Dodgers Sign Alfredo Amezaga To Minor League Deal

Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Dodgers have signed switch-hitting Utility guy Alfredo Amezaga to a minor league contract, with an invite to spring training. If his name looks familiar, that’s because the Dodgers had signed him to a minor league contract back in 2010. He didn’t play at all in spring training. He ended up playing in only four games with the Chattanooga Lookouts, before missing the entire season while still recovering from knee surgery. Amezaga is from Sonora Mexico, and was originally drafted by the Angels back in 1999.

Alfredo Amezaga while with the Marlins back in 2011-Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Amezaga is best known for winning the Mexican League batting title. The 34 year old utility man is a switch-hitter who spent all of 2012 with the Chicago Cubs triple-A affiliate Iowa. Amezaga has played in 584 games for four different MLB teams (Angels, Colorado, Pittsburgh, and Miami) over nine seasons. After Amezaga left his first stint with the Dodgers, he was signed by Colorado, and then traded back to the Marlins. The Marlins released him, and the Cubs signed him to a minor league contract last season.  Amezaga is a career .247 hitter, with a .307 OBP, and 12 home runs, and 49 steals in his 1,570 plate appearances.

Amezaga, has primarily played center field, shortstop, and second base, but has also seen some time at third base and right field.

Amezaga posted a line of .274/.336/.372 with the Iowa Cubs in 439 plate appearances during the 2012 season. The veteran utility player hit six home runs, and drove in 42 RBI in 113 games played.