--
bats=Right
throws=Right
debutdate=June 3
debutyear=1996
debutteam=Oakland Athletics
statyear=2007
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.251
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=221
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=718
teams=
*Oakland Athletics (by|1996–by|1997)
*Arizona Diamondbacks (by|1998–by|1999)
*Toronto Blue Jays (by|1999–by|2001)
*Baltimore Orioles (by|2001–by|2003)
*Montreal Expos (by|2004)
*Fukuoka Softbank Hawks (by|2005) (NPB)
*Minnesota Twins (by|2006)
*Washington Nationals (by|2007)

Leocadio Francisco "Tony" Batista (born December 9, 1973 in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic) is an infielder who is currently a free agent. He previously played in the major leagues from by|1996 to by|2004, and with the Softbank Hawks of the Japanese Pacific League in by|2005. After the season ended, he was released by the Hawks because of his low on-base percentage, and the team's policy of raising young players.

His major league career began in 1996. He played for the Oakland A's, the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Baltimore Orioles, and the Montreal Expos, before moving on to Japan for the 2005 season.

He has played first base, second base, shortstop, third base and designated hitter. He is known for his strange batting routine.

He has good power, hitting 221 home runs, but has only a .251 batting average. His biggest offensive problem is that he seldom walks, and he has a very low .298 OBP.

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

Blue Jays years (1999-2001)

Tony Batista was acquired out of necessity by the Toronto Blue Jays when they learned that their starting shortstop Alex Gonzalez, would be lost to them for the season in June of by|1999. [cite web |url=http://bvtn.blogspot.com/2007/12/batista-frascatore-for-plesac-trade.html |title=Batista, Frascatore for Plesac trade] Batista became a dependable player for the Jays but after two good seasons, he was released in by|2001 and joined the Baltimore Orioles

2005 Season

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

2007 Season

On February 14, by|2007, he signed a minor-league deal with the Washington Nationals. He joined the Nationals' major-league roster on May 8, 2007. He started a few games at first base, and was used mainly as a pinch-hitter. On December 17, 2007, the Nationals outrighted him to the minor leagues [ [http://sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/7409 Tony Batista MLB Baseball at CBSSports.com ] ] , and on March 10, by|2008, Batista signed a minor league contract with the Nationals, but was released in early May.

ee also

* Top 500 home run hitters of all time
* List of Baltimore Orioles Opening Day Starting Lineups

References

External links

* [http://www.publicradio.org/columns/minnesota/baseball/archive/2006/04/a_man_on_a_miss.php Tony Batista: A Man on a Mission (Minnesota Public Radio)]
*YouTube|MyCksO5mktQ|Tony Batista startling a Japanese pitcher after getting hit by a pitch
* [http://sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/7409]