Alessandro Liddi (born August 14, 1988) is an Italian

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Modern professiona ...

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and

first baseman A first baseman, abbreviated 1B, is the player on a baseball or softball team who fields the area nearest first base, the first of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. The first baseman is responsible for the majori ...

who is a free agent. Liddi played for the

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The team joined the American League as an expansion ...

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (A ...

(MLB) from 2011 through 2013, and for the

Chinatrust Brothers The CTBC Brothers () or simply Brothers are a professional baseball team in Taiwan. The team was originally established as an amateur team in 1984 by the Brother Hotel located in Taipei City, and later joined the Chinese Professional Baseball Leag ...

of the

Chinese Professional Baseball League The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL; ) is the top-tier professional baseball league in Taiwan. The league was established in 1989 and played the first season in 1990. CPBL eventually absorbed the competing Taiwan Major League in 2 ...

(CPBL) in 2019. He is the first player born and raised in Italy to play in MLB and the CPBL.

Professional career

Seattle Mariners

Liddi was signed as a non-drafted free agent from Italy on September 9, 2005, by

scouts Wayne Norton and Mauro Mazzotti. He began his professional career with the Peoria Mariners in , hitting safely in 34 of 47 games. He finished tied for fourth in the

Arizona League The Arizona Complex League (ACL) is a rookie-level Minor League Baseball league that operates in and around Phoenix, Arizona, since 1988. Prior to 2021, it was known as the Arizona League (AZL). Along with the Florida Complex League (FCL), it ...

in hits with 57 and slugging percentage with a .500 clip, fifth in extra-base hits with 22 and tied for ninth in average batting .313. Liddi also led team with 13 doubles and recorded 15 multi-hit games, including eight season-high three-hit games. He had season-high eight game hitting streak, batting .469 from July 19 – 28. He hit his first career home run on July 20 against the Arizona League Angels. He hit .352 in 23 games in July. He hit .384 in 22 games at home, compared to .250 in 25 road games. Liddi was promoted to the Class-A

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, a town on the outskirts of Appleton in the Fox Cities, and are na ...

on August 24, appearing in 11 games. In , Liddi spent the entire season with Wisconsin. He led the Timber Rattlers in doubles with 28, RBIs with 52, at-bats with 400, games played with 113 and total bases. 41 percent of his hits went for extra-base hits. He recorded an RBI in six consecutive games from May 28 – June 2. He hit .282 in 23 games in the month of July. He spent his second season with the Class-A Wisconsin in , appearing in a career-high 125 games. He recorded a career-high five hits, going 5-for-5 with three runs scored and two doubles on June 14 against the

Clinton LumberKings The Clinton LumberKings are a collegiate summer baseball team of the Prospect League. They are located in Clinton, Iowa, and play their home games at NelsonCorp Field. From 1956 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's Midwest Leag ...

. In the month of June, he hit .312 with 12 runs scored, five extra-base hits and nine RBIs in 21 games. He hit .308 with 16 runs scored, 11 extra-base hits and 17 RBIs in 29 games in August. Liddi participated in the Mariners

Arizona Fall League The Arizona Fall League (AFL) is an off-season sports league owned and operated by Major League Baseball (MLB) which operates during the autumn in Arizona, United States, at six different baseball complexes. Arizona Fall League rosters are fille ...

Peoria, Arizona Peoria is a city in Maricopa and Yavapai counties in the state of Arizona. Most of the city is located in Maricopa County, while a portion in the north is in Yavapai County. It is a major suburb of Phoenix. As of the 2020 census, the popul ...

Liddi had a break-out season in , batting a league-leading .345 with 23 home runs and 104 RBIs in 129 games with the Class-A

High Desert Mavericks The High Desert Mavericks were an American Minor League Baseball team in Adelanto, California, that played their home games at Heritage Field at Stater Bros. Stadium. They played in the Class A-Advanced California League. The franchise had eight d ...

. His batting average led all Mariners minor leaguers, while his 104 RBI tied with teammate Joe Dunigan for the organizational lead. Despite having the highest batting average among full-season minor league players, Liddi shared the

California League The California League is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in California. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following Major L ...

batting title with

Koby Clemens Koby Aaron Clemens (born December 4, 1986) is an American former professional baseball infielder and outfielder. He later served as a coach in the Houston Astros farm system. He is the eldest son of former Major League Baseball pitcher Roger ...

. He was named the California League Most Valuable Player, after ranking in the top-5 in the league in hits, doubles, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, extra-base hits, and runs scored. He recorded 53 multi-hit games, while also knocking in at least two runs 28 times. A native of Italy, Liddi played for Team Italy in the

World Baseball Classic The World Baseball Classic (WBC) is an international baseball tournament sanctioned from 2006 to 2013 by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) and after 2013 by World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) in partnership with Major Leagu ...

in March. In June he was one of four Mavericks on the California League All-Star Team, and in July he participated in the

All-Star Futures Game The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game hosted by Major League Baseball (MLB) in conjunction with the mid-summer MLB All-Star Game. A team of American League-affiliated prospects competes against a team of National Leag ...

in St. Louis, Missouri. At season's end, Liddi was named the

Topps The Topps Company, Inc. is an American company that manufactures chewing gum, candy, and collectibles. Formerly based in New York City, Topps is best known as a leading producer of American football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, soccer, a ...

California League Player of the Year. He was also named the Mariners' Minor League Player of the Year in September. Liddi was selected by MLB.com as the Mariners Organization Player of the Year. Liddi participated in his first

Spring training Spring training is the preseason in Major League Baseball (MLB), a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives estab ...

with the Mariners in 2011. He hit grand slams in back-to-back games before being demoted to the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate, the

Tacoma Rainiers The Tacoma Rainiers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. They are located in Tacoma, Washington, and play their home games at Cheney Stadium, which opened in 1960 ...

, on March 12, 2011. In 8 Spring training games, Liddi hit for a .385 batting average and a .429

on-base percentage In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) measures how frequently a batter reaches base. An official Major League Baseball (MLB) statistic since 1984, it is sometimes referred to as on-base average (OBA), as it is rarely presented as a ...

, with an

OPS In ancient Roman religion, Ops or ''Opis'' (Latin: "Plenty") was a fertility deity and earth goddess of Sabine origin. Her equivalent in Greek mythology was Rhea. Iconography In Ops' statues and coins, she is figured sitting down, as Chthon ...

of .846. Liddi began the 2011 season in Tacoma. He hit .259 with 30 home runs, 104 RBIs and a Pacific Coast League-leading 121 runs in Tacoma. Liddi was called up by the Seattle Mariners in September and made his MLB debut on September 7, becoming the first native Italian to play in MLB. He got his first career hit on September 9 against the

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...

. He hit his first career home run on September 19 against the

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central division. Since , they have ...

. The following day, September 20, he hit his second career home run against the

Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...

. Liddi began 2013 as the Rainiers Opening Day third baseman. After hitting .267 with 9 HR and 37 RBI in 50 games over the first two months, Liddi was recalled on May 29. After appearing in 8 games, he was optioned back to Tacoma. He was used as a backup at first base for

Kendrys Morales Kendrys Morales Rodríguez (born June 20, 1983) is a Cuban-Dominican former professional baseball designated hitter and first baseman who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Seattle Mariners, Minn ...

, and he was used off the bench, hitting 1–17 with a double and a walk. He appeared in 9 more games with Tacoma before being designated for assignment on June 28.

Baltimore Orioles

On July 6, 2013, Seattle traded Liddi and their No. 3 international slot ($277,500) to Baltimore for their No. 2 international slot ($351,200). He was optioned to Triple-A

Norfolk Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the Nor ...

, where in 49 games at first and third base, he hit .222 with 4 HR and 22 RBI. On September 6, after not earning a call-up when the rosters expanded, he was designated for assignment to make room for Chris Dickerson, and he was outrighted off the roster 2 days later. After the season, he became a minor league free agent.

Chicago White Sox

On November 14, 2013, Liddi signed a minor league deal with the

Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and ...

. On May 12, 2014, Liddi was released by the White Sox after struggling to a .171/.203/.303 batting line in 22 games.

Los Angeles Dodgers

On May 16, 2014, Liddi signed a minor league contract with the

Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League West, West division. Established in 1883 i ...

organization and was assigned to the AAA

Albuquerque Isotopes The Albuquerque Isotopes are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. They play home games at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at an e ...

. He wound up playing in 44 games for the Isotopes and 36 for the AA

Chattanooga Lookouts The Chattanooga Lookouts are a Minor League Baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team plays its home g ...

. He hit .219 for the Isotopes and .216 for the Lookouts.

Kansas City Royals

On January 10, 2015, Liddi signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals. He spent the season with the Double-A

Northwest Arkansas Naturals The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are a Minor League Baseball team based in Springdale, Arkansas. The team is a member of the Texas League, and serves as the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at Arvest Ballpark, whi ...

, batting .287/.324/.474 in 128 games before electing free agency on November 7, 2015.

Baltimore Orioles (second stint)

On January 12, 2016, Liddi signed with the

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. As one of the American League's eight charter ...

organization on a minor league deal. The news broke on the same day that pitcher Wei-Yin Chen signed with the

Miami Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park. The fra ...

and

Gerardo Parra Gerardo Enrique Parra (born May 6, 1987) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies, San Francisco Giants ...

signed with the

Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The team plays its home baseball games at Coors Fi ...

, both leaving the Orioles. He was released by the Orioles organization on April 1, 2016.

Tigres de Quintana Roo

On April 1, 2016, Liddi signed with the

Tigres de Quintana Roo The Quintana Roo Tigers (), formerly known as the Mexico (City) Tigers () are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico. The team is part of the Southern Division (). The team has won twelve champio ...

of the

Mexican Baseball League The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country. The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five t ...

. In December 2016, a Mexican reporter tweeted that Liddi would play for a Japanese team; however, nothing was too apparent, including which team he would play for. He batted .281/.349/.538 with 23 home runs and 91 RBI in 2016 and was a Mexican League All-Star.

Toros de Tijuana

On March 28, 2017, Liddi was traded to the

Toros de Tijuana The Toros de Tijuana (or Tijuana Bulls) are a Mexican Baseball team based in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. They are members of the Mexican Baseball League and play their home games at Estadio Chevron. Team history Original Attempt The fr ...

from the

. Liddi batted .225/.335/.399 with 17 home runs and 65 RBI and was a LMB All-Star for the second straight year.

Return to Kansas City

On February 19, 2018, Liddi signed a minor-league deal with the

. He was assigned to AA

for the 2018 season. Liddi elected free agency on November 2, 2018.

Chinatrust Brothers

On April 2, 2019, Liddi signed with the

of the

. He was later released by the team on June 4, 2019. In 33 games he hit .244/.279/.487 with 7 homeruns and 20 RBIs.

Leones de Yucatán

On June 8, 2019, Liddi signed with the

Leones de Yucatán The Leones de Yucatán (English: Yucatán Lions) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League. The team play its home games at Parque Kukulcán Alamo in Mérida, Yucatán. The Leones have won the Mexican League title five times in , , , ...

of the

Mexican League The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country. The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...

. Liddi batted a stellar .344/.414/.606 with 12 home runs and 66 RBI in just 59 games for Yucatán. Liddi did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Mexican League season because of the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

. In 2021, Liddi slashed .315/.401/.580 with 16 home runs and 36 RBIs in 63 games. Liddi was released by the club on January 11, 2022, after informing them he would be taking the 2022 season off.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Liddi, Alex 1988 births Living people Albuquerque Isotopes players Arizona League Mariners players Atenienses de Manatí (baseball) players Expatriate baseball players in Puerto Rico Cardenales de Lara players Expatriate baseball players in Venezuela Charlotte Knights players Charros de Jalisco players Chattanooga Lookouts players CTBC Brothers players High Desert Mavericks players Italian expatriate baseball players in Mexico Italian expatriate baseball players in Taiwan Italian expatriate baseball players in the United States Leones de Yucatán players Leones del Escogido players Expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente infielders Major League Baseball players from Italy Major League Baseball first basemen Major League Baseball left fielders Major League Baseball third basemen Mexican League baseball first basemen Mexican League baseball left fielders Mexican League baseball right fielders Mexican League baseball third basemen Northwest Arkansas Naturals players Norfolk Tides players People from Sanremo Seattle Mariners players Tacoma Rainiers players Tomateros de Culiacán players Toros de Tijuana players Tigres de Quintana Roo players Venados de Mazatlán players Wisconsin Timber Rattlers players West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx players 2009 World Baseball Classic players 2013 World Baseball Classic players 2016 European Baseball Championship players 2017 World Baseball Classic players Italian expatriate sportspeople in Venezuela Sportspeople from the Province of Imperia