Manuel Alcides Acosta Molinar (born May 1, 1981) is a

Panama Panama, officially the Republic of Panama, is a country in Latin America at the southern end of Central America, bordering South America. It is bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north, and ...

nian former professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

. He played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...

and

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...

, and in

Nippon Professional Baseball is a professional baseball league and the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning simply ''Professional Baseball''; outside of Japan, NPB is often referred to as "Japanese baseball". The roots of the league ...

(NPB) for the

Yomiuri Giants The are a Japanese professional baseball team competing in Nippon Professional Baseball's Central League. Based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, they are one of two professional baseball teams based in Tokyo, the other being the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. They h ...

Professional career

New York Yankees

Acosta was signed as an undrafted free agent by the

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...

on January 6, . He spent five and a half seasons in the Yankees' minor league system before being released on July 24, . Prior to his release, Acosta had gone 0–8 with a 6.40

ERA An era is a span of time. Era or ERA may also refer to: * Era (geology), a subdivision of geologic time * Calendar era Education * Academy of European Law (German: '), an international law school * ERA School, in Melbourne, Australia * E ...

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 The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are a Minor League Baseball team in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and the Single-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs of the National League in Major League Baseball. The Pelicans compete in the Carolina League. Home games a ...

, recording a 6.39 ERA and winning two games. In the minors, he took home 8 championships under coach Teddy Beyda. In , Acosta began the season with the rookie-level

Gulf Coast Braves The Florida Complex League Braves are an American baseball team. They are the Rookie-level affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to 2021, the team was known as the Gulf Coast Lea ...

. 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 season between the double-A

Mississippi Braves The Mississippi Braves, or M-Braves as they were referred to locally, were a Minor League Baseball team based in Pearl, Mississippi, a suburb of Jackson, from 2005 to 2024. They were the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and competed in ...

and the triple-A

Richmond Braves The Richmond Braves were an American minor league baseball club based in Richmond, Virginia, the Triple-A International League affiliate of the Atlanta Braves from 1966 to 2008. Owned by the parent Atlanta club and colloquially referred to as the ...

Acosta pitched for

in the

2006 World Baseball Classic The 2006 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was the inaugural tournament between national baseball teams that included players from Major League Baseball. It was held from March 3 to 20 in stadiums in or around Tokyo, Japan, and the American cities o ...

. 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, , Acosta was called up to the big leagues after

Octavio Dotel Octavio Eduardo Dotel Diaz (November 25, 1973 – April 8, 2025) was a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for 13 major league teams, the second-most of any player in history. ...

hit the DL. He made his big league debut on August 12 pitching a scoreless inning of relief against the

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...

. He earned his first major league victory on September 23, against the

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. The Brewers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Di ...

. 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 The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

New York Mets

On March 30, 2010, the

claimed Acosta off waivers from the Braves. The Mets purchased his contract on June 3, 2011, as Michael O'Connor was sent down. On May 29, 2012, Acosta was

designated for assignment Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must, within seven days, return the pla ...

. 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

. 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 The Diablos Rojos del Mexico (English: Mexico Red Devils) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Mexico City, Mexico. The team was founded in 1940 by Salvador Lutteroth and Ernesto Carmona. The Diablos Rojos play their ho ...

of the

Mexican League The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country. The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...

. In 52 appearances out of the

bullpen In baseball, the bullpen (or simply the pen) is the area where relief pitchers warm up before entering a game. A team's roster of relief pitchers is also metonymically referred to as "the bullpen". These pitchers usually wait in the bullpen if ...

, he logged a 6-4 record and 3.96 ERA with 59 strikeouts and 20 saves over innings pitched. During the offseason, Acosta pitched for the Charros de Jalisco in the

Mexican Pacific League The Mexican Pacific League (, or LMP), also known as the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico for sponsorship reasons, is a professional baseball Winter league baseball, winter league based in Northwestern Mexico. The league comprises 10 teams. It wa ...

, a winter league. Acosta made 2 scoreless appearances for México during the 2015 season, striking out 3 batters across 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 innings pitched. He was released by the Diablos on September 23, 2016.

Sultanes de Monterrey

On February 20, 2018, Acosta signed with the

Sultanes de Monterrey The Sultanes de Monterrey (English: Monterrey Sultans) are a professional baseball club in the Mexican League (LMB) based in Monterrey, Mexico. Established in 1939 as Carta Blanca, the Sultanes have won ten LMB titles, most recently in 2018. Fro ...

of the

. In 40 appearances for Monterrey, he posted a 3.94 ERA with 34 strikeouts across 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

of the

. In 7 appearances for the team, he posted a 2-0 record and 1.04 ERA with 6 strikeouts and 5 saves across innings pitched. Acosta became a free agent following the season.

Bravos de León

On March 12, 2019, Acosta signed with the

Bravos de León The Bravos de León (English: León Braves) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in León, Guanajuato, Mexico. History Cachorros de León (1979–80) Mexican League baseball in León began in 1979 when the Alijadore ...

of the

. In 43 relief appearances for León, he registered a 3-3 record and 3.86 ERA with 52 strikeouts and 17 saves across 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 The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. He was released by the Bravos on March 9, 2021.

Pitching style

Acosta throws three pitches: a

four-seam fastball A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch (baseball), pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family of pitches and is usually the fastest ball thrown by a pitcher. It is s ...

, his primary pitch, at 92–96 mph; a slider (79–82); and a

changeup A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball and fastpitch softball. The changeup is a staple off-speed pitch often used in a pitcher's arsenal, usually thrown to look like a fastball, but arriving much more slowly to the plate. Its reduced spee ...

(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."

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Acosta, Manny 1981 births Living people Atlanta Braves players Battle Creek Yankees players Bravos de León players Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players Cardenales de Lara players Panamanian expatriate baseball players in Venezuela Danville Braves players Diablos Rojos del México players Greensboro Bats players Gulf Coast Yankees players Gwinnett Braves players Major League Baseball pitchers Major League Baseball players from Panama 21st-century Panamanian sportsmen Mexican League baseball pitchers Mississippi Braves players Myrtle Beach Pelicans players Naranjeros de Hermosillo players New York Mets players Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers Panamanian expatriate baseball players in Japan Panamanian expatriate baseball players in Mexico Panamanian expatriate baseball players in the United States Baseball players from Colón, Panama Richmond Braves players Staten Island Yankees players Sultanes de Monterrey players Tampa Yankees players Yaquis de Obregón players Yomiuri Giants players 2006 World Baseball Classic players