Giovanny Alfonzo Set to Begin the Season with Mets’ Columbia Fireflies

By Jerry Del Priore

After infielder Giovanny Alfonzo led the independent Long Island Ducks in hitting with a .309 batting average in 2017, the New York Mets inked him to contract for the 2018 season.

Alfonzo—son of former Brooklyn Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo and the nephew of current Cyclones manager and Mets legend Edgardo Alfonzo—will start the campaign with the Columbia Fireflies, New York’s mid-level A South Atlantic League (SAL) affiliate.

The former Marlins’ 21st-round selection of the 2015 MLB amateur draft played in 65 games for Single-A Greensboro of the SAL, and hit .222 with two home runs, 14 RBI, 12 runs and six doubles in 207 at-bats in 65 tilts in 2016.

Before that, Alfonzo, 25, batted .245 with 20 RBI and six two-baggers in 204 at-bats in 60 contests for the short-season New York-Penn League (NYPL) Single-A Batavia Muckdogs in ’15.

Previous to his pro career, Alfonzo suited up for Florida State University and the University of Tampa, totaling a .298 batting average with 11 round trippers, 107 RBI, 129 runs scored and 31 doubles across four seasons.