Position: C
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 180 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/R
Born: 08/03/2003
Country: Venezuela
How Acquired: International Free Agent, 2019
Bonus: N/A
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: 2023
Minor League Free Agency: 2027
Options Left: 3
Overview
Alfonzo’s father, Eliezer, was a catcher in the majors for parts of six season, which explains why Omar signed out of Venezuela but was born in Minnesota. He was one of the Pirates’ more prominent signings in the 2019-20 international signing period, although his bonus is not known. He’s an offensive-minded catcher who has the potential to hit for power eventually. He puts up outstanding exit velocities for a player in the low minors. He also has a good arm.
2020-22
After missing the pandemic season, Alfonzo in 2021 caught in 37 games in the DSL. He had some troubles with passed balls, committing 14, but he threw out 33% of opposing base stealers. At the plate he held his own, with more walks than Ks. He got very hot the last month, though, batting 321/568/536 in August. He had a lot more trouble the next year in the FCL, batting just 144/276/202. He threw out 28% of base stealers.
2023-24
Alfonzo appeared to start figuring things out in 2023. The Pirates sent him to Bradenton in May. He struggled there, going 4-for-24, and the team sent him to the FCL in early June. He started hitting in the FCL, with a 1.014 OPS through eight games, and got sent back to Bradenton. He started hitting better, although he didn’t play a great deal until August. He got hot in September, batting 364/421/636, as the power started to show up. Alfonzo started 15 games at first, as the Pirates seem to prefer Geovanny Planchart behind the plate, but Alfonzo did catch 35 games, 26 as a starter. He threw out 30% of base stealers.
In 2024, Alfonzo went back to Bradenton. He didn’t hit quite as well as in 2023, but still hit well, with a 253/353/388 line that was down a little from the year before. He had a couple of slumps where he started chasing a lot. His BB:K was solid at 45:92. The Pirates moved Alfonzo up to Greensboro in early August and he hit better there, with a 247/371/457 line. One caveat is that all of his five home runs came in Greensboro’s ballpark. Alfonzo threw out 27% of base stealers with Bradenton and 53% with Greensboro.
Stats
Transactions
August 5, 2019: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent.