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Detroit Tigers: Top 10 Second Basemen in franchise history

By Andy Patton

Placido Polanco of the Detroit Tigers throws to first base during a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on September 21, 2005. The Royals won 4-3. (Photo by G. N. Lowrance/Getty Images)
Placido Polanco of the Detroit Tigers throws to first base during a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on September 21, 2005. The Royals won 4-3. (Photo by G. N. Lowrance/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 13: Victor Martinez #41 celebrates with Omar Infante #4 of the Detroit Tigers after scoring in the second inning against the Boston Red Sox during Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 13, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 13: Victor Martinez #41 celebrates with Omar Infante #4 of the Detroit Tigers after scoring in the second inning against the Boston Red Sox during Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 13, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

Omar Infante

Detroit Tigers: 2002-2007, 2012-2013

Infante saw time all across the diamond during his two tenures in Detroit. Ultimately, he played 414 of his 676 games in a Tiger uniform at second base. That is enough to give him consideration on this list, where he will ultimately place ninth.

Infante made his big league debut with the Tigers in 2002. He remained with the team through 2007, primarily as a bench bat. He was at his best in 2004, hitting 16 home runs and stealing 13 bases while posting a .264 batting average and a 102 OPS+.

In November of 2007 Infante was traded straight up for veteran outfielder Jacque Jones. Jones hit .165 in 76 at-bats for the Tigers. Meanwhile, Infante got flipped by the Cubs to the Braves for prospects and flourished.

In three years in Atlanta, Infante hit .309 and accrued 6.0 bWAR. He made the All-Star team in 2010 and finished the year hitting .321.

Infante may have had his best seasons elsewhere, but he spent the majority of his career in Detroit and racked up a 7.1 bWAR across 8 seasons in the Motor City.

He was then traded again in the offseason with reliever Mike Dunn to the Marlins in exchange for Dan Uggla.

After a year and a half in Miami, Infante was dealt back to the Tigers in what became one of Dave Dombrowski’s best trades in the Motor City.

Infante came back to Detroit along with Anibal Sanchez for a trio of prospects: Rob Brantly, Brian Flynn, and Jacob Turner.

None of the three prospects panned out for the Marlins while Infante had a strong year and a half in Detroit. Sanchez won the ERA title in 2013 and finished fourth in Cy Young voting. His numbers tailed off in his last few years, but this trade was a big win for the Tigers overall.

After hitting .318 with 10 home runs and a 115 OPS+ in 2013, Infante signed a contract with the Kansas City Royals, ending his tenure in the Motor City.

However, Infante was released from his contract with Kansas City after a miserable 2016 season. He caught on with the Tigers Triple-A affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens, and played the entire 2017 season there. He hit .282 with 31 doubles for the Mud Hens, but never got a call to the show.

Infante may have had his best seasons elsewhere, but he spent the majority of his career in Detroit and racked up a 7.1 bWAR across 8 seasons in the Motor City.

Up next is a player with very similar numbers to Infante, but from a much different era of baseball:

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