Omar Infante facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Omar Infante |
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Infante with the Kansas City Royals
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| Second baseman | |||
| Born: December 26, 1981 Puerto la Cruz, Anzoátegui, Venezuela |
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| debut | |||
| September 7, 2002, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 6, 2016, for the Kansas City Royals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .271 | ||
| Home runs | 82 | ||
| Runs batted in | 542 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Omar Rafael Infante (born December 26, 1981) is a former professional baseball player from Venezuela. He played as a second baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB). Omar played for several teams, including the Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, and Kansas City Royals. He was chosen as an All-Star in 2010. Omar also won a World Series championship in 2015. While he mostly played second base, he could play almost any position on the field.
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Omar Infante's Baseball Journey
Starting with the Detroit Tigers
Omar Infante first played in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers on September 7, 2002. He began the 2003 season as the starting shortstop for the team. However, he struggled a bit at first, hitting .222.
In 2004, Omar got another big chance. The Tigers brought in Carlos Guillén for shortstop. But when their second baseman, Fernando Viña, got injured, Omar stepped in. He played well, showing good defense and hitting .264 with 16 home runs. This made people think he could become a star.
However, in 2005, the Tigers traded for Plácido Polanco, who became the new starting second baseman. Omar then moved to a bench role. He became a very useful player, able to play many different positions for the team. In 2007, he played seven different spots on the field.
Brief Time with the Cubs
On November 12, 2007, Omar Infante was traded to the Chicago Cubs. But he didn't stay there long! On December 4, 2007, he was traded again, this time to the Atlanta Braves. He never actually played a game for the Cubs.
Playing for the Atlanta Braves
Omar signed a new contract with the Atlanta Braves in January 2009. He became a very important "utility player" for them. This means he was good at playing many different positions when needed.
In 2010, Omar was picked for the National League All-Star Team. This was his first time being an All-Star, and it showed how valuable he was. Six players from the Braves made the All-Star team that year!
Time with the Florida/Miami Marlins
After the 2010 season, Omar Infante was traded to the Florida Marlins. He signed a two-year contract extension with them in 2011.
In 2011, Omar was amazing at fielding. He led all of Major League Baseball in "fielding assists." This means he helped get more outs than anyone else by throwing the ball to other players. On June 21, 2012, Omar played in his 1000th career game.
Back with the Detroit Tigers
On July 23, 2012, Omar Infante was traded back to the Detroit Tigers. This was his second time playing for the team.
During the 2012 World Series, Omar unfortunately broke his left hand when he was hit by a pitch. Even with injuries, he had a great 2013 season for the Tigers. He hit .318, which was one of his best batting averages ever. He also hit 10 home runs and had 51 RBI.
Joining the Kansas City Royals
On December 16, 2013, Omar Infante signed a four-year contract with the Kansas City Royals. He became a key player for them.
In 2014, Omar had a career-high 66 RBI. He also hit a big 2-run home run in Game 2 of the 2014 World Series. This helped the Royals win that game against the San Francisco Giants.
During the 2015 season, Omar played excellent defense alongside shortstop Alcides Escobar. He also had a fantastic game on September 18, 2015, where he brought in a career-high seven runs! The Royals later acquired another player, Ben Zobrist, who took over the starting second base job. Even though Omar played less, he still won his first championship when the Royals won the World Series in 2015.
Omar left the Royals in June 2016.
Another Stint with the Braves
On June 30, 2016, Omar Infante agreed to play for the Atlanta Braves again, but this time in their minor league system. He was released by the Braves in August.
Third Time with the Detroit Tigers
On December 9, 2016, the Detroit Tigers signed Omar Infante to a minor league contract. He played the 2017 season with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. He played in 123 games and hit .282. After that season, he became a free agent.
See also
In Spanish: Omar Infante para niños
- List of Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
