Nick Punto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nick Punto |
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Punto with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011
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| San Diego Padres | |||
| Infielder / Coach | |||
| Born: November 8, 1977 San Diego, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 9, 2001, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 27, 2014, for the Oakland Athletics | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .245 | ||
| Home runs | 19 | ||
| Runs batted in | 263 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Nicholas Paul Punto, born on November 8, 1977, is an American baseball player who used to play professionally. He was an infielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Nick played for several teams, including the Philadelphia Phillies, Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Oakland Athletics. He even won the 2011 World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals! After his playing career, he became a coach for the San Diego Padres. Nick also played for the Italian national baseball team in the World Baseball Classic.
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Nick Punto's Baseball Journey
Starting Out in Baseball
Nick Punto went to Trabuco Hills High School in Mission Viejo, California. The Minnesota Twins first picked him in the 1997 MLB draft, but he decided not to sign with them. Instead, he went to Saddleback College.
The Philadelphia Phillies then drafted him in 1998. Before reaching the major leagues, Nick played for several of the Phillies' minor league teams. These included the Clearwater Phillies, Batavia Muckdogs, Reading Phillies, and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons.
Playing for the Philadelphia Phillies (2001-2003)
Nick Punto made his first appearance in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies on September 9, 2001. In his debut, he got a hit as a pinch hitter. He played only four games that season, getting two hits.
In 2002, while playing for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, Nick had a great year. He hit for a .271 average and stole 42 bases. His strong performance earned him a spot as an International League All-Star.
During his three years with the Phillies, Nick played in 77 games. He hit his first and only home run with the team on July 10, 2003, against the New York Mets.
Time with the Minnesota Twins (2004-2010)
After playing 64 games in 2003, Nick Punto joined the Minnesota Twins in December 2003. He was part of a trade that brought him and two other players to the Twins.
In 2004, he started the season with the Twins but spent most of it on the disabled list due to injuries. In 2005, he became the starting second baseman for the team. The next year, in 2006, he moved to become the starting third baseman.
Nick was one of four Twins players nicknamed "the Piranhas" by a rival manager. This nickname was given because of their aggressive style of play.
In 2005, Nick hit four home runs, which was a career high for him at the time. He also had 26 RBI in 112 games.
His best full season with the Twins was in 2006. He had a .290 batting average, one home run, and 45 RBI. He also stole 17 bases in 135 games.
In 2007, Nick had a tougher year at the plate, hitting .210. However, he was always known for his excellent defense. He believed his strong defense could make up for any struggles with hitting.
After being injured for much of the first half of 2008, Nick returned to play 99 games. He finished the season with a .284 batting average. He mostly played as the Twins' main shortstop that year.
In December 2008, Nick signed a new two-year contract with the Twins. He also played for Team Italy in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
In 2009, Nick struggled as the regular shortstop and started losing playing time. He later returned to play second base. He finished that season with a .228 batting average.
Nick started the 2010 season as the Twins' starting third baseman. However, he got injured again in April. He continued to play various infield positions throughout the season as other players faced injuries.
The Twins decided not to keep Nick for the 2011 season, making him a free agent. He played 747 games for the Twins over seven years.
Winning the World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals (2011)
On January 21, 2011, Nick Punto signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. He played in 63 games for the Cardinals, mostly as a utility player, meaning he could play many different positions.
He had a good year at the plate, hitting .278. Nick was part of the Cardinals team that won the 2011 World Series against the Texas Rangers. This victory gave Nick his first World Series championship ring!
Playing for the Boston Red Sox (2012)
In December 2011, Nick Punto joined the Boston Red Sox on a two-year contract. In 65 games with the Red Sox in 2012, he hit .200. He played games at second base, third base, shortstop, and even first base.
Time with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2012-2013)
On August 25, 2012, Nick was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. This trade involved several well-known players. He played in 22 games for the Dodgers that season and hit .286.
Nick also represented Italy again in the 2013 World Baseball Classic in March 2013. He had a very strong performance, hitting .421 in five games.
In the 2013 season, Nick played a lot at shortstop because of injuries to another player. He appeared in 116 games, which was his most since 2009. He hit .255 with two home runs that year.
Final Season with the Oakland Athletics (2014)
On November 13, 2013, Nick Punto signed a one-year contract with the Oakland Athletics. His hitting numbers dropped a bit from the previous year. He hit .207 with two home runs in 73 games.
The Athletics released him in December 2014.
Retirement from Playing
In January 2015, Nick signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. However, he decided not to report to spring training and took the year off from baseball. He officially announced his retirement from playing baseball on February 18, 2016.
Coaching Career
On January 9, 2025, it was announced that Nick Punto would be joining the major league coaching staff of the San Diego Padres.
Achievements and Recognition
Nick Punto was honored by being inducted into the Saddleback College Athletics Hall of Fame. He joined other famous baseball players like Tim Wallach and Mark Grace in this hall of fame.
Images for kids
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Punto with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011
