Alex Binelas

American baseball player
Baseball player
Alex Binelas
Boston Red Sox
Third baseman
Born: (2000-05-26) May 26, 2000 (age 23)
Oak Creek, Wisconsin
Bats: Left
Throws: Right

Alexander James Binelas (born May 26, 2000) is an American professional baseball third baseman in the Boston Red Sox organization.

Amateur career

Binelas attended Oak Creek High School in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.[1] In 2018, his senior year, he was named Player of the Year by the Greater Metro Conference and the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association after batting .508 with four home runs while also pitching to a 1.94 ERA.[2][3] He was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 35th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign, instead choosing to honor his college commitment to play baseball at the University of Louisville.[4][5]

In 2019, Binelas' freshman season at Louisville, he played in 59 games (making 54 starts), hitting .291 with 14 home runs and 59 RBIs.[6][7] He was named a Freshman All-American by multiple media outlets including Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.[8][9] After the season, he was invited to play for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, joining teammates Reid Detmers, Bobby Miller, and Michael Kirian.[10] As a sophomore in 2020, Binelas appeared in two games before suffering a hamate injury to his right hand, missing time due to the injury before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11][12] In 2021, his junior season, he batted .256/.348/.621 with 19 home runs and 63 RBIs over fifty games.[13]

Professional career

Binelas was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the third round with the 86th overall selection of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.[14] He signed for a $700,000 signing bonus.[15] He made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Brewers before being promoted to the Carolina Mudcats of the Low-A East.[16] Over 36 games between the two clubs, he slashed .309/.390/.583 with nine home runs, 29 RBIs, and 11 doubles.[17]

On December 1, 2021, Binelas, David Hamilton, and Jackie Bradley Jr. were traded to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Hunter Renfroe.[18] Binelas was assigned to the Greenville Drive of the High-A South Atlantic League to begin the 2022 season.[19] In late June, he was promoted to the Portland Sea Dogs of the Double-A Eastern League.[20] Over 113 games between the two teams, he batted .206 with 25 home runs, 78 RBIs, and twenty doubles.[21] Binelas returned to Portland for the 2023 season, batting .223 with 16 home runs and 52 RBIs over 82 games.[22]

References

  1. ^ "ALL-USA Watch: Alex Binelas is 'consumed with baseball' and could be a high pick in the MLB draft". May 30, 2018.
  2. ^ Radcliffe, J. R. "Oak Creek's Alex Binelas is part of exciting Wisconsin class for 2018 MLB Draft. He's also All-Suburban Player of the Year". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  3. ^ Stewart, Mark. "Who's Wisconsin's top summer baseball player? The coaches association can't pick just one". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  4. ^ Hogg, Curt. "Once teammates, Doran Turchin and Alex Binelas are picked on the same day in the MLB draft". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  5. ^ "Oak Creek baseball player gets drafted, will head to college first". FOX 6 Now Milwaukee. June 17, 2018.
  6. ^ Draut, Sam. "Louisville baseball set to begin 2020 season". Sports Illustrated Louisville Cardinals News, Analysis and More.
  7. ^ Today, Russ Brown Kentucky. "Expectations high as Louisville begins baseball season". The State Journal.
  8. ^ "Louisville rookie Alex Binelas earns All-America honors". Cardinal Authority.
  9. ^ "Binelas Earns NCBWA Freshman All-America Honor". University of Louisville Athletics.
  10. ^ Robinson, Cameron Teague. "Louisville has four invited to USA Baseball Collegiate National Team camp". The Courier-Journal.
  11. ^ "Alex Binelas: 'Wisconsin is a baseball hotbed'". Baseball Prospect Journal. October 18, 2020.
  12. ^ Robinson, Cameron Teague. "Louisville baseball's depth will be tested early in the season without two key starters". The Courier-Journal.
  13. ^ "Alex Binelas 2021 MLB Draft Profile - Sports Illustrated Louisville Cardinals News, Analysis and More".
  14. ^ "Brewers' Alex Binelas: Lands with Brewers at pick No. 86 - CBSSports.com".
  15. ^ "Brewers sign draft picks Sal Frelick, Tyler Black, Alex Binelas".
  16. ^ "FredNats win. Seven game losing streak over - Fredericksburg Today". 26 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Draft picks 2021 strong impressions in pro debuts". MLB.com.
  18. ^ Hewitt, Steve (December 1, 2021). "Red Sox make stunning trade to bring back Jackie Bradley Jr., send Hunter Renfroe to Brewers". Boston Herald. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  19. ^ Callis, Jim (April 6, 2022). "Here's where Red Sox Top 30 prospects are starting '22". MLB.com. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  20. ^ "Boston Red Sox promote Alex Binelas (Hunter Renfroe trade) to Portland; Niko Kavadas, Nathan Hickey to Greenville". 24 June 2022.
  21. ^ "Alex Binelas Stats, Fantasy & News".
  22. ^ "Alex Binelas Stats, Fantasy & News".

External links

  • Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors)
  • Louisille Cardinals bio