Alvaro Espinoza
Shortstop · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1984-1997)
Alvaro Espinoza was a shortstop who played in Major League Baseball from 1984 to 1997 for 5 teams, including the Minnesota Twins, a span of 14 seasons. In 942 career games, he hit .254 with 630 hits, 22 home runs, and 201 RBI.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Shortstop
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 6'0" / 170 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1984-09-14
- Last Game
- 1997-07-12
Full name: Alvaro Alberto Espinoza
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 942 | 2,478 | 252 | 630 | 105 | 9 | 22 | 201 | 13 | 76 | 324 | .254 | .279 | .331 | .610 | -6,317 |
Career AVG .254 vs. league average .261 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career OBP .279 vs. league average .329 across their career seasons — 15.0% below league average.
Career SLG .331 vs. league average .399 across their career seasons — 17.1% below league average.
Career OPS .610 vs. league average .727 across their career seasons — 16.2% below league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | MIN | AL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1985 | MIN | AL | 32 | 57 | 5 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 9 | .263 | .257 (+2%) | .323 (-11%) | .390 (-24%) | .714 (-18%) | -157.2 |
| 1986 | MIN | AL | 37 | 42 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | .214 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1988 | NYA | AL | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1989 | NYA | AL | 146 | 503 | 51 | 142 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 3 | 14 | 60 | .282 | .254 (+11%) | .319 (-6%) | .375 (-12%) | .694 (-9%) | -746.7 |
| 1990 | NYA | AL | 150 | 438 | 31 | 98 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 1 | 16 | 54 | .224 | .257 (-13%) | .324 (-20%) | .385 (-29%) | .710 (-25%) | -1738.8 |
| 1991 | NYA | AL | 148 | 480 | 51 | 123 | 23 | 2 | 5 | 33 | 4 | 16 | 57 | .256 | .255 (avg) | .323 (-13%) | .384 (-11%) | .708 (-12%) | -956.5 |
| 1993 | CLE | AL | 129 | 263 | 34 | 73 | 15 | 0 | 4 | 27 | 2 | 8 | 36 | .278 | .265 (+5%) | .332 (-10%) | .403 (-6%) | .735 (-8%) | -392.2 |
| 1994 | CLE | AL | 90 | 231 | 27 | 55 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 1 | 6 | 33 | .238 | .269 (-12%) | .338 (-24%) | .424 (-28%) | .763 (-26%) | -1033.4 |
| 1995 | CLE | AL | 66 | 143 | 15 | 36 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 16 | .252 | .266 (-6%) | .337 (-22%) | .417 (-23%) | .755 (-23%) | -560.4 |
| 1996 | CLE | AL | 59 | 112 | 12 | 25 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 18 | .223 | .269 (-17%) | .340 (-18%) | .426 (-6%) | .767 (-11%) | -245.3 |
| 1996 | NYN | NL | 48 | 134 | 19 | 41 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 19 | .306 | .269 (+13%) | .340 (-5%) | .426 (+12%) | .767 (+4%) | -245.3 |
| 1997 | SEA | AL | 33 | 72 | 3 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 12 | .181 | .266 (-32%) | .336 (-37%) | .419 (-54%) | .756 (-46%) | -542.5 |
| Career · 13 seasons | 942 | 2,478 | 252 | 630 | 105 | 9 | 22 | 201 | 13 | 76 | 324 | .254 | — | — | — | — | -6,618 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Season-by-Season Pitching
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Lg ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | NYA | AL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | — | 0.0 |
| Career · 1 season | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | — | 0 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
Playoff Batting by Year
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (943 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 471 | 1207 | 124 | 300 | 9 | 96 | .249 |
| Away | 471 | 1271 | 128 | 330 | 13 | 105 | .260 |
Pitching — Home / Away
| Split | G | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Away | 1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-07-12 | SEA | TEX | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997-07-06 | SEA | LAA | L | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1997-07-01 | SEA | SFG | W | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997-06-26 | SEA | LAA | W | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1997-06-25 | SEA | OAK | W | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1997-06-24 | SEA | OAK | L | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1997-06-23 | SEA | OAK | W | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997-06-22 | SEA | TEX | W | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997-06-21 | SEA | TEX | W | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997-06-20 | SEA | TEX | W | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Last 1 Games — Pitching
| Date | Tm | Opp | Dec | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991-08-06 | NYY | CHW | — | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 24 | 8 | 108 | 8 | 0 | 12 |
| 2B | 86 | 43 | 92 | 176 | 9 | 45 |
| 3B | 219 | 117 | 93 | 231 | 24 | 15 |
| P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 624 | 527 | 890 | 1717 | 77 | 415 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | MIN | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 | MIN | SS | 31 | 21 | 25 | 69 | 5 | 15 |
| 1986 | MIN | 2B | 19 | 11 | 12 | 36 | 3 | 7 |
| 1986 | MIN | SS | 18 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 1 | 4 |
| 1988 | NYA | 2B | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | NYA | SS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1989 | NYA | SS | 146 | 144 | 237 | 471 | 22 | 114 |
| 1990 | NYA | SS | 150 | 141 | 268 | 447 | 17 | 100 |
| 1991 | NYA | 3B | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | NYA | P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | NYA | SS | 147 | 136 | 223 | 438 | 21 | 113 |
| 1993 | CLE | 2B | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 1993 | CLE | 3B | 99 | 50 | 42 | 107 | 10 | 9 |
| 1993 | CLE | SS | 35 | 13 | 18 | 47 | 1 | 13 |
| 1994 | CLE | 1B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1994 | CLE | 2B | 20 | 11 | 26 | 62 | 1 | 15 |
| 1994 | CLE | 3B | 37 | 12 | 12 | 31 | 4 | 2 |
| 1994 | CLE | SS | 36 | 34 | 53 | 117 | 5 | 27 |
| 1995 | CLE | 1B | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1995 | CLE | 2B | 22 | 9 | 18 | 39 | 2 | 7 |
| 1995 | CLE | 3B | 22 | 16 | 10 | 27 | 1 | 1 |
| 1995 | CLE | SS | 19 | 9 | 13 | 35 | 2 | 8 |
| 1996 | CLE | 1B | 18 | 8 | 97 | 8 | 0 | 10 |
| 1996 | CLE | 2B | 5 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 5 |
| 1996 | CLE | 3B | 20 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 1 | 1 |
| 1996 | CLE | SS | 16 | 8 | 16 | 29 | 1 | 12 |
| 1996 | NYN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | NYN | 2B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | NYN | 3B | 38 | 30 | 20 | 52 | 8 | 2 |
| 1996 | NYN | SS | 7 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 3 |
| 1997 | SEA | 2B | 14 | 7 | 21 | 23 | 1 | 9 |
| 1997 | SEA | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | SEA | SS | 17 | 13 | 21 | 34 | 2 | 5 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 1 |
| First Base | 24 |
| Second Base | 87 |
| Third Base | 218 |
| Shortstop | 624 |
| Designated Hitter | 4 |
Salary History
Alvaro Espinoza's recorded salaries total $3,859,000 over 9 seasons, 1986 to 1996. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Espinoza's career ran from 1984 to 1997. His seasons before 1985 are not included, and no salary is recorded for 1985, 1988, and 1997.
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | CLE | AL | $400,000 |
| 1995 | CLE | AL | $450,000 |
| 1994 | CLE | AL | $475,000 |
| 1993 | CLE | AL | $500,000 |
| 1992 | NYA | AL | $1,000,000 |
| 1991 | NYA | AL | $650,000 |
| 1990 | NYA | AL | $256,000 |
| 1989 | NYA | AL | $68,000 |
| 1986 | MIN | AL | $60,000 |
| Total recorded salary (partial) | $3,859,000 | ||
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Alvaro Espinoza (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Alvaro Espinoza: the record in brief
Alvaro Espinoza's major league career runs from a debut on September 14, 1984 to a final game on July 12, 1997. Espinoza played for the Minnesota Twins (1984 to 1986), the New York Yankees (1988 through 1991), the Cleveland Indians (1993 to 1996), the New York Mets (1996), and the Seattle Mariners (1997). At 6 feet, 0 inches and 170 pounds, Espinoza is listed as a shortstop. The bio says Espinoza threw and hit right-handed. The recorded birth is February 19, 1962, in Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela. The given name on file is Alvaro Alberto Espinoza.
Across 942 games at the plate, Espinoza's career line reads 630 hits in 2,478 at bats for a .254 average, plus 22 home runs and 201 RBI. On-base and slugging figures of .279 and .331 give Espinoza a career OPS of .610. Espinoza hit .254 while the league hit .261 over the same span, a figure close to average. The highest hit total in a season was 142, in 1989. 1989 brought the most runs batted in, 41.
Frequently Asked Questions about Alvaro Espinoza
- What years did Alvaro Espinoza play?
- Alvaro Espinoza played in Major League Baseball from 1984 to 1997.
- Was Alvaro Espinoza a pitcher?
- No. Alvaro Espinoza was a position player (Shortstop), though he did pitch in 1 career game.
- How many home runs did Alvaro Espinoza hit?
- Alvaro Espinoza hit 22 career home runs with 630 hits.
- What teams did Alvaro Espinoza play for?
- Alvaro Espinoza played for 5 teams: the Minnesota Twins (1984–1986), the New York Yankees (1988–1991), the Cleveland Indians (1993–1996), the New York Mets (1996), and the Seattle Mariners (1997).
- What were Alvaro Espinoza's career stats?
- In 942 games, Alvaro Espinoza had 630 hits, 22 home runs, 201 RBI, 252 runs, and 13 stolen bases, with a .254 batting average.
- How much did Alvaro Espinoza earn in his career?
- Alvaro Espinoza's recorded salaries total $3,859,000 over 9 seasons, 1986 to 1996. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Espinoza's career ran from 1984 to 1997. His seasons before 1985 are not included, and no salary is recorded for 1985, 1988, and 1997.
- What was Alvaro Espinoza's salary?
- Alvaro Espinoza's last recorded salary was $400,000, in 1996. His highest recorded salary was $1,000,000, in 1992, and his lowest was $60,000, in 1986. The Salary History table lists each season from 1986 to 1996.
- What position did Alvaro Espinoza play?
- Alvaro Espinoza played primarily as a shortstop, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Alvaro Espinoza and how much did he weigh?
- Alvaro Espinoza was listed at 6 feet and 170 pounds.
- How many home runs did Alvaro Espinoza hit each season?
- Alvaro Espinoza's home runs by season: 0 in 1985, 0 in 1986, 0 in 1988, 0 in 1989, 2 in 1990, 5 in 1991, 4 in 1993, 1 in 1994, 2 in 1995, 8 in 1996, and 0 in 1997. His most in one season was 8, in 1996.
- What was Alvaro Espinoza's career batting average?
- Alvaro Espinoza batted .254 over his career, with 630 hits in 2,478 at bats.
- How many RBI did Alvaro Espinoza have?
- Alvaro Espinoza drove in 201 runs in his career.
- What was Alvaro Espinoza's career ERA?
- Alvaro Espinoza finished with a 0.00 career ERA, going 0-0 with 0 strikeouts.
- Is Alvaro Espinoza in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Alvaro Espinoza has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.