Appreciating Omar Infante
Somewhere right around the year 2003, I asked Omar Vizquel who he perceived to be the next up-and-coming shortstop, a player who might follow in his cleat prints, although, of course, to a much lesser extent— shortstops like Vizquel come along about as often as Haley’s Comet soars across our night sky.
The 11-time Gold Glove winner (only Ozzie Smith with 13 has more as a shortstop) surprised me when he quickly replied Omar Infante. To this day I’m not sure if the playful Vizquel was indulging in word play when he selected another “Omar,” or if he was being loyal to a fellow native of Venezuela, but I sensed he really did see a great deal of potential in the then 21-year-old Infante, and when Vizquel talks defense, you listen. No longer a shortstop—he never quite lived up to Vizquel’s vision— Infante is, nevertheless, a key cog in the amazing Kansas City machine of 2014.
Infante, a 5’ 11”, 195 pound lifetime .276 hitter, was signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent in 1999. Three years later, in September of 2002, he made his major league debut as the second youngest player in the Bigs at the time, playing in 18 games for the Tigers. Since then the versatile Infante has played all three outfield positions (sparingly), third base (in 107 contests), shortstop for a grand total of 225 games, and has lately settled into his role as a pretty reliable second baseman—the bulk of his career has been at that position, 882 games in all.
Infante has also traveled around the majors quite a bit, going from the Tigers (2002-2007), to the Braves (2008-2010) where he made one All-Star squad, to the Marlins (2011 and part of 2012). He was then traded in July of 2012 to Detroit along with Anibal Sanchez (through 2013), and he finally moved on to Kansas City this season after signing with them as a free agent last December, displaying impeccable timing.
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Kings of Kauffman
Infante, it might be argued, has been coming into his own of late. In 2011, his 466 assists topped his league, and he also ranked first in the NL in a defensive category known as total zone runs as a second baseman. Likewise, in 2011 (and again in 2012) he led his league in Range Factor per Game by a second baseman. Furthermore, he ranked fourth in the NL in that department in 2004. In 2011 his 260 putouts were the fifth most by a second sacker, and he helped turn 75 double plays for the fifth highest total by a second baseman.
A scrappy hitter, Infante’s second best season batting average also came late in his career, .318 in 2013, just three points off his apex from 2010 when he finished third in hitting in the NL. His 68 runs driven in this season represents a personal high, again supporting those who see Infante as being in (or still being pretty close to) his prime.
Plus, he makes himself valuable in little ways— basic ways, like putting the ball in play and being able to move runners along. In 2010 he was the tenth toughest batter to fan in his league and he improved by one notch the next season. Among active players only 35 men have a better at bats-to-strikeouts ratio than Infante’s 6.9. Twice he finished in the top 10 for sacrifices, in 2005 (#9) and in 2011 when his 17 bunts were the most in NL play.
Sure, he may not be as crucial to the K.C. cause as several other players, but don’t overlook Omar Infante, appreciate his contributions and prowess. After all, none other than Omar Vizquel did, so we should, too.