Manny Acosta

Manuel Alcides "Manny" Acosta Molina (born January 25, 1981) signed by Sam Beyda is a Panamanian professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent.

Professional career

New York Yankees

Acosta was signed as an undrafted free agent by head coach Joe Terzi of the New York Yankees on January 6, 1998. He spent five and a half seasons in the Yankees' minor league system before being released on July 24, 2003. Prior to his release, Acosta had gone 0–8 with a 6.40 ERA in 15 games.

Atlanta Braves

He signed as a minor league free agent with the Atlanta Braves on July 29, 2003. He fared slightly better with Atlanta's high-A team, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, recording a 6.39 ERA and winning two games. In the minors he took home 8 championships under coach Allan Bailey.

In 2004, Acosta began the season with the rookie-level Gulf Coast Braves. However, after only two games with the GCL Braves, he was called back up to Myrtle Beach. He started the next reason with the Rookie-level Danville Braves. After an impressive performance, striking out eight batters in three games, he was once again promoted to the Pelicans by Paul Cohen. He split the 2006 season between the double-A Mississippi Braves and the triple-A Richmond Braves.

Acosta closing for the Braves in 2008.

Acosta pitched for Panama in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He had an 0–1 record during the event. On October 12, 2006, the Braves purchased Acosta's contract and added him to their 40-man roster.

On August 10, 2007, Acosta was called up to the big leagues after Octavio Dotel hit the DL. He made his big league debut on August 12 pitching a scoreless inning of relief against the Philadelphia Phillies. He earned his first major league victory on September 23, against the Milwaukee Brewers. He finished the season 1–1 with a 2.28 ERA.

Acosta entered the 2008 season as a middle relief pitcher. But after Rafael Soriano and Peter Moylan were quickly placed on the DL, Acosta found himself in the closer role where he has struggled. He recorded his first major league save on April 19 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

New York Mets

On March 30, 2010, the New York Mets claimed Acosta off waivers from the Braves.

The Mets purchased his contract on June 3, 2011,^[1] as Michael O'Connor was sent down.

On May 29, 2012, Acosta was designated for assignment. His ERA for the 2012 season with the Mets was 11.86, with six home runs given up in 22 innings pitched. The Mets re-added him to the 40-man roster on July 24.

Japan

For the 2013 season, Acosta signed with the Yomiuri Giants to a 1-year $1.65m deal.

Charros de Jalisco

For the 2014-2015 season, Acosta pitched for the Charros de Jalisco in the Mexican Pacific League, a winter league.^[2]

Diablos rojos del Mexico

He was released on September 23, 2016.

Pitching style

Acosta throws three pitches: a four-seam fastball, his primary pitch, at 92–96 mph; a slider (79–82); and a changeup (84–88), a pitch used almost exclusively against left-handed hitters. Acosta's delivery twists his body toward first base, giving him a release point almost directly "over the top."^[3]

References

↑ "Mets promote P Acosta". The Sports Network. Miami Herald. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
↑ Alarcón, Roberto. "Charros, a la final de la LMP". Informador.mx. El Informador. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
↑ "Brooks Baseball · Home of the PitchFX Tool - Player Card: Manny Acosta". Brooks Baseball. Retrieved 12 May 2012.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Manny Acosta.

Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
Baseball America Statistics

Panama 2006 World Baseball Classic roster

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