Stephen Alemais
{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1995)}}
{{infobox baseball biography
|name=Stephen Alemais
|team=Free agent
|number=
|image=Stephen_Alemais_2018.jpg
|caption=Alemais with the Altoona Curve in 2018
|position=Shortstop / Second baseman
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1995|4|12}}
|birth_place=New York City, New York, U.S.
|bats=Right
|throws= Right
|teams=
}}
Stephen Gavin Alemais (born April 12, 1995) is an American professional baseball shortstop who is a free agent. He played college baseball for three seasons with the Tulane Green Wave, and was drafted in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Alemais played four seasons in the Pittsburgh minor league system and earned attention for his defensive skills. However, he was released in 2022 after undergoing multiple shoulder surgeries.
Early life and amateur career
Alemais was born in the Bronx, New York to Ernies Alemais and Joan Salcedo. His father was a building maintenance worker, but left his job to open a sports complex with batting cages due to his son's interest and talent in baseball. Stephen began his high school career at All Hallows High School. However, he tore the labrum in his left shoulder on a swing at a high fastball during his junior season, which led him to transfer to the Elev/8 Sports Institute in Florida for his senior year.{{cite news |last1=Kushner |first1=Scott |title='This is who I am': Stephen Alemais breaks the mold in all the right ways for Green Wave |url=https://www.nola.com/sports/tulane/article_afe3706b-e54d-557d-bfdf-0cd26bd6edf5.html |access-date=22 July 2022 |work=NOLA.com |date=2 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722043457/https://www.nola.com/sports/tulane/article_afe3706b-e54d-557d-bfdf-0cd26bd6edf5.html |archive-date=22 July 2022 |url-status=live |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Abramson |first1=Mitch |title=Stephen Alemais, former All Hallows shortstop, transfers to Elev/8 Sports Institute in Florida in attempt to improve standing in upcoming baseball draft |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/high-school/alemais-heads-south-elev-8-game-article-1.1322971 |access-date=22 July 2022 |work=New York Daily News |date=20 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707044138/https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/high-school/alemais-heads-south-elev-8-game-article-1.1322971 |archive-date=7 July 2022 |url-status=live |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Braziller |first1=Zach |title=Why HS star had to leave Bronx, family to chase MLB dream |url=https://nypost.com/2016/06/07/why-hs-star-had-to-leave-bronx-family-to-chase-mlb-dream/ |access-date=22 July 2022 |work=New York Post |date=8 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707044140/https://nypost.com/2016/06/07/why-hs-star-had-to-leave-bronx-family-to-chase-mlb-dream/ |archive-date=7 July 2022 |url-status=live |language=en}} Alemais earned all-state honors in his junior and senior seasons, and all-district, all-city, and all-league honors as a sophomore, junior, and senior. He currently holds the All Hallows High School single season hit record.{{cite web |url=https://tulanegreenwave.com/sports/baseball/roster/stephen-alemais/37 |title=Stephen Alemais - Baseball |website=Tulane University Athletics |access-date=22 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722043433/https://tulanegreenwave.com/sports/baseball/roster/stephen-alemais/37 |archive-date=22 July 2022 |url-status=live}}
Undrafted out of high school in the 2013 MLB draft, Alemais enrolled at Tulane University to play for the Green Wave. He began the 2014 season as the team's starting shortstop and leadoff hitter, and initially performed well. However, midseason struggles in the plate and in the field spurred interim coach Jake Gautreau to bench Alemais for several games. The shortstop's play improved after he was reinserted into the starting lineup. He finished the season batting .241 with one home run and 19 RBI, and led the Green Wave with 11 stolen bases and two triples.
Alemais improved in his sophomore season, batting .312 with 22 RBI and a team-leading 27 stolen bases, which garnered him a spot on the American Athletic Conference All-Second Team and helped Tulane make the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship for the first time since 2008. In the summer of 2015, Alemais played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web |url=https://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=744280&seasonid=29031 |title=Stephen Alemais - Profile |website=pointstreak.com |access-date=22 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806201211/http://www.pointstreak.com:80/baseball/player.html?playerid=744280&seasonid=29031 |archive-date=6 August 2015 |url-status=live |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Wolter |first1=Dylan |title=Alemais Dazzles Defensively |url=https://www.kettleers.org/2015/06/alemais-dazzles-defensively/ |website=kettleers.org |access-date=22 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730042845/https://www.kettleers.org/2015/06/alemais-dazzles-defensively/ |archive-date=30 July 2021 |date=14 June 2015 |url-status=live}}
In 2016, his junior year at Tulane, Alemais slashed .311/.368/.401 with one home run, 28 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases in 53 games,{{cite web |url=http://sportstalk.triblive.com/pirates-sign-draft-picks |title=Pirates sign draft picks |website=Sportstalk.triblive.com |date=18 June 2016 |access-date=22 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709210905/http://sportstalk.triblive.com/pirates-sign-draft-picks |archive-date=9 July 2019 |url-status=live |language=en}} earning American Athletic Conference First Team honors. He led the team in batting average, stolen bases, and tied for first in doubles, and a double play he turned against LSU was featured as a highlight on SportsCenter.{{cite news |last1=Zaslau |first1=Darren |title=In The Den: Stephen Alemais |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-192612188 |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=MiLB.com |date=30 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724153604/https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-192612188 |archive-date=24 July 2022 |url-status=live |language=en}} After the season, he was selected in the third round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the 105th overall pick.{{cite web |first=Rod |last=Walker |url=https://www.nola.com/sports/tulane/article_fb607184-6862-58af-b842-14b8ceba6404.html |title=Tulane catcher Jake Rogers, shortstop Stephen Alemais snagged on second day of Major League Baseball draft |publisher=NOLA.com |date=10 June 2016 |access-date=22 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401222254/https://www.nola.com/sports/tulane/article_fb607184-6862-58af-b842-14b8ceba6404.html |archive-date=1 April 2022 |url-status=live |language=en}}
Professional career
=Pittsburgh Pirates=
Alemais signed with Pittsburgh and made his professional debut with the West Virginia Black Bears. He missed time at the start of the season due to a sprained wrist.{{cite news |last1=Carey |first1=Greg |url=https://www.wvnews.com/sports/black_bears/alemais-excelling-since-return-from-injury/article_db5fe17a-1001-5344-97cd-24a91cc32089.html |title=Alemais excelling since return from injury |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=WV News |date=11 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724155535/https://www.wvnews.com/sports/black_bears/alemais-excelling-since-return-from-injury/article_db5fe17a-1001-5344-97cd-24a91cc32089.html |archive-date=24 July 2022 |url-status=live |language=en}} On July 16, a double play he turned was ranked seventh on SportsCenter's Top Ten Plays. Alemais was promoted to the Single-A West Virginia Power in August.{{cite web |last=Zaslau |first=Darren |url=https://www.milb.com/west-virginia-black-bears/news/alemais-promoted-to-power/c-196682958 |title=Alemais Promoted to Power |website=Milb.com |date=20 August 2016 |access-date=22 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724154337/https://www.mlbdraftleague.com/news/gcs-196682958 |archive-date=24 July 2022 |url-status=live |language=en}} In 50 games split between the Power and the Low-A West Virginia Black Bears, he hit .249 with one home run and twenty RBI.{{cite news |last=Redd |first=Derek |url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/west-virginia-power-shortstop-stephen-alemais-ready-to-dazzle-defensively/article_fcb175d1-2eab-5294-8dbc-43b95c31ecd0.html |title=West Virginia Power shortstop Stephen Alemais ready to dazzle defensively |work=Charleston Gazette-Mail |date=8 April 2017 |access-date=December 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401222253/https://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/west-virginia-power-shortstop-stephen-alemais-ready-to-dazzle-defensively/article_fcb175d1-2eab-5294-8dbc-43b95c31ecd0.html |archive-date=1 April 2022 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |language=en}} In 2017, he played for the Power and the High-A Bradenton Marauders, and made a rehab appearance with the Gulf Coast League Pirates. In 67 total games, Alemais batted .265 with four home runs and 34 RBI.{{cite web |title=Stephen Alemais College, Amateur, Minor, Winter & Independent Leagues Statistics & History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=alemai000ste |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=24 July 2022 |language=en}}
In 2018, Alemais played for the Double-A Altoona Curve, where he was primarily a second baseman for the first time in his career.{{cite web |last1=Lane |first1=Jim |title=Profile: Stephen Alemais |url=http://altoona.mlblogs.com/2018/06/01/player-profile-stephen-alemais/ |website=Around the Curve |access-date=22 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508192247/http://altoona.mlblogs.com/2018/06/01/player-profile-stephen-alemais/ |archive-date=8 May 2021 |language=en |date=1 June 2018 |url-status=live}} He produced a slash line of .279/.347/.346 with one home run, 34 RBI, and 16 stolen bases in 120 games.
Alemais began the 2019 season with Altoona, but tore his labrum on a slide after 12 games, necessitating season-ending surgery.{{cite book |title=Pittsburgh Pirates 2020: A Baseball Companion |date=27 April 2020 |publisher=Stylus Publishing, LLC |isbn=978-1-950716-15-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V97eDwAAQBAJ |access-date=22 July 2022 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Dreker |first1=John |title=Stephen Alemais Out for the Season After Shoulder Surgery |url=https://www.piratesprospects.com/2019/05/stephen-alemais-out-for-the-season-after-shoulder-surgery.html |access-date=22 July 2022 |work=Pirates Prospects |date=18 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510053658/https://www.piratesprospects.com/2019/05/stephen-alemais-out-for-the-season-after-shoulder-surgery.html |archive-date=10 May 2021 |url-status=live |language=en}} He underwent a fourth shoulder surgery in February 2021,{{cite news |last1=Caporoso |first1=Nicholas |title=Pittsburgh Pirates News: Stephen Alemais Has Shoulder Surgery |url=https://rumbunter.com/2021/02/08/pittsburgh-pirates-news-stephen-alemais-has-shoulder-surgery/ |access-date=22 July 2022 |work=Rum Bunter |publisher=FanSided |date=8 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722201917/https://rumbunter.com/2021/02/08/pittsburgh-pirates-news-stephen-alemais-has-shoulder-surgery/ |archive-date=22 July 2022 |url-status=live |language=en}} after sustaining an injury while playing defense for Leones del Escogido.{{cite web |last1=Longenhagen |first1=Eric |title=Top 51 Prospects: Pittsburgh Pirates |url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/top-51-prospects-pittsburgh-pirates/ |website=FanGraphs |access-date=7 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927015601/https://blogs.fangraphs.com/top-51-prospects-pittsburgh-pirates/ |archive-date=27 September 2022 |language=en |date=24 February 2021 |url-status=live}}
Alemais was released by the Pirates organization on March 25, 2022.{{cite web |title=Stephen Alemais Stats, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/stephen-alemais-641301?stats=career-r-hitting-minors&year=2022 |website=MLB.com |access-date=22 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722202209/https://www.mlb.com/player/stephen-alemais-641301?stats=career-r-hitting-minors&year=2022 |archive-date=22 July 2022 |language=en |url-status=live}}
=Staten Island FerryHawks=
On June 11, 2022, Alemais signed with the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{Cite tweet |number=1536022941107998720 |user=FerryHawks |title=Welcome to the FerryHawk family StephenAlemais! Alemais went 1-for-3 yesterday with a walk and a clutch go ahead RBI to secure the win for HawkCity! |date=2022-06-12 |access-date=2022-07-22 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615011143/https://twitter.com/FerryHawks/status/1536022941107998720 |archive-date=2022-06-15 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=D'Amodio |first1=Joe |title=Staten Island FerryHawks notebook: Ducks take series finale, Island club hits road for 3 games and more |url=https://www.silive.com/ferryhawks/2022/06/staten-island-ferryhawks-notebook-ducks-take-series-finale-island-club-hits-road-for-3-games-and-more.html |access-date=22 July 2022 |work=SILive.com |date=13 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625191824/https://www.silive.com/ferryhawks/2022/06/staten-island-ferryhawks-notebook-ducks-take-series-finale-island-club-hits-road-for-3-games-and-more.html |archive-date=25 June 2022 |url-status=live |language=en}} He played in 9 games, hitting .320/.414/.360 with one RBI and 7 stolen bases.
On February 14, 2024, after a year of inactivity, Alemais re–signed with Staten Island.{{cite web |url=https://www.atlanticleague.com/stats/transactions/ |title=Atlantic League Professional Baseball: Transactions}} In five games for the FerryHawks, he went 2–for–20 (.100) with one RBI and one stolen base. Alemais was released by Staten Island on May 10.{{Cite web |title=Transactions |url=http://baseball.pointstreak.com/transactions.html?leagueid=174&seasonid=33927 |access-date=May 10, 2024 |website=baseball.pointstreak.com |language=en}}
Personal life
Alemais has multiple tattoos, the first of which he got when he was 17. His family is of Dominican origin, and the first language Alemais learned was Spanish. His grandfather Felipe is a friend of Robinson Cano's grandfather. Alemais has one younger brother.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{baseballstats|mlb=641301|fangraphs=sa874070|brm=alemai000ste}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alemais, Stephen}}
Category:Tulane Green Wave baseball players
Category:West Virginia Black Bears players
Category:West Virginia Power players
Category:Gulf Coast Pirates players
Category:Bradenton Marauders players
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:Altoona Curve players
Category:Cotuit Kettleers players
Category:Staten Island FerryHawks players
Category:Estrellas Orientales players