Antonio Alfonseca

Infobox MLB player
name=Antonio Alfonseca

---

width=300
position=Relief pitcher
team=Free Agent
number=--
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1972|4|16
birthplace=city-state|La Romana|Dominican Republic
debutdate=June 17
debutyear=1997
debutteam=Florida Marlins
statyear=2008 season
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=35-37
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=4.11
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=400
stat4label=Saves
stat4value=129
teams=
*Florida Marlins (by|1997-by|2001)
*Chicago Cubs (by|2002-by|2003)
*Atlanta Braves (by|2004)
*Florida Marlins (by|2005)
*Texas Rangers (by|2006)
*Philadelphia Phillies (by|2007)

Antonio Alfonseca (born April 16, 1972 in La Romana, Dominican Republic) is a right-handed pitcher, who last pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies, who is also known for his extra digit on each hand and foot. Alfonseca has also played for the Florida Marlins (by|1997-by|2001, by|2005), the Chicago Cubs (by|2002-by|2003), the Atlanta Braves (by|2004), and the Texas Rangers (by|2006). He was signed by the Phillies on January 14, by|2007. He is currently a free agent.

Alfonseca was originally signed by the Montreal Expos as a non-drafted free agent in July by|1989. On December 13, by|1993, he was taken by the Florida Marlins from the Montreal Expos in the 1993 expansion draft.

His best year was in by|2000 with the Marlins when he led the National League in saves with 45, and won the National League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year.

At the end of the by|2001 season, Alfonseca had surgery to repair a herniated disc. Subsequently, the Marlins asked Alfonseca to lose 15 pounds to help to relieve stress on his back. At a weigh-in during by|2002 spring training, Alfonseca had a confrontation with Dale Torborg, the son of then manager Jeff Torborg. [cite news | url=http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/0328/1359448.html | publisher=ESPN.com | date=March 28, 2002 | title=Incident reportedly did not lead to trade] While the Marlins denied any connection, shortly afterwards, on March 27, 2002, he was traded, along with Matt Clement, to the Chicago Cubs for Julian Tavarez, Ryan Jorgensen, Dontrelle Willis, and Jose Cueto.

On September 2, by|2003, while with the Cubs, Alfonseca was thrown out of a game for bumping an umpire with his stomach. [ [http://www.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20030902&content_id=508885&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chn "Alfonseca, Alou ejected"] , Carrie Muskat, MLB.com, September 2, 2003] He was subsequently suspended for five games. [ [http://www.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20030906&content_id=514856&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chn "Alfonseca to miss five games"] , Carrie Muskat, MLB.com, September 2, 2003]

After the by|2004 season, he filed for free agency, and signed back with the Marlins, but in July by|2005, he went down due to a right elbow injury and missed the rest of the season. He was released by the Marlins, signed with the Rangers, but after another mid-season elbow injury was released by them. The Phillies signed him in January 2007.

His nicknames are "El Pulpo" ("The Octopus"), "The Dragonslayer", and "Six-Fingers". He has six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, a condition known as polydactyly. His grandfather also had this trait. Alfonseca regards it with pride, as a kind of family emblem. [ [http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/041406dnsporanglede.1c489e86.html "Rangers' Alfonseca relies on sinker, not a little extra"] , Evan Grant, The Dallas Morning News, April 13, 2006.] The extra finger has no influence on his pitching, as it does not touch the ball.

ee also

*List of Major League Baseball saves champions
*List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders

References

External links

* [http://www.theonion.com/content/node/41417 Onion article satirizing Alfonseca's polydactyly]