Nick Punto
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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|---|---|
| Minnesota Twins — No. 8 | |
| Second base | |
| Born: November 8, 1977 | |
| Bats: Switch | Throws: Right |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
| September 9, 2001 for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Selected MLB statistics (through June 5, 2008) |
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| Batting average | .247 |
| Stolen bases | 58 |
| Hits | 389 |
| Teams | |
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Nicholas Paul Punto (born November 8, 1977, in San Diego, California) is a 5' 9" Major League Baseball infielder. He can play second base, third base, or shortstop. Punto is a switch hitter, throws right-handed, and wears number 8.
Punto is a 1996 graduate of Trabuco Hills High School in Mission Viejo, California. After high school, he attended Saddleback College, also in Mission Viejo. His father, Lou, was drafted by the Boston Red Sox.
Punto made his Major League debut with the Philadelphia Phillies on September 9, 2001. After playing in a career-high 64 major-league games in 2003, he was acquired by the Twins in 2004 (along with Carlos Silva) for Eric Milton. He started the season with the team, but he was injured twice and spent the majority of his time in 2004 on the disabled list. In 2005, he competed for the starting job at second base, which he eventually won, and in 2006 became the starting third baseman.
Punto is one of four Twins players nicknamed "The Piranhas" by White Sox manager, Ozzie Guillen. The Twins have embraced the term. The other Piranhas were Jason Tyner, Jason Bartlett, and Luis Castillo. Punto is the only one of these four players who remains with the Twins.
In 2007, Punto posted the lowest slugging percentage (.271) of any major-league player with at least 200 at-bats. This was the lowest slugging percentage by a player with over 400 at-bats since José Lind recorded a .269 slugging percentage for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992. Punto also posted a -27.1 VORP in 2007, 8.5 runs worse than the second-worst position player in baseball, White Sox infielder Andy Gonzalez.
[edit] Personal life
Nick and his wife, Natalie have one child, Nicole Jayne born on May 30, 2008.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Punto on his '07 struggles & more (Minnesota Public Radio)
- The unlikely third baseman (Minnesota Public Radio)
- Nicky Hustle (Minnesota Public Radio)
- Official Nick Punto Fan Club
