Player Profile: Miguel Batista

I have eleven cards of Miguel Batista. This one is from 2007 Topps. 

Playing career: Miguel Batista made his debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992, and last pitched for the Atlanta Braves in 2012. Overall, in 658 games, he was 102-115 with 41 saves and a 4.48 ERA. He spent six seasons in the starting rotations of Arizona, Toronto and Seattle, but was primarily used as a reliever during his career. In 2004 he lead the American League in walks allowed; two years later he led the National League in wild pitches.

Interesting facts: Miguel “El Poeta” Batista is one of the more interesting players of recent years. He has published a book of poetry in Spanish (Sentimientos En Blanco Y Negro) and a serial killer novel in English (The Avenger of Blood). He is now working on a book called DNA 18, about "It's about DNA, a project between the government and United Nations that doesn't go as planned and the people who have to be brought in from the outside to clean it up," according toBatista. He writes during the many down-times in the baseball season.

He is also a humanitarian whose numerous charitable endeavors in both the US and Dominican Republic lead him to be named the No. 1 Good Guy in Major League Baseball by The Sporting News.

Where he is now: He was released by the Blue Jays in May after struggling at AAA.

My memories: I had been familiar with him as just another average major league pitcher until he came to the Mets and I saw some articles about his literary exploits.

Google Autocomplete results: He is tenth when you type Miguel B, behind Miguel Billboard Music Awards, referring to a single who’s stunt at this awards show led to a brain injury for an audience member. Another prominent Miguel Batista is Development Director at Dolce Hotels.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Tony Batista.