Alex Ríos

Did You Know?

• In the 2013 World Baseball Classic, Ríos hit a two-run home run against Japan in the semifinals, sending Puerto Rico to its first WBC Finals.
• Puerto Rico lost the 2013 WBC Finals to the Dominican Republic 3–0.
• Ríos hit for the cycle and achieved six hits in one game in 2013.

Professional career

Ríos was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the first round (19th overall) of the 1999 MLB draft. After rising through the minor leagues as a top prospect, he won the Double-A Eastern League Most Valuable Player award after hitting .352 with 11 home runs and 82 RBI. He began the following season at Triple-A Syracuse before being promoted to the majors. In his rookie campaign, Ríos batted .286 with one home run, 55 runs, and 28 RBI over 111 games.

Following his participation in the World Baseball Classic with Puerto Rico, he broke out in 2006. By June 6, he led qualified batters with a .359 average, adding 11 home runs and 43 RBI. On June 12, he recorded his first multi-home run game against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre. He was frequently cited as a five-tool player.

On June 27, a foul ball off his foot led to a staph infection and hospitalization; at the time he was batting .330 with 15 home runs and 53 RBI. Despite not playing due to the infection, he was named a reserve on the American League All-Star Team and attended the festivities at PNC Park. In February 2007, he signed a one-year, $2.535 million contract to avoid arbitration. That season he earned another All-Star reserve spot and participated in the Home Run Derby, hitting 19 home runs but losing the final round to Vladimir Guerrero.