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BP Annual Player Comments

Year		Comment
2013		Alfredo Amezaga has a weak bat, but he can play seven positions, and he even pitched a perfect third of an inning in Triple-A last year.
2010		When the Icelandic saga of Marlins’ center fielders is written (the Chuckie Carr sögur) Amezaga will be shown to have heroically but somewhat pointlessly bridged the roughly two-year period between Reggie Abercrombie’s face-plant and the elevation of Cody Ross. The heroic part is that Amezaga did a fine job defensively despite having been almost exclusively an infielder to that point. The pointless comes in because he hit all of .260/.323/.346 in the role, which isn’t really helping. Amezaga missed most of the season after microfracture surgery on his left knee; Ross has center field and Emilio Bonifacio has his utility job, while Amezaga was non-tendered. He will likely never again be a regular, nor should he be, though we probably don’t have to worry about that as there’s only one Marlins organization.
2009		Amezaga Anonymous warns you about a few symptoms of Amezaga addiction: it starts with enjoying something for its modest virtues, then deciding a little's not enough, and then getting hooked. Amezaga has played far too much center and gotten far too many at-bats for a nice little utility player. The Fish are slowly kicking the habit—giving Cody Ross a shot last season cut into AA's playing time, and with Cameron Maybin on the horizon and Emilio Bonifacio potentially challenging him for a utility role, even his roster spot might get poured out. And if that doesn't work, there's always the Amezaga Patch, which has the dual benefit of curing the problem and keeping him safely tethered to the manager's arm.
2008		This former Angels prospect had never played the outfield until doing so in Triple-A in 2005 as a member of the Pirates' organization. Since then, he's led the Marlins in defensive innings in center field. It should come as no surprise, then, that he's been part of the massive defensive problems plaguing the Marlins; he's slightly below average out there with a mediocre arm. If Amezaga could hit, you'd forgive that, but he hits like the fifth infielder he really is. If returned to that role, he'd be a valuable bench player, but that might have to wait until Cameron Maybin is ready.
2007		Among the 35 players to play regularly or semi-regularly as center fielders in the NL last year, Florida had the bottom two in VORP: Abercrombie and Eric Reed. It was such a persistent problem that they eventually turned to career utility infielder Amezaga, who had never before played center in the majors. He wound up being the best of the bunch, which is sort of like being the tallest midget in the circus. Amezaga is on the wrong side of 27 and has a career line of .240/.306/.325. His versatility makes him a useful last man off the bench, but any team that starts him for more than a day at a time really isn`t serious about its chances.
2005		This Utility Infielder is not suitable for everyday usage. Do not attempt to start Utility Infielder; starting will void Utility Infielder's warrantee. Utility Infielder is for external use only; if Utility Infielder is swallowed, seek medical attention immediately… Back in 2000, Amezaga was a 22-year-old Cal Leaguer who'd stolen 73 bases and took enough walks that his upside looked something like that of D'Angelo Jimenez, but with speed instead of power. Since then, the walks and stolen bases have disappeared, leaving defensive versatility as his only asset. Claimed on waivers from the Rockies, he'll back up Clint Barmes and Aaron Miles.
2004		This is what a prospect looked like in the Angels' system as recently as a year ago. Now, with the three top guys coming along, plus a first-round pick in Brandon Wood who looks like he can play and even a hard thrower like Ervin Santana, Amezaga looks more like what he is: a utility infielder-to-be. Amezaga enters camp battling with David Eckstein for the shortstop job. He's not an asset outside of the marketing department.
2003		Amezaga is a utility infielder with some promise. At one point or another, he’s shown plate discipline, the ability to hit for a reasonable average, and the ability to play pretty good defense at both middle infield positions. If he does all of those things at once, he probably has a career as a pretty decent 24th man ahead of him.
2002		Amezaga made strides with the bat at Arkansas, so the Angels betrayed their desperation by moving him to the PCL. Most players can’t handle that kind of itinerary, especially if they're suspect to begin with like Amezaga. There’s talk about him displacing either David Eckstein or Adam Kennedy, although it's not clear what the impetus for that would be.
2001		In his first full season of pro ball, Alfredo Amezaga didn't hit for average, take walks, or show power. He can steal bases but was old for the California League and struggled. The Angels still have Amezaga at shortstop in the hopes he can fill their yawning void at the position in 2003. He's a better bet to get hung up at Double-A and never be seen again.

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