50 Facts About Alex Verdugo

Early Life and Background

Alex Verdugo's journey to MLB stardom began in Tucson, Arizona. His upbringing and family background played a significant role in shaping his career.

1. Full Name: Alexander Brady Verdugo
2. Nickname: Dugie
3. Birthdate: May 15, 1996
4. Birthplace: Tucson, Arizona
5. Height: 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm)
6. Weight: 195 pounds (88 kg)
7. Position: Outfielder
8. Bats: Left-handed
9. Throws: Left-handed
10. Drafted: By the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round of the 2014 MLB draft (62nd overall pick).

Family and Education

Verdugo's family roots and education laid the foundation for his baseball career.

11. Father’s Origin: His father, Joe, is from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
12. Mother’s Origin: His mother, Shelly, is from Minnesota.
13. Siblings: He has five sisters and two brothers.
14. High School: Attended Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Arizona.

Minor League Journey

Before making it to the big leagues, Verdugo honed his skills in the minor leagues.

15. Minor League Debut: Signed with the Dodgers after being drafted in 2014.
16. Arizona League Dodgers: Hit .347 in 49 games and was awarded post-season Arizona League All-Star honors and Baseball America Rookie league all-star honors.
17. Great Lakes Loons: Assigned to the Class-A Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League in 2015, where he hit .295 in 101 games and was selected to the post-season all-star team.
18. Rancho Cucamonga Quakes: Promoted to the Advanced-Class A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League in 2015, where he played in 23 games and hit .385.
19. Hit for the Cycle: Hit for the cycle in a game against the Lancaster JetHawks on August 27, 2015.
20. Minor League Player of the Year: Named the organization's minor league player of the year in 2015.

Double-A and Advanced Levels

Verdugo's performance in Double-A and other advanced levels showcased his potential.

21. Tulsa Drillers: Promoted to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League in 2016, where he was selected as a starter for the mid-season all-star game and named to the post-season all-star team.
22. Batting Average: Had a .273 batting average in 126 games for the Drillers and hit 13 home runs with 63 RBIs.
23. Glendale Desert Dogs: Assigned to the Glendale Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League at the conclusion of the 2016 season, where he batted .140/.213/.233.
24. Mexico National Team: Played for the Mexico national baseball team in an exhibition series in Japan in November 2016 and in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Major League Debut

Verdugo's MLB debut marked the beginning of his professional career at the highest level.

25. MLB Debut: Made his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 1, 2017, as the starting center fielder against the San Diego Padres.
26. First MLB Hit: Recorded his first MLB hit on September 2, 2017, with a single off Clayton Richard of the Padres.
27. First MLB Home Run: Hit his first major league home run on September 10, 2017, off Adam Ottavino of the Colorado Rockies.
28. 2017 Season: Played in 16 games for the Dodgers in 2017, batting .174/.240/.304 with four hits in 23 at-bats.
29. 2018 Season: Selected to represent the Pacific Coast League at the Triple-A All-Star Game and was also selected to the post-season all-star team. Appeared in 37 games for the Dodgers, hitting .260 while spending most of the season with Oklahoma City, where he hit .329.

Trade to Boston Red Sox

A significant move in Verdugo's career was his trade to the Boston Red Sox.

30. Trade to Red Sox: Traded to the Boston Red Sox after the 2019 season.
31. 2021 Season: Began the 2021 season as a regular member of Boston's outfield, playing all three positions. Placed on the paternity list on August 8 and returned to the team on August 13. Played in 146 regular-season games for Boston, batting .289 with 13 home runs and 63 RBIs. Also played in 11 postseason games, batting 13-for-42 (.310) as the Red Sox advanced to the American League Championship Series.
32. Two-Way Player Aspiration: Expressed his desire to become a two-way player by the 2023 season, inspired by Shohei Ohtani.
33. Injury Issues: Started experiencing blistering, bleeding, scabbing, and pain in his hands beginning in 2021.

2022 and 2023 Seasons

Verdugo continued to make strides with the Red Sox during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

34. 2022 Season: Returned as a corner outfielder for Boston during 2022, appearing in 150 games in the outfield and two at designated hitter. Batted .280 with 11 home runs and 74 RBIs.
35. 2023 Contract: Reached agreement on a one-year contract with the Red Sox on January 13, 2023, avoiding salary arbitration.
36. 2023 Performance: Batted .303 with five home runs and 31 RBIs through June 22, when he was placed on the bereavement list. Returned to the team on June 27.

Trade to New York Yankees

Another pivotal moment in Verdugo's career was his trade to the New York Yankees.

37. Trade to Yankees: Traded to the New York Yankees prior to the 2024 season.

Personal Life and Community Involvement

Verdugo's personal life and community involvement highlight his character off the field.

38. Community Involvement: Actively involved in his community with the Dodgers, showing face and interacting with fans.
39. Family Values: Raised with strong family values alongside five sisters and two brothers in Tucson, Arizona.
40. Respect for Women: Treats women with utmost respect, which he emphasized in addressing past allegations.

Addressing Assault Allegations

Verdugo faced and addressed serious allegations, maintaining his innocence.

41. Allegations Addressed: Addressed assault allegations in 2020, stating he was cleared of wrongdoing by police and expressing regret over the incident.
42. Declaration of Innocence: Repeatedly noted his innocence and plea for Red Sox fans to greet him with an open mind.
43. Healing Process: Hopes fans will give him a chance to show he has matured and grown, focusing on baseball and community involvement.

Career Statistics

Verdugo's career statistics reflect his contributions and performance on the field.

44. MLB Career Stats: As of the end of the 2023 season, Verdugo has played in 2886 games, batting .272 with 70 home runs and 316 RBIs.
45. Minor League Career Stats: In minor leagues, he played in 1956 games, batting .309 with 41 home runs and 271 RBIs.
46. Runs: Ranked 81st in the AL in runs in 2023 and 36th in the AL in runs in 2020.
47. Doubles: Ranked 28th in the AL in doubles in 2024, 37th in the AL in doubles in 2023, and 39th in the AL in doubles in 2022.
48. Hits: Recorded 166 hits in the AL in 2022 and 157 hits in the AL in 2021.
49. Batting Average: Batted .264 in the AL in 2023, .280 in the AL in 2022, and .289 in the AL in 2021.
50. On Base Percentage: Had an OBP of .351 in the AL in 2021 and .367 in the AL in 2020.

The Final Pitch on Alex Verdugo

Alex Verdugo's journey from Tucson to the MLB showcases his dedication, talent, and resilience. From his early days in the minor leagues to his impactful presence with the Dodgers and Red Sox, Verdugo has consistently proven his worth. His impressive stats, community involvement, and personal growth highlight a player who’s more than just numbers on a scoreboard. Despite facing challenges and controversies, Verdugo has shown a commitment to his craft and his community. His story is a testament to perseverance and hard work. As he continues his career with the Yankees, fans can expect more memorable moments and contributions from this talented outfielder. Verdugo's journey is far from over, and his future in baseball looks promising. Keep an eye on him; he’s bound to make more headlines.