Alexander Guerrero

Alexander Guerrero Perez (born December 20, 1986) is a Cuban professional baseball third baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He defected from Cuba in 2013 to pursue a contract in Major League Baseball.^[1]

Career

Cuban career

As a member of Cuba's Las Tunas team in the Cuban National Series, Guerrero was named to the 2010-2011 All-Star team^[2] as well as playing for the Cuba national baseball team at the 2012 Haarlem Baseball Week ^[3] and the 2011 World Port Tournament.^[4] He was part of the initial roster for the 2013 World Baseball Classic^[5] but did not make the final roster and reportedly sat out the regular season because he was upset at his snub.^[6]

U.S. career

He defected from Cuba in 2013 and obtained residency in Haiti.^[7] He began training in the Dominican Republic and on September 9, 2013, it was reported that he had been cleared by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control to sign with U.S. teams.^[8]

Guerrero was rumored to be signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, with early reports putting his deal in the seven-year, $32 million area. However, his initial agents turned out to not be licensed and he switched to Scott Boras, who said the bidding was now wide open.^[9] On October 21, 2013, it was reported that Guerrero had reached a new agreement with the Dodgers, that would be worth $28 million over 4 years.^[10] The deal included a $10 million signing bonus and allows him to become a free agent after his age 30 season. The Dodgers officially announced his signing on October 22.^[11]

Guerrero made his professional debut with the Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League.^[12] However, he dealt with hamstring issues and was limited to only 12 games, during which he hit .289.^[13]

Los Angeles Dodgers

Guerrero made the Dodgers' 25-man opening day roster for the 2014 season.^[14] He made his MLB debut as a pinch hitter on March 22, 2014 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but when Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson countered by putting in a right-handed pitcher, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly sent in a left-hander to pinch hit for Guerrero.^[15] Guerrero had his first official at-bat the next night, and struck out. After the two-game opening series in Sydney, Australia, Guerrero was optioned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes.^[16]

Guerrero with the Dodgers

During a game against the Salt Lake Bees on May 20, 2014, Guerrero was involved in a dugout scuffle with Albuquerque teammate Miguel Olivo in which Olivo bit off a portion of Guerrero's ear. ^[17] He had to undergo a complicated plastic surgery operation to reattach the ear, necessitating several days in the hospital.^[18] In 65 games for the Isotopes, he played 51 games at second base, 9 in left field, 4 at shortstop and 1 at third base. He hit .329 with 15 homers and 49 RBI. The Dodgers recalled him when rosters expanded on September 1. He recorded his first Major League hit with a single to left field off of Erik Cordier of the San Francisco Giants on September 13.^[19] He appeared in 13 games with the Dodgers, primarily as a pinch hitter though he did play in left field for a few innings. He had just the one hit in 13 at-bats.

Guerrero made the opening day roster for 2015 and in his first start of the season, at third base, on April 12, he had three hits in five at-bats. One of the hits was his first MLB home run, hit off of Óliver Pérez of the Arizona Diamondbacks.^[20]

See also

• List of baseball players who defected from Cuba

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Cuban baseball stats