Alberto Acosta

Alberto Antonio Acosta Molinar

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 170 lb.

• Born August 25, 1977 in Portobelo, Colón Panama

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Alberto Acosta pitched 3 years in the minors, going 1-1 each time. In 1996, he had a 4.83 ERA for the DSL Yankees. In 1997, he had a 3.28 ERA for the GCL Yankees and he followed with a 3.38 ERA the next year. He was then injured and let go by the Yanks.

In the 2007 Baseball World Cup, Acosta was 0-1 with a 1.80 ERA in taking the loss against the host Taiwan national team while pitching for Panama. Acosta allowed one hit in 5 2/3 IP in the 2008 Americas Baseball Cup but walked four and finished with a 3.18 ERA. He helped Panama win Gold at the 2009 Bolivarian Games and 2010 Central American Games. In the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games, he struck out 13 in a 3-hitter to beat Geronimo Newton and the US Virgin Islands in a 1-0 pitching duel but allowed four runs in two innings in a loss to Mexico. He had a 1-1, 3.00 record in the 2010 Pan American Games Qualification Tournament, beating Colombia.

Acosta allowed one run in six to beat Ivan Maldonado and Puerto Rico at the 2011 Baseball World Cup but gave up 5 runs (1 earned) in 4 2/3 IP thanks to a José Macías error in a loss to the Dutch national team. He allowed 7 hits and 3 runs in 3 innings against Australia and got a no-decision in a 5-4 loss. His 3.29 ERA for the tourney nearly led Panama's rotation; Eliecer Navarro was slightly ahead at 3.18. His two pick-offs led the tournament. In the 2011 Pan American Games, he was excellent (2 R, 1 ER, 6 H in 11 IP).

He had a 8.10 ERA in the 2013 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, striking out 5 in 3 1/3 IP but allowing 3 runs; only Euclides Bethancourt had a higher ERA for Panama. He helped Panama win Silver at the 2013 Central American Games. He allowed only one hit and one walk in five innings while fanning five against Ecuador in the 2013 Bolivarian Games, then got the nod in the Gold Medal game. He was even better that day, firing a no-hitter against Venezuela, with just one walk (to Alberto Odreman) and two hit batsmen (Jesús Mogollón and Gabriel Purroy) while striking out five in the masterpiece to give Panama another Gold, their third straight in the Bolivarian Games.

In the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games, he struggled at 0-1, 11.59 with 3 homers in 4 2/3 IP; only Saúl González had a higher ERA for Panama. He was roughed up by the Dominican Republic and also allowed an insurance run late in a 3-1 loss to Mexico. At the 2016 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, he led Panama with three games pitched and allowed only one run in four innings. In the championship game, though, he struggled against Colombia. He relieved Humberto Mejia in the 6th with one on, one out and a 1-0 lead. He retired Jesús Valdez, but hit Mauricio Ramos and allowed a single to Adrián Sánchez to tie the game; Colombia would continue the comeback later against Manny Corpas for a 2-1 win. The 40-year-old got into one game in the 2017 Bolivarian Games, relieving Andy Otero with two outs in the 6th and a 1-0 deficit, again versus Colombia. He allowed two hits, a walk and a run in 2 1/3 IP before Saúl González closed out the 2-0 loss. Panama wound up with a Silver, finishing behind Colombia.

Sources

• Old IBAF site
• SABR Minor League Database
• Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database
• 2009 Bolivarian Games website
• 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games website
• Old COPABE site
• 2011 Pan American Games site
• World Baseball Classic
• 2013 Bolivarian Games site
• 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games site
• Colombian Baseball Federation on the 2017 Bolivarian Games