Special Sub-Topic: Alfonso Soriano Click Here To Play: Alfonso Soriano

What defensive position did Alfonso Soriano play in 2002 for the Yankees?

Second Base. When he was first drafted, the team tried Soriano out in different positions. In 2002 he settled down on Second Base.

From the start of the 2002 season, Soriano wore the number 12 on his shirt. But as a rookie, he wore a different number. Which one?

33 & thirty-three & thirty three. When pitcher David Wells rejoined the Yankees in 2002 he took back his #33, and Soriano became the #12.

Where was Alfonso Soriano born?

Dominican Republic. He was born in San Pedro de Macoris on January 7th, 1978.

When was Alfonso Soriano's Major League debut?

September 14th, 1999. Soriano was drafted from the Columbus Clippers (AAA) in 1999. His first ever game was on the 14th September, when he pinch ran, and then flew out. Ten days later he had his first Major League hit, and on October 3rd he had his first start in the Major Leagues. His first full season was in 2001. The 2002 date is significant, as that is when he hit his 30th homerun of the season.

In August 2002 Soriano joined the small group of players who are in the "30-30 Club". What had he achieved?

30 Home Runs and 30 Stolen Bases. When he hit a Home Run against Seattle on August 18th, 2002, he became the first Second Baseman in MLB history to achieve 30 Home Runs and 30 Stolen Bases. In 2001 Soriano was third in the American League for the number of stolen bases, with 43. In 2002 Soriano was only one Home Run short of joining the even more prestigious 40-40 club.

Which of these awards has Alfonso Soriano won?

Silver Slugger. Soriano won a Silver Slugger in November 2002, for his batting excellence during the regular season. He was one of four Yankees to win this award that year. He was in the running for Rookie of the Year during his first full season in 2001, but was beaten by Ichiro Suzuki, of the Seattle Mariners.

What is distinctive about Soriano's uniform, when compared to most of his team?

he wears long socks. Soriano is instantly recognisable on the field, thanks to his old-fashioned long socks. He does not wear red gloves, and like all batters, must always wear a batting helmet.

During the 2001 post-season, Soriano played in 17 games and had 58 At-bats. How many runs did he score in total?

8. Five of these 8 runs were during the AL Championship Series against Seattle, including a dramatic 9th inning game-winning Home Run. He had an impressive Batting Average of .400 for that series.

Which of these languages does Soriano not speak?

Portugese. Soriano's first language is Spanish. He was drafted to play in the Japanese baseball leagues when he was only 16, and played there for two years.

What happened during Soriano's first Major League hit?

he hit a game-winning home run. Soriano hit a game-ending solo home run on September 24th 1999, during the 11th inning at Tampa Bay. He later hit two more home runs at Seattle on April 8th and 9th, to become the first player since 1985 to hit home runs on each of his first three Major League hits.