Manny Acosta

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Manny Acosta

| image = Manny Acosta on October 3, 2010 (2).jpg

| caption = Acosta with the New York Mets in 2010

| team = Free agent

| number =

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1981|5|1}}

| birth_place = Colón, Panama

| bats = Switch

| throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = August 12

| debutyear = 2007

| debutteam = Atlanta Braves

|debut2league=NPB

|debut2date=March 30

|debut2year=2013

|debut2team=Yomiuri Giants

|statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 13–13

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 3.99

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 219

|stat2league=NPB

|stat21label=Win–loss record

|stat21value=1–0

|stat22label=Earned run average

|stat22value=5.54

|stat23label=Strikeouts

|stat23value=12

| teams =

Atlanta Braves ({{mlby|2007}}–{{mlby|2009}})
New York Mets ({{mlby|2010}}–{{mlby|2012}})
Yomiuri Giants ({{npby|2013}})

}}

Manuel Alcides Acosta Molinar (born May 1, 1981) is a Panamanian professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yomiuri Giants.

Professional career

=New York Yankees=

Acosta was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Yankees on January 6, {{By|1998}}. He spent five and a half seasons in the Yankees' minor league system before being released on July 24, {{By|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 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 Teddy Beyda.

In {{By|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. He split the {{By|2006}} season between the double-A Mississippi Braves and the triple-A Richmond Braves.

File:Manny Acosta2.jpg

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, {{By|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,{{cite web|title=Mets promote P Acosta|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/06/03/2249634/mets-promote-p-acosta.html|work=The Sports Network|publisher=Miami Herald|accessdate=3 June 2011}} 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.

=Yomiuri Giants=

On December 13, 2012, Acosta signed a one-year, $1.65 million contract with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/manny-acosta-signs-with-japanese-team|title=Manny Acosta signs with Japanese team|date=December 13, 2012|access-date=December 3, 2024|work=NBC Sports|last=Short|first=D. J.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923084822/https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/manny-acosta-signs-with-japanese-team|archive-date=September 23, 2023|url-status=live}} Acosta made 14 appearances for Yomiuri in 2013, compiling a 1-0 record and 5.54 ERA with 12 strikeouts over 13 innings of work.

=Diablos Rojos del Mexico=

On March 29, 2014, Acosta signed with the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League. In 52 appearances out of the bullpen, he logged a 6-4 record and 3.96 ERA with 59 strikeouts and 20 saves over {{fraction|52|1|3}} innings pitched. During the offseason, Acosta pitched for the Charros de Jalisco in the Mexican Pacific League, a winter league.{{cite web|last1=Alarcón|first1=Roberto|title=Charros, a la final de la LMP|url=http://www.informador.com.mx/deportes/2015/571308/6/charros-a-la-final-de-la-lmp.htm|website=Informador.mx|publisher=El Informador|accessdate=23 January 2015}} Acosta made 2 scoreless appearances for México during the 2015 season, striking out 3 batters across {{fraction|1|1|3}} innings pitched.

Acosta pitched in 49 contests for the Diablos in 2016, compiling a 6-5 record and 4.40 ERA with 50 strikeouts and 14 saves across {{fraction|57|1|3}} innings pitched. He was released by the Diablos on September 23, 2016.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

=Sultanes de Monterrey=

On February 20, 2018, Acosta signed with the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League. In 40 appearances for Monterrey, he posted a 3.94 ERA with 34 strikeouts across {{fraction|41|1|3}} innings of work. Acosta was released by the Sultanes on August 10.

=Diablos Rojos del México (second stint)=

On August 16, 2018, Acosta signed with the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League. In 7 appearances for the team, he posted a 2-0 record and 1.04 ERA with 6 strikeouts and 5 saves across {{fraction|8|2|3}} innings pitched. Acosta became a free agent following the season.

=Bravos de León=

On March 12, 2019, Acosta signed with the Bravos de León of the Mexican League. In 43 relief appearances for León, he registered a 3-3 record and 3.86 ERA with 52 strikeouts and 17 saves across {{fraction|44|1|3}} innings pitched.

Acosta did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Mexican League season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/07/mexican-league-cancels-2020-season.html|title=Mexican League Cancels 2020 Season|date=July 2020 }} He was released by the Bravos on March 9, 2021.

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."{{cite web|url=http://brooksbaseball.net/player_cards/player_card.php?player=407924|title=Brooks Baseball · Home of the PitchFX Tool - Player Card: Manny Acosta|publisher=Brooks Baseball|accessdate=12 May 2012}}