CJ Alexander

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=CJ Alexander

|image=Pregame (52796596334) (cropped).jpg

|caption=Alexander with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2023

|team=New York Yankees

|number=

|position=Third baseman

|bats=Left

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1996|7|17}}

|birth_place=Merrillville, Indiana, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = June 24

|debutyear = 2024

|debutteam = Kansas City Royals

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = June 2, 2025

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .160

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 0

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 0

|teams =

Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2024}})
Athletics ({{mlby|2025}})

}}

Charles Joseph Wesley Alexander (born July 17, 1996) is an American professional baseball third baseman for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals and Athletics.

Amateur career

Alexander attended Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers, Florida. He signed a National Letter of Intent with Ball State University to play college baseball for the Ball State Cardinals.{{cite web|url=https://www.news-press.com/story/sports/2015/02/11/bishop-verot-ss-cj-alexander-signs-with-ball-state/23249727/ |title=Bishop Verot SS C.J. Alexander signs with Ball State |publisher=News-press.com |date= |accessdate=July 11, 2022}} He transferred to the State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota before committing to transfer to the University of Central Florida.

Professional career

=Atlanta Braves=

The Atlanta Braves drafted Alexander in the 20th round, with the 592nd overall selection, of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.news-press.com/story/sports/high-school/2018/06/06/arizona-diamondbacks-take-blaze-alexander-11-th-round/677254002/ |title=Arizona Diamondbacks take Blaze Alexander in 11th round |publisher=News-press.com |date= |accessdate=July 11, 2022}} After being drafted, Alexander played for the rookie-level Florida Complex League Braves and Danville Braves, as well as the High-A Florida Fire Frogs. In 52 total games in the Braves farm system during 2018, Alexander had a batting average of .352 with 69 hits, 2 home runs, 27 runs batted in (RBI) and 4 stolen bases.{{Cite web |title=CJ Alexander Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.milb.com/player/cj-alexander-680769 |access-date=July 18, 2024 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}} After beginning 2019 with the Fire Frogs, Alexander was promoted to Atlanta's Double-A affiliate, the Mississippi Braves. After having a promising start to his professional career in 2018, Alexander regressed in 2019, with a dismal batting average of .117 to go along with only 15 hits, 2 home runs, 8 RBI, and 3 stolen bases in 43 total games (19 with the Fire Frogs, 24 with the Mississippi Braves).

Alexander did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=July 19, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}} Alexander played in 87 games in 2021, all with the Mississippi Braves, and batted .197/.258/.378 with 60 hits, 10 home runs, 31 RBI and 14 stolen bases.

=Kansas City Royals=

On July 11, 2022, the Braves traded Alexander, Drew Waters, and Andrew Hoffmann to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for the 35th overall selection of the 2022 MLB draft.{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34226803/atlanta-braves-trade-drew-waters-andrew-hoffmann-cj-alexander-kansas-city-royals-35th-pick | title=Braves send 3 prospects to Royals for No. 35 pick | date=July 11, 2022 }} Alexander played 114 total games in 2022; 68 with the Mississippi Braves before being traded to Kansas City, and 46 games for the Royals' Double-A affiliate, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Overall, he improved, batting .264/.302/.477 with 120 hits, 25 home runs, 87 RBI and 19 stolen bases. In 2023, Alexander played 92 total games; 6 with the rookie–level Arizona Complex League Royals and 86 with the Triple–A Omaha Storm Chasers. Alexander batted .231/.304/.469 with 70 hits, 17 home runs, 49 RBI and 4 stolen bases.

On June 24, 2024, Alexander was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web |last=Rieper |first=Max |date=June 24, 2024 |title=Royals activate Michael Massey, call up CJ Alexander |url=https://www.royalsreview.com/2024/6/24/24185156/royals-activate-michael-massey-call-up-cj-alexander |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240624210837/https://www.royalsreview.com/2024/6/24/24185156/royals-activate-michael-massey-call-up-cj-alexander |archive-date=June 24, 2024 |access-date=July 4, 2024 |website=Royals Review |language=en}} He made his debut that day against the Miami Marlins, going 0–for–3 with one strikeout.{{Cite web |title=CJ Alexander Makes MLB Debut With Kansas City Royals |url=https://www.milb.com/news/cj-alexander-makes-mlb-debut-with-kansas-city-royals |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240704060636/https://www.milb.com/news/cj-alexander-makes-mlb-debut-with-kansas-city-royals |archive-date=July 4, 2024 |access-date=July 4, 2024 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}} On July 2, in his fourth career game and eighth career at bat, Alexander recorded his first hit, a single to right field, off of Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zack Littell.{{Cite web |title=CJ Alexander's first Major League hit |url=https://www.mlb.com/royals/video/cj-alexander-singles-on-a-line-drive-to-right-fielder-josh-lowe-mj-melend |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240704060056/https://www.mlb.com/royals/video/cj-alexander-singles-on-a-line-drive-to-right-fielder-josh-lowe-mj-melend |archive-date=July 4, 2024 |access-date=July 4, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} On July 5, Alexander and Carlos Hernández were optioned back to the Triple–A Omaha Storm Chasers to make room for the promotion of Walter Pennington and the activation of Adam Frazier from the injured list.{{Cite web |last=Rieper |first=Max |date=July 5, 2024 |title=Royals call up pitcher Walter Pennington |url=https://www.royalsreview.com/2024/7/5/24192889/royals-call-up-pitcher-walter-pennington |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706005342/https://www.royalsreview.com/2024/7/5/24192889/royals-call-up-pitcher-walter-pennington |archive-date=July 6, 2024 |access-date=July 18, 2024 |website=Royals Review |language=en}} Alexander batted .125 with one hit and three strikeouts in eight at bats in his first four MLB games (starting three at third base and pinch-hitting for the designated hitter in one) before being optioned back down to Triple-A.{{Cite web |title=CJ Alexander Stats Between June 24, 2024 and July 5, 2024 |url=https://www.statmuse.com/e/m/TBsRwuTcS |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718071802/https://www.statmuse.com/e/m/TBsRwuTcS |archive-date=July 18, 2024 |access-date=July 18, 2024 |website=StatMuse |language=en}} On August 31, Alexander was designated for assignment by Kansas City.{{Cite web|title=Royals Designate Austin Nola, CJ Alexander For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/08/royals-designate-austin-nola-cj-alexander-for-assignment.html|access-date=August 31, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

=Oakland Athletics / Athletics=

On September 4, 2024, the Oakland Athletics claimed Alexander off waivers by .{{Cite web|title=Athletics Claim CJ Alexander|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/09/athletics-claim-cj-alexander.html|access-date=September 4, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} He spent the remainder of the year with the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, batting .294/.410/.588 with three home runs and 14 RBI across 12 appearances.

Alexander was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas to begin the 2025 season.{{Cite web|title=Athletics' CJ Alexander: Falls short of roster spot|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/athletics-cj-alexander-falls-short-of-roster-spot/|access-date=April 17, 2025|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} In six appearances for the Athletics, he batted 3-for-17 (.176). Alexander was designated for assignment by the team on June 5, 2025.{{Cite web|title=Athletics Designate CJ Alexander For Assignment, Reinstate Michael Kelly|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/06/athletics-designate-cj-alexander-for-assignment-reinstate-michael-kelly.html|access-date=June 5, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

=New York Yankees=

On June 8, 2025, the New York Yankees claimed Alexander off waivers.{{Cite web|title=Yankees Claim CJ Alexander|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/06/yankees-claim-cj-alexander.html|access-date=June 8, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

Personal life

Alexander's brother, Blaze, also plays professional baseball, currently for the Arizona Diamondbacks.{{cite web|url=https://www.news-press.com/story/sports/2018/08/07/red-hot-rookies-cape-corals-blaze-c-j-alexander-fire-arizona-atlanta/923075002/ |title=Blaze Alexander, CJ Alexander on fire for MLB's Arizona, Atlanta |publisher=News-press.com |date=August 7, 2018 |accessdate=July 11, 2022}}