Alfredo Amezaga
Encyclopedia
Alfredo Amézaga Delgado (alˈfɾeðo aˈmesaɣa, əˈmɛzəɡə) (born January 16, 1978, in Ciudad Obregón
, Sonora
, Mexico
) is a Major League Baseball
utility player
for the Florida Marlins
organization. In his career he has played 265 games in the outfield
(most of them in center field), 115 games at shortstop
, 71 games at third base
, 60 games at second base and 6 games at first base. The only positions he has not played are pitcher
and catcher
.
Amézaga graduated from Miami High School and St. Petersburg Junior College
. While in college, he played for the Keene Swamp Bats
of the New England Collegiate Baseball League
. He played for Yaquis de Obregón
in the Mexican Pacific League between MLB seasons for several years and appeared for the Mexican team in both the 2006 World Baseball Classic
and 2009 World Baseball Classic
.
at 401st overall in the 1999 Draft
by the Anaheim Angels
. In his first professional season with the Class-A Boise Hawks
he hit .322 and was named to the Northwest League
All-Star team. In 2000 with the Lake Elsinore Storm
he hit .279, was an honorable mention selection to the California League
All-star team and was second in the league with 73 stolen bases. In 2001 with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers
he hit .312 in 70 games and was named to both the mid-season and post-season Texas League
All-Star teams. He also played as a member of the "World Team" at the All-Star Futures Game
and was named the Angels "Minor League Defensive Player of the Year." In 2003, he was named to the Pacific Coast League
All-Star team, while leading all Angels minor leaguers with a .347 average for the AAA Salt Lake Stingers.
Amézaga made his Major League debut on May 24, 2002 against the Minnesota Twins
as a shortstop
. He was hitless in three at-bats that day. He recorded his first Major League hit two days later, a double to left center against Twins pitcher Eric Milton
. His first home run did not come until August 19, 2003 against Jon Garland
of the Chicago White Sox
. In three seasons with the Angels, he played in 122 games and hit .209. He also appeared in two games for the Angels in the 2004 American League Division Series
against the Boston Red Sox
, and was hitless in two at-bats.
. He made the opening day roster with the Rockies, his first such achievement in the big leagues. He only appeared in two games for the Rockies and was one for three before the Rockies designated him for assignment on April 20.
and was 0 for 3 in three appearances with the Pirates. He spent the remainder of the season in AAA with the Indianapolis Indians
, where he hit .341 in 64 games.
prior to the 2006 season and appeared in a career high 132 games, hitting .260. He appeared in 417 games with the Marlins, over four years, hitting .259 during that span. However, he underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee in July, 2009 and missed the rest of the season while recovering. The Marlins chose to release him after the season.
on February 2, 2010. Still recovering from his injury, he did not play in any spring training games. Amézaga made his season debut on May 17 for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts
. He only had four at-bats before returning to the disabled list for the remainder of the season, after which he became a free agent.
on January 26, 2011, but failed to make the team and was sent down to Triple-A Colorado Springs
. He had his contract purchased on April 29. He was designated for assignment on May 29.
.
Ciudad Obregón
Ciudad Obregon is the second largest city in the northern Mexican state of Sonora and is situated south of the state's northern border with the U.S. state of Arizona. It is also the municipal seat of Cajeme municipality, located in the Yaqui Valley.- History :...
, Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
utility player
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
for the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
organization. In his career he has played 265 games in the outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
(most of them in center field), 115 games at shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
, 71 games at third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
, 60 games at second base and 6 games at first base. The only positions he has not played are pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
and catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
.
Amézaga graduated from Miami High School and St. Petersburg Junior College
St. Petersburg College
St. Petersburg College is a fully accredited post-secondary educational institution located in St. Petersburg, Florida, serving some 65,000 students annually...
. While in college, he played for the Keene Swamp Bats
Keene Swamp Bats
The Keene Swamp Bats are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Keene, New Hampshire. The team, a member of the New England Collegiate Baseball League , plays their home games at Alumni Field. In the NECBL, they are consistently one of the top teams and have reached the league playoffs in each...
of the New England Collegiate Baseball League
New England Collegiate Baseball League
The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a 12-team collegiate summer baseball league founded in 1993 and sanctioned by the NCAA and Major League Baseball. Each NECBL team plays an eight-week, 42-game schedule during June and July, with a playoff in early August...
. He played for Yaquis de Obregón
Yaquis de Obregón
The Yaquis de Obregón is a Mexican baseball team of the Liga Mexicana del Pacífico .The team was founded on October 8, 1970, and its home stadium is the Estadio Tomás Oroz Gaytán. They have been champions of the league on five occasions. The first time was at the 1965–1966 season with Manuel...
in the Mexican Pacific League between MLB seasons for several years and appeared for the Mexican team in both the 2006 World Baseball Classic
2006 World Baseball Classic
---------Pool B:-------------Pool C:-------------Pool D:-------------Pool 1:-----------------Pool 2:-------------Finals:-Semifinals:-Final:-Final standings:...
and 2009 World Baseball Classic
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
.
Anaheim Angels
He was drafted one spot ahead of Albert PujolsAlbert Pujols
José Alberto Pujols Alcántara , better known as Albert Pujols , is a Dominican-American professional baseball player, who is currently a free agent...
at 401st overall in the 1999 Draft
1999 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1999...
by the Anaheim Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
. In his first professional season with the Class-A Boise Hawks
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks are a minor league baseball team, located in Boise, Idaho. The team is currently a farm team for the Chicago Cubs and play in the Short-Season Class A Northwest League.-History:...
he hit .322 and was named to the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
All-Star team. In 2000 with the Lake Elsinore Storm
Lake Elsinore Storm
The Lake Elsinore Storm is a minor league baseball team in Lake Elsinore, California, USA. It is a Class A - Advanced team in the California League, and is a farm team of the San Diego Padres. The Storm plays its home games at Lake Elsinore Diamond...
he hit .279, was an honorable mention selection to the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
All-star team and was second in the league with 73 stolen bases. In 2001 with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers
Arkansas Travelers
The Arkansas Travelers, also known informally as The Travs, are a Minor League Baseball team based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Major League club....
he hit .312 in 70 games and was named to both the mid-season and post-season Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
All-Star teams. He also played as a member of the "World Team" at the All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
and was named the Angels "Minor League Defensive Player of the Year." In 2003, he was named to the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
All-Star team, while leading all Angels minor leaguers with a .347 average for the AAA Salt Lake Stingers.
Amézaga made his Major League debut on May 24, 2002 against the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
as a shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
. He was hitless in three at-bats that day. He recorded his first Major League hit two days later, a double to left center against Twins pitcher Eric Milton
Eric Milton
Eric Robert Milton is a former American left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball...
. His first home run did not come until August 19, 2003 against Jon Garland
Jon Garland
Jon Steven Garland is a right-handed starting pitcher, who is currently a free agent.-High school career:At John F...
of the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. In three seasons with the Angels, he played in 122 games and hit .209. He also appeared in two games for the Angels in the 2004 American League Division Series
2004 American League Division Series
-Anaheim Angels vs. Boston Red Sox:-Game 1, October 5:Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkPitching dominated in Game 1 as Mike Mussina faced Johan Santana. The Twins got on the board first when Shannon Stewart singled home Michael Cuddyer. Then in the sixth, Jacque Jones hit a solo home run to make...
against the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, and was hitless in two at-bats.
Colorado Rockies
Amézaga was designated for assignment by the Angels after the 2004 season and selected off waivers by the Colorado RockiesColorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. He made the opening day roster with the Rockies, his first such achievement in the big leagues. He only appeared in two games for the Rockies and was one for three before the Rockies designated him for assignment on April 20.
Pittsburgh Pirates
He was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
and was 0 for 3 in three appearances with the Pirates. He spent the remainder of the season in AAA with the Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
, where he hit .341 in 64 games.
Florida Marlins
He signed as a free agent with the Florida MarlinsFlorida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
prior to the 2006 season and appeared in a career high 132 games, hitting .260. He appeared in 417 games with the Marlins, over four years, hitting .259 during that span. However, he underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee in July, 2009 and missed the rest of the season while recovering. The Marlins chose to release him after the season.
Los Angeles Dodgers
He was signed to a minor league contract by the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
on February 2, 2010. Still recovering from his injury, he did not play in any spring training games. Amézaga made his season debut on May 17 for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
. He only had four at-bats before returning to the disabled list for the remainder of the season, after which he became a free agent.
Return to Colorado
Amezaga signed a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training with the Colorado RockiesColorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
on January 26, 2011, but failed to make the team and was sent down to Triple-A Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
. He had his contract purchased on April 29. He was designated for assignment on May 29.
Return to Florida
On August 6, 2011, Amézaga was re-acquired by the Florida Marlins from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for minor league shortstop Jesus Merchan. This is Amézaga's second stint with the Marlins. He was a "super sub" with the Marlins from 2006-2009. Amezaga is in this role again as he is taking the MLB roster spot of the injured Omar InfanteOmar Infante
Omar Rafael Infante [in-FAHN-tay] is a Major League Baseball utility player who is currently on the Miami Marlins...
.