Alex Liddi
From BR Bullpen
Alex Liddi
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 4", Weight 176 lb.
- Born August 14, 1988 in San Remo, Imperia Italy
[edit] Biographical Information
Alex Liddi begins 2007 with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. He is the only Italian position player in the minor leagues at the start of the 2007 season.
Liddi played for the Italy national team in the 2004 World Junior Championship, hitting .158/.238/.211 as the starting third baseman. He was in the European baseball academy run by Major League Baseball. Shortly after his 17th birthday, he was signed by the Seattle Mariners.
Liddi debuted professionally in 2006 with the AZL Mariners and hit .313/.355/.500. He was tied for fourth in the Arizona League in hits (57) and slugging, was 5th in extra-base hits (22) and tied for 9th in average. Promoted to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, he hit .184/.200/.211 in 11 games. He played for Italy in the 2006 Intercontinental Cup and batted .229/.258/.371 as the regular first baseman.
With Wisconsin, Liddi hit .240/.308/.385 with 123 strikeouts in 2007. In the 2007 European Championship, Alex batted .471/.421/.588 as one of Italy's top threats in a disappointing second-division finish. He was second on the team to Giuseppe Mazzanti in average and slugging. Liddi and Mazzanti (who had also spent time in the Mariners system) alternated between first base and third base, the same arrangement Italy had used in the 2006 Intercontinental Cup. Liddi remained with the Italian team for the 2007 Baseball World Cup, hitting .240/.269/.440 and making two errors in seven games at third base.
Liddi returned to Wisconsin for the 2008 season, hitting .244/.313/.360 in 125 games, then made the Italian roster for the 2009 World Baseball Classic, sharing third base duties with Mike Costanzo. Liddi opened 2009 with a bang, hitting .341/.390/.619 with 16 homers and 60 RBI in 67 games for the High Desert Mavericks, tied for the California League lead in RBI; he made the Cal League All-Star game as a starter.
Sources: Mariners Report from the Seattle Times, 2007 Mariners Media Guide, Defunct IBAF website, Mister Baseball
