The role of the relief man referred to as the “set-up man”on a baseball team is to get batters out so that the next reliever – the closer – can put away a victory. But considering how he got to the Normal CornBelters, no amount of preparation could have set up right-hander Horacio Acosta for how he would arrive where he is today.
A native of Miami, Fla., 24-year-old Acosta grew up playing the game, played on his high school squad, and went on to play at two junior colleges – Miami Dade Community College in 2010 and Wabash Valley Community College in 2011 – before advancing to Point Park University in Pittsburgh in the spring of 2012. But before Acosta could event take the field for Point Park, an NAIA school, fate in the form of a drunk driver, intervened on Feb. 5, 2012.
That was the day Acosta was struck by the inebriated driver while walking. The driver swerved, hitting Acosta from behind, forcing him through her car’s windshield, hospitalizing him for two months. The most serious injuries he received from the accident were to his head and left arm. He still bears some scars from the accident, which is still in litigation.
Acosta managed to be released from the hospital in time to join his Point Park teammates for the second half of the season, helping them get the team to the NAIA World Series, where they finished as runner-up.
Acosta returned to Miami-Dade Commuuity College the summer after the accident to bolster the academics he’d missed. His baseball coach there took him to a player showcase event in Summer 2013 where team scouts could get a look at him. “I had a good day that day,” Acosta said. But although the tryout went well, Acosta could not be signed by any teams because he was in the midst of taking classes, something not allowed by Major League Baseball.
As a result, Acosta would have to wait for the Major League Draft that June. But Acosta missed the Draft as a result of pulling his hamstring doing workouts. He spent the winter of 2013-14 in Columbia playing Winter Ball giving him his first taste of professional baseball. He also played for the same Columbian team he was on during this past winter.
How Acosta got to the league in Columbia was through former St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Edgar Renteria, who is a close friend of the Acosta family.
Acosta reported he had two vastly different experiences with the Columbian team. In 2013-14, his inexperience proved a disadvantage relegating him to the bench on a team that was in last place throughout most of that season. Last season, the team did a major about-face, making it to the League finals, but losing. Between those seasons, Acosta played in a recreational baseball league in Miami in an effort to keep his skills sharp.
It was during last year’s winter ball experience that Acosta became acquainted with CornBelters infielder Ozney Guillen. Guillen, in turn, mentioned Acosta to ‘Belters Manager Brooks Carey.
Explaining that Acosta is one of his “go to guys,” Carey said Acosta got that tag for “every time I ask him if he’s ready, he says ‘yes.’ You don’t find too many first-year bullpen guys like him.”
“I just prefer being in middle relief, just because of the way I throw,” Acosta explained about his sidearm delivery.
The night of the accident in Pittsburgh, Acosta said, a doctor who treated him told him he should “be thankful for your life. You could have been killed, or suffered more serious injuries, rather than scrapes and cuts.”
Acosta is making the most of his baseball debut, with a current 5-0 record after being in 30 games, including one save in 49 innings pitched. His outings have included giving up 3 home runs, 19 earned runs and 17 walks. He has struck out 40 men so far this season. He’s carrying a .349 Earned Run Average.
As a result of how matters have turned out for him, Acosta explained, “I thank God every day for my life. Just the fact that I’m still playing this game is a blessing. Not many people get hit by a car and still, y’know, run or do physical activities. For me, that’s a huge blessing.”
Belters Return To The Corn Crib Aug. 7: The ‘Belters wrapped up a 10-day, 9-game road trip Thursday, which included three against Western Division leading Rockford. The ‘Belters set a team record for runs and hits in a single game and tied several individual league marks in a 24-10 wind-blown win over the Rockford Aviators on Sunday afternoon at Aviators Stadium.
That contest’s 24 runs and 25 hits are new team records and highs for the Frontier League this season. Pat McKenna hit three home runs and recorded nine runs batted in to tie league records, while Aaron Dudley tied a league mark by scoring six runs.
Friday, they look to gain some ground when the Rockford Aviators visit The Corn Crib for three games this weekend. Friday and Saturday evening games begin at 6:35p.m., with Sunday’s day game beginning at 3:05p.m. The team gets a league-imposed day off on Monday, Aug. 10 followed by visits by the Florence Freedom Tuesday through Thursday, Aug. 11-13 and Washington Wild Things Friday through Sunday, Aug. 14-16. Following getting Monday, Aug. 17 off, they begin the week with a three-game road trip at Lake Erie.
‘Belters 3rd Baseman Lucas Leads League In RBIs: CornBelters 3rd baseman Richard Lucas is on top of the Frontier League in terms of Runs Batted In, knocking in 54. Shortstop Pat McKenna is fourth in that same category, with 49. ‘Belters first baseman Aaron Dudley finds himself ranking third in overall average with .349, behind league leader Brian Hansen of River City, and Austin Gallagher of Windy City.
McKenna has been swinging for the fences enough to rank third overall in the league in home runs with 16. Taylor Ard of River City hold the title in that category for now, with 21, followed in second place by Washington’s Daniel Popkins, who has 18.