Alexi Amarista
Amarista with the San Diego Padres
El Águila de Veracruz – No. 2
Utility player
Born: (1989-04-06) April 6, 1989
Barcelona, Venezuela
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 26, 2011, for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Last MLB appearance
October 1, 2017, for the Colorado Rockies
MLB statistics
(through 2017 season)
Batting average.231
Home runs21
Runs batted in169
Teams
Amarista during his tenure with the Los Angeles Angels in 2011

Alexi Jose Amarista (born April 6, 1989) is a Venezuelan professional baseball utility player for El Águila de Veracruz of the Mexican League. Amarista was signed by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as an amateur free agent in 2007. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Angels of Anaheim, San Diego Padres, and Colorado Rockies.

Professional career

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Amarista was signed by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as an amateur free agent in 2007. He played in the Dominican Summer League in 2007 before playing with the rookie league AZL Angels and Single-A Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2008. He returned to Cedar Rapids in 2009, but transitioned all the way from high-A to the Triple-A level in 2010.

After starting 2011 with the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, Amarista was called up to the majors for the first time on April 25, 2011.[1] He made his first appearance on April 26, 2011, against the Oakland Athletics. In his first major league at bat, he doubled to drive in two runs.[2] Amarista played in a total of 23 games with the Angels in 2011.

Amarista opened 2012 as a utility infielder on the Angels 25-man roster[3] but only played in a single game as a pinch runner before being optioned to AAA Salt Lake on April 13.[4]

San Diego Padres

Amarista batting for the San Diego Padres in 2012

On May 3, 2012, Amarista and minor league pitcher Donn Roach were traded to the San Diego Padres for reliever Ernesto Frieri.[5] After 11 games with the Triple-A Tucson Padres, Amarista was called up to the Padres on May 17 to play second base.[6] Amarista was eventually supplanted by Logan Forsythe as the regular second baseman, but he continued to show his versatility by making occasional starts at second, shortstop, left field, and also in center field when Cameron Maybin was nursing a wrist injury. On June 28, 2012, Amarista hit his first career home-run, a grand slam off of Brett Myers, to cap off a six-run ninth inning in a victory against the Houston Astros.[7] This began a brief power surge where Amarista hit 4 home runs and collected 11 RBI in five games.[8] Amarista finished 2012 batting .240, with a .282 on-base percentage and five home runs in 275 at-bats.

Amarista served a utility role for the Padres in 2013. He took most of the starts at second base while Chase Headley was injured to begin the year, and he made 53 starts in center field with Cameron Maybin absent for the majority of the season. He finished the year starting at shortstop when Ronny Cedeño sat out and ended 2013 with 84 starts and 146 games played. Amarista batted .236 with a .282 on-base percentage and five home runs in 368 at-bats.

Amarista spent much of his time in the infield in 2014. He began the year making spot starts in center and around the infield and serving as a pinch hitter. On April 6, Amarista's birthday, he hit a 3-run pinch hit home run to defeat the Miami Marlins.[9] Amarista picked up a handful of starts at third and second when Chase Headley was out with a strained calf in late April and early May.[10] He saw more time at second and third in June when Jedd Gyorko was out with plantar fasciitis[11] and Chase Headley sat with a herniated disc.[12] When Everth Cabrera sat out with a hamstring injury on July 1, later spending significant time on the disabled list, Amarista began seeing regular time at shortstop.[13][14] Amarista made 68 starts at the position from July 1 through the end of the year. He finished the season with a .239/.286/.314 batting line and five home runs, setting career highs in at-bats (423), games started (119), and games played (148).

Amarista began 2015 as the Padres everyday shortstop,[15] splitting time with Clint Barmes. He also made a handful of starts at second base and left field later in the year. On June 17, Amarista pitched to one batter in the 8th inning of a blowout against the Oakland Athletics, retiring the only batter he faced on a flyout to right-field.[16] For the year, he made 79 starts at short and played in 118 games overall, batting .204/.257/.287 with three home runs.

Amarista started the 2016 season with Triple-A El Paso,[17] but was called up within the first week of the season when Yangervis Solarte went to the disabled list.[18] Amarista himself landed on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain on April 20.[19] On May 31, Amarista was once again brought in to pitch with 2 outs in the 8th inning of a blowout, this time against the Seattle Mariners, and retired the only batter he faced on a ground-out to second base.[20] Amarista continued in a part-time role during June and was optioned to Triple-A on July 3.[21] He bounced between Triple-A and the Majors in July,[22][23] and then went to the disabled list after re-injuring his hamstring on August 1.[24] Amarista returned in September in a utility role, playing the infield and outfield. He finished the season with a .257/.295/.271 batting line in 140 at-bats. He had 31 starts in the field, including at second base, shortstop, third, and left and right field.

Colorado Rockies

Amarista during his tenure with the Colorado Rockies in 2017

On January 17, 2017, Amarista signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Colorado Rockies.[25] On April 3, 2017, Amarista hit a RBI double in the eighth inning, pinch hitting for Adam Ottavino against the Milwaukee Brewers on Opening Day.[26]

Philadelphia Phillies

On January 24, 2018, the Detroit Tigers signed Amarista to a minor league contract with a non-roster invitation to spring training.[27] He was released on March 24,[28] and signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on March 26.[29] He was released on July 3, 2018.

Tigres de Quintana Roo

On July 29, 2018, Amarista signed with the Tigres de Quintana Roo of the Mexican League. He was released on August 16, 2018.

New Britain Bees

On March 19, 2019, Amarista signed with the New Britain Bees of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[30] However, following the Bees' move to the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, he was drafted by the Sugar Land Skeeters in the Bees dispersal draft. Due to the cancellation of the 2020 ALPB season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Amarista did not play for the Skeeters and became a free agent after the year.

El Águila de Veracruz

On February 10, 2021, Amarista signed with El Águila de Veracruz of the Mexican League for the 2021 season. In 59 games, Amarista slashed .369/.408/.631 with 14 home runs and 42 RBIs.

Gastonia Honey Hunters

On September 4, 2021, Amarista was loaned to the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[31]

El Águila de Veracruz (second stint)

Amarista was returned to El Águila de Veracruz of the Mexican League following the 2021 season, and he later re-signed with them for the 2022 season.[32]

Personal life

Amarista was given the nickname "Little Ninja" by Padres catcher John Baker because, according to Baker, "Teams don't see Amarista coming. He sneaks up on them."[33][34] Amarista's height is listed variously as 5'7" or 5'8".[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Roberts, Quinn (April 25, 2011). "Angels hope Amarista can provide boost". MLB.com. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  2. ↑ Spencer, Lyle (April 26, 2011). "Bottom feeders lead 16-hit attack". MLB.com. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  3. ↑ Barling, Mannie (April 4, 2012). "Los Angeles Angels Opening Day Roster Position by Position". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Angles call up Carpenter, option Amarista to Salt Lake". Deseret News. April 13, 2012.
  5. ↑ Sickels, John (May 4, 2012). "Prospects in the Ernesto Frieri Trade: Alexi Amarista and Donn Roach". SBNation Minor League Ball. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  6. ↑ Petriello, Mike (May 18, 2012). "San Diego Blows Up Their Middle Infield". Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  7. ↑ Alexi Amarista's slam caps six-run 9th as Padres rally to beat Astros. ESPN.com. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
  8. 1 2 Sullivan, Paul Francis (July 3, 2012). "Alexi Amarista Could Be the Next Tony Phillips for San Diego Padres". bleacher/report. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  9. ↑ Sanders, Jeff (April 6, 2014). "Amarista delivers big on birthday". The San Diego-Union Tribune. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  10. ↑ Lin, Dennis (April 24, 2014). "Headley, Smith injured in bizarre win". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  11. ↑ Lin, Dennis (June 4, 2014). "Jedd Gyorko out with plantar fasciitis". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  12. ↑ Sanders, Jeff (June 20, 2014). "Headley out of lineup with herniated disc". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  13. ↑ Lin, Dennis (July 1, 2014). "Pregame: Cabrera out with hamstring strain". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  14. ↑ Lin, Dennis (August 12, 2014). "Cabrera back to DL, Goebbert back up". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  15. ↑ Brock, Corey (February 27, 2015). "Amarista ready for challenge as Padres' everyday shortstop". MLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  16. ↑ Eymer, Rick. "Amarista takes mound in 8th, flashes 'fastball'". MLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  17. ↑ Lin, Dennis (April 3, 2016). "Padres set opening-day roster". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  18. ↑ Sanders, Jeff (April 10, 2016). "Amarista returns as Solarte hits DL". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  19. ↑ Powers, Tim. "Padres place Amarista on 15-day DL". MLB.com. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  20. ↑ Lin, Dennis (May 31, 2016). "Bethancourt makes pitching debut in blowout". The San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  21. ↑ Sanders, Jeff (July 3, 2016). "Pregame: Alexi Amarista optioned to El Paso". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  22. ↑ Paranal, Jodes (July 15, 2016). "Padres place Melvin Upton Jr. on bereavement list, recall Alexi Amarista". Gaslamp Ball. SBNation. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  23. ↑ Cassavell, AJ (July 27, 2016). "Padres recall LHP Baumann, utilityman Amarista". MLB.com. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  24. ↑ Callazo, Carlos (August 2, 2016). "Amarista exits game with hamstring strain". MLB.com. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  25. ↑ Saunders, Patrick (January 17, 2017). "Alexi Amarista officially signs one-year deal to be Rockies' utility player". denverpost.com. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  26. ↑ Armas, Genaro (2017-04-03). "Rockies win in debuts of Black, Holland, beat Brewers 7-5". AP News. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  27. ↑ "Veteran Alexi Amarista signs with Tigers". MLB.com. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  28. ↑ Downing, Kyle (March 24, 2018). "Tigers Release Alexi Amarista". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  29. ↑ Byrne, Connor (March 26, 2018). "Phillies Sign Alexi Amarista". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Three More Former Big Leaguers Head to New Britain". New Britain Bees. March 19, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  31. ↑ Atlantic League Transactions
  32. ↑ "'El Ninja' vuelve a casa". elaguiladeveracruz.com (in Spanish). 14 August 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  33. ↑ Center, Bill (May 16, 2013). "Amarista hits HR, 2 doubles in Padres win; 'Little Ninja' leads Padres past Orioles". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  34. ↑ Rubin, Adam (March 31, 2013). "Series Preview: Mets vs. Padres". ESPN.com. Retrieved 17 October 2013. The diminutive Amarista has picked up the nickname "Little Ninja."
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