Little Known Pirates: Alfredo Amezaga

With the off-season in full swing, it is a nice time to reflect on past Pirates and past teams. This is a new series called Little Known Pirates where each week we will look at a player who even some of the top fans may not remember played for the team.

In the early 2000s, the Pittsburgh Pirates had some star players but just didn't have the overall talent to be successful. Guys like Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, and Jack Wilson graced the roster but several guys weren't as talented. The Pirates took a fly on several players who were trying to bounce back, and one of those players was outfielder Alfredo Amezaga. Amezaga was no rookie when he came to the Pirates, and had just come off a year in 2004 where he played in the postseason with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. However, things weren't going his way, and Amezaga was looking to get back on track.

However, when you hear the name Alfredo Amezaga, you probably think more of his time with the Florida Marlins after he left the Pirates. Amezega's career was short in Pittsburgh, lasting just three games during the 2005 season after he was claimed off waivers from the Colorado Rockies. Amezaga ended up playing a total of nine seasons in the MLB, with an injury during the 2010 season essentially ended his career. Today, we look at the short Pirates career of Alfredo Amezaga and how three games in Pittsburgh and five in Colorado during the 2005 season jump-started the best years of Amezaga's career with the Florida Marlins.

How He Came to Pittsburgh

Amezaga started his professional career with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, wherein three seasons he hit .209 with four home runs and 20 RBI. He tried again with the Colorado Rockies in the off-season but was designated for assignment in early April. That is when the Pirates decided to take a flyer on Amezaga claiming him off waivers from the Rockies on April 20th, 2005. He was signed to be a bench player and add some versatility to the Pirates. They had some good players and, with Amezaga having playoff experience the prior year, they thought he would be a good clubhouse guy for the team moving forward.

Amezaga made his Pirates debut on April 23rd, 2005 against the Chicago Cubs as a pinch-runner. He made his presence felt right from the get-go as he stole a base and got into scoring position during his first appearance. His first official at-bat came four days later on April 27th against the Houston Astros. He came on as a pinch hitter and ended up grounding out in his only at-bat of the day. His final appearance in a Pirates uniform came on May 3rd, 2005, when he came in as part of a double switch to relieve Jack Wilson. Amezaga went 0-2 with a walk in his three plate appearances and played solid defense at shortstop to end the game.

Unfortunately, the fit in Pittsburgh was not working out for Amezaga, and the Pirates would end up releasing him on May 5th, 2005. Amezaga was back on the free-agent market and didn't have a team for the rest of the 2005 season. Amezaga was never set to be a full-time option for the Pirates, but I don't think the Pirates planned on only keeping him for a total of 14 days. He just did not look good at the plate and the Pirates decided it was time to move on. Amezaga would eventually sign with the Florida Marlins in the off-season and got back on track hitting .255 with eight home runs and 88 RBI while playing every position except pitcher and catcher.

Where is He Now

Currently, Alfredo Amezaga is out of professional baseball all together after a 19-year career played between the MLB and his Native country of Mexico. He has since become a coach for the Double-A Affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, the Mississippi Braves. He joined the coaching staff prior to the 2019 season and helped lead the M-Braves to a 64-75 record in the 2019 season. He has worked with top prospects including catcher William Contreras, who made his MLB debut last season, and the Braves #5 overall prospect Braden Shewmake. Just like when he was a player, Amezaga helped all over the field coaching different positions throughout the season.

Unfortunately, there was no 2020 Minor League season, so Amezaga didn't get a chance to coach for his second season. However, the M-Braves have announced their coaching staff for the 2021 season and Alfredo Amezaga is set to return to the staff. Amezaga was known for his defensive play throughout his career and that is what he is trying to pass on to the next generation of Major League Players. Amezega's career may have been short with the Pirates, but he went on to have a good career in baseball and is now working on his career as a coach in the Minor Leagues.

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