Alvaro Espinoza
Encyclopedia
Álvaro Alberto Espinoza [es-pe-NO-zah] (born February 19, 1962) is a former shortstop
in Major League Baseball
and current infield
coach
for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.
, he graduated from Pedro Gual High School where he played baseball, soccer and basketball.
(1984–1986), New York Yankees
(1988–1991), Cleveland Indians
(1993–1996), New York Mets
(1996) and Seattle Mariners
(1997). He batted and threw right-handed.
In a 12-season career, Espinoza was a .254 hitter
with 22 home run
s, 201 RBI
, 252 runs
, 105 doubles
, nine triples
, and 13 stolen bases in 942 games. He was second in the MLB in sacrifices in 1989.
As a young prospect, Espinoza was let go by Houston
and Minnesota. But he went on to have four decent seasons with the Yankees, after which he played for, in turn, the Indians, the Mets, and the Mariners.
At the plate
, Espinoza, though a notorious free swinger, was a good bat handler and contact hitter. His game was to simply put the ball in play and not try to hit for power. As a baserunner, he had average speed.
In the field
, concentration and knowledge were Espinoza's main assets. He wasn't among the most gifted athletes ever to play shortstop, but he positioned himself extremely well and got to many balls that might have eluded some flashier shortstops. He was sure-handed, good at turning the double play
, and had a very strong throwing arm.
Espinoza's was one of New York Yankees
public address announcer Bob Sheppard
's favorite names to announce.
Espinoza was also noted for his bubble gum hat antics, as well as other practical jokes he and teammmate Wayne Kirby
used to play on the 1995 Cleveland Indians
.
as their minor league
infield coordinator.
Hired by the Los Angeles Dodgers
organization, Espinoza made his managerial
debut in 1999 and guided Class-A Vero Beach to a 48-85 record in the Florida State League
. He spent 2000 and 2001 as the Dodgers Minor League Roving Infield Coordinator.
In 2002, Espinoza was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates and named their infield Instructor in 2004.
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...
in 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...
and current infield
Infield
Infield is a widely used term in sports terminology, its meaning depends on the sport in which it is used.- In baseball :In baseball the baseball diamond plus a region beyond it , has both grass and dirt, in contrast to the more distant, usually grass-covered outfield...
coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.
Early life
Born in Valencia, Carabobo, VenezuelaVenezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, he graduated from Pedro Gual High School where he played baseball, soccer and basketball.
Playing career
Espinoza played with the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota 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...
(1984–1986), New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1988–1991), Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(1993–1996), New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
(1996) and Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
(1997). He batted and threw right-handed.
In a 12-season career, Espinoza was a .254 hitter
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
with 22 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 201 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, 252 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 105 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, nine triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and 13 stolen bases in 942 games. He was second in the MLB in sacrifices in 1989.
As a young prospect, Espinoza was let go by Houston
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
and Minnesota. But he went on to have four decent seasons with the Yankees, after which he played for, in turn, the Indians, the Mets, and the Mariners.
At the plate
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
, Espinoza, though a notorious free swinger, was a good bat handler and contact hitter. His game was to simply put the ball in play and not try to hit for power. As a baserunner, he had average speed.
In the field
Infield
Infield is a widely used term in sports terminology, its meaning depends on the sport in which it is used.- In baseball :In baseball the baseball diamond plus a region beyond it , has both grass and dirt, in contrast to the more distant, usually grass-covered outfield...
, concentration and knowledge were Espinoza's main assets. He wasn't among the most gifted athletes ever to play shortstop, but he positioned himself extremely well and got to many balls that might have eluded some flashier shortstops. He was sure-handed, good at turning the double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
, and had a very strong throwing arm.
Espinoza's was one of New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
public address announcer Bob Sheppard
Bob Sheppard
Robert Leo "Bob" Sheppard was the long-time public address announcer for numerous New York area college and professional sports teams, in particular the MLB New York Yankees , and the NFL New York Giants .Sheppard announced more than 4,500 Yankees baseball games over a period of 56 years,...
's favorite names to announce.
Espinoza was also noted for his bubble gum hat antics, as well as other practical jokes he and teammmate Wayne Kirby
Wayne Kirby
Wayne Leonard Kirby is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball from 1991-1998. He was the outfield/base-running coordinator for the Texas Rangers until he agreed to become the first base coach for the Baltimore Orioles in the 2011 season.-Batting stats:*516 games*302 hits*14 home runs*119...
used to play on the 1995 Cleveland Indians
1995 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was the Major League Baseball season that led to the Indians returning to the World Series for the first time since . In a season that started late by 18 games - giving it just a 144 games - the Indians finished in first place in the American League Central Division...
.
Coaching career
Following his playing career after the 1997 season, Espinoza turned to coaching. In 1998, he worked with the Montreal ExposMontreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
as their minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
infield coordinator.
Hired by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los 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...
organization, Espinoza made his managerial
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
debut in 1999 and guided Class-A Vero Beach to a 48-85 record in the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
. He spent 2000 and 2001 as the Dodgers Minor League Roving Infield Coordinator.
In 2002, Espinoza was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates and named their infield Instructor in 2004.
Milestone
- Espinoza joins Ruppert JonesRuppert JonesRuppert Sanderson Jones is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers and California Angels...
, Ricky Lee NelsonRicky Lee NelsonRicky Lee Nelson Ricky Lee Nelson Ricky Lee Nelson (born May 8, 1959 in Eloy, Arizona is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and left-handed batter who played for the Seattle Mariners (1983–86)...
, Dave KingmanDave KingmanDavid Arthur Kingman , nicknamed "Kong" and "Sky King", is a former Major League Baseball left fielder, first baseman, third baseman, and designated hitter. The towering 6' 6" Kingman was one of the most feared sluggers of the 1970s and 1980s...
, José CansecoJosé CansecoJosé Canseco Capas, Jr. is a Cuban-American professional baseball manager, outfielder, and designated hitter for the Yuma Scorpions of the North American League and former Major League Baseball player. He is the identical twin brother of former major league player and current teammate Ozzie Canseco...
, and Kevin MillarKevin MillarKevin Charles Millar is an American former professional baseball first baseman and current analyst for MLB Network and New England Sports Network. Millar played college baseball at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, where he continues to reside in the off-season. Millar is the nephew of former...
as the only players in MLB history to hit a fair ball that got stuck in a stadium obstruction.
External links
- Baseball Stars
- MLB page
- The ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia – Gary Gillette, Peter Gammons, Pete Palmer. Publisher: Sterling Publishing, 2005. Format: Paperback, 1824pp. Language: English. ISBN 1-4027-4771-3