Luis Alicea

From SoSH

Contents 1 Coaching Career 2 Playing Career 3 Moment in the Sun 4 Transations 5 External Links

Coaching Career

On November 29, 2006 the Red Sox named Luis Alicea as the club's new first base coach. Alicea, 40, joins the major league coaching staff after three seasons as a manager in Boston’s minor league system. He guided Single-A Greenville of the South Atlantic League to a 67-70 overall record in 2006. He spent the previous two years at Single-A Lowell in the New York-Penn League with the Spinners posting a 74-77 overall record in that span.

Alicea helped usher in a new era of baseball in Greenville as the Drive's first manager. More importantly, he played an integral role in the continuing developmental process of pitcher Clay Buchholz, Red Sox 2006 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, and infielder Jeff Natale, Red Sox 2006 Minor League Offensive Player of the Year.

An August 13, 2004 special to [1] Boston.com stated that among his peers, Alicea is one of the most respected baseball players in the game.

Luis Alicea played 13 years in the Major Leagues. The switch-hitter enjoyed his best season with the Rangers in 2000, establishing career highs with a .294 average, 139 games, 85 runs, 159 hits, and 63 RBI. He ranked fourth in the National League with 11 triples in 1992. Alicea was the Cardinals’ first round pick in the 1986 First Year Player Draft after an outstanding career at Florida State University.

He certainly made the most out of his stint in Boston. Alicea was the Red Sox’ regular second baseman in his lone season in Boston in 1995 with a .270 batting average in 132 games. The Red Sox won the American League East title in 1995. It was Alicea’s first trip to the post-season of his career.

Playing Career

Luis Alicea broke into the major leagues with the Cardinals on April 23, 1988 (at age 22) after being drafted in the first round (23rd overall) in 1986. He had a tough rookie season, batting just .212 in 297 at-bats as a second baseman, and returned to the minors for the following two seasons.

Alicea next returned to the majors in 1991 as a defensive specialist, playing 11 games at 2B, 2 at 3B, and 1 at SS. Although he batted only .191, he played errorless ball at all 3 positions. St. Louis liked his defense enough to keep him around for the next 3 seasons as well, and he steadily raised his batting average (.240 in 1992, .279 in 1993, .278 in 1994) while serving as an excellent utility infielder.

Alicea was traded in December 1994 to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Jeff McNeely and Nate Minchey, and he played the 1995 season for Boston, batting .270/.367/.375 in 132 games as Boston's second baseman. However, the Sox elected to waive him in March 1996, and Alicea was returned to the Cardinals. In 129 games with St. Louis, Alicea batted .258 as the regular second baseman. Alicea became a free agent the following offseason, and signed with the Angels for the 1997 season. He would spend the 1998-2000 seasons with the Texas Rangers and the 2001-2002 seasons with the Kansas City Royals, playing 2B, 3B, and OF, and played in his final game on September 25, 2002.

Overall, Alicea had 1031 hits in 3971 at-bats, giving him a .260 average with 47 HR, 422 RBI, and 81 SB.

Moment in the Sun

• Alicea batted .600 in the 1995 ALDS for the Red Sox.
• Luis had a 2-HR game on July 28, 1995 with the Sox, providing 4 RBI in Boston's 6-2 win over the Rangers.
• On May 22, 1994, Alicea had 5 hits in 6 AB and scored the winning run for the St. Louis Cardinals in a 10-9 win over Florida.
• Luis Alicea provided 3 hits (2 doubles) and 5 RBI in an 8-3 win for St. Louis over the Atlanta Braves on May 11, 1992.
• On August 31, 2000, Alicea led off for the Rangers and had 4 hits (including a double and a home run), 1 BB, 5 runs scored, and 2 RBI in the Ranger's 14-7 win over the Cleveland Indians.

Transations

• June 2, 1986: Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1st round (23rd pick) of the 1986 amateur draft. Player signed June 17, 1986.

• December 7, 1994: Traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Boston Red Sox for Jeff McNeely and Nate Minchey.
• March 19, 1996: Selected off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals from the Boston Red Sox.
• October 31, 1996: Granted Free Agency.
• January 19, 1997: Signed as a Free Agent with the Anaheim Angels.
• October 30, 1997: Granted Free Agency.
• December 9, 1997: Signed as a Free Agent with the Texas Rangers.
• October 28, 1999: Granted Free Agency.
• December 7, 1999: Signed as a Free Agent with the Texas Rangers.
• October 31, 2000: Granted Free Agency.
• January 26, 2001: Signed as a Free Agent with the Kansas City Royals.
• November 5, 2001: Granted Free Agency.
• December 7, 2001: Signed as a Free Agent with the Kansas City Royals.

External Links

• Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis