Career
Acosta, who was 49 years old at the time of his death, served as international coordinator of instruction as well as manager of the Gulf Coast Yankees of the Yankees" Gulf Coast team in Tampa since 2004, guiding the team to the Gulf Coast League championship in his final two seasons. He had first joined the Yankees" organization in 1996, spending three seasons as the pitching coach at Triple-A Columbus (1996-1998). Acosta began coaching in the Texas Rangers organization with the Butte Copper Kings in 1988.
He coached the Gastonia Rangers (1989), GCL Rangers (1990, 1993), Tulsa Drillers (1991) and Oklahoma City 89ers (1992).
Moving to the Chicago Cubs" organization, he then coached the Daytona Cubs (1994) and GCL Cubs (1995). Next he coached the Columbus Clippers (1996–1998) for the New York Yankees.
He managed the Cubs Class A Lansing Lugnuts in the Midwest League in 1999, and was then promoted to the Major League level, serving as the pitching coach for the Chicago Cubs (2000-2001) and Texas Rangers (2002). During his big league coaching career, Acosta primarily wore number 8.
Acosta, who resided in Florida.
