Edgardo Alfonzo
| Edgardo Alfonzo | |||
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Alfonzo at Citi Field for Banner Day in 2013
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| Third baseman / Second baseman | |||
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Born: November 8, 1973 Miranda State, Venezuela |
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| MLB debut | |||
| April 26, 1995, for the New York Mets | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| June 11, 2006, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .284 | ||
| Home runs | 146 | ||
| Runs batted in | 744 | ||
| Teams | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Edgardo Antonio Alfonzo nicknamed "Fonzie" (born November 8, 1973) is a former Major League Baseball infielder who is currently the manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones. He bats and throws right-handed, and is 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and weighs 187 pounds (85 kg). Alfonzo has worn the number 13 since his Major League debut, however switched to the number 12 in March 2005 giving former teammate, and former San Francisco Giants shortstop, Omar Vizquel the number 13 to honor not only the longevity of Vizquel wearing the number, but also because the wearing the number 13 is a term of respect and honor to Alfonzo and Vizquel's fellow countryman Dave Concepción (all three from Venezuela). Alfonzo also wore the number 13 through some of his career with the New York Mets.
Alfonzo was signed by the Mets as an undrafted free agent in 1991. That year he joined the Gulf Coast League Mets. The following season Alfonzo moved up and split time with the short season "A" Pittsfield Mets of the New York–Penn League and Class "A" Florida State League St. Lucie Mets in 1992. Alfonzo returned to St. Lucie the next season and played for them in 1993. In 1994, he was promoted to the Binghamton Mets of the Class "AA" Eastern League, and led the team in home runs and RBI.
Alfonzo made his Major League debut on April 26, 1995. At the beginning, he was a semi-regular fielder, splitting time at second base, shortstop, and third base with several others. During his rookie season, Alfonzo spent most of his time at third base while accumulating a .310 batting average after the mid-season break. In 1997 and 1998, he started regularly on third. After the 1998 season, the Mets signed third baseman Robin Ventura, and Alfonzo was forced to move to second base. While he was upset about the move at first, he became one of the best defensive second baseman in the league from 1999–2001. Alfonzo was part of the infield considered to be among the best infields in MLB history on a cover of Sports Illustrated, along with Rey Ordóñez, Robin Ventura, and John Olerud. Before the 2002 season, the Mets signed the aging Roberto Alomar, and despite Alfonzo's tremendous offensive and defensive contributions during the previous three seasons, he was forced to move back to third base. He remained strong defensively; however, he struggled on offense, and the Mets decided not to re-sign him.
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