Derrick Alfonso

Height:
6-0
Weight:
212
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Bowling Green, Kentucky
High School:
Warren Central

2008 First Team All-BIG EAST
2008 Preseason All-BIG EAST
2007 Second Team All-BIG EAST
2007 & '08 Johnny Bench Award Watch List
2006 Third Team All-BIG EAST

2008: A First Team All-BIG EAST selection and 2008 Tri-Captain of the Cardinal Nine, he was on the 2008 Johnny Bench Watch list. Nailed 82 of 172 career baserunners, including a stunning 20 of 32 in 2008. Took a foul tip off of his hand at UK(4/8), breaking a bone in his hand, forcing him to miss nearly half of his senior season. Delivered a solo home run to left off of 2008 SEC Pitcher of the Year and first round draft pick Joshua Fields in the final at bat of his career. Made his first start since return from the injury, going 2 for 5 against Rutgers (5/17). Returned to the lineup, making a pair of pinch hitting appearances in a doubleheader sweep of Rutgers(5/16), going 0 for 1 with a walk. Drilled a 10th-inning home run, one of two hits on the day, to give the Cards a 6-4 win over Pitt (3/30). Tied a school record, getting plunked three times in win over UConn (3/20). Sealed off the plate in a play at the plate, threw out two runners and drilled a home run off the batter's eye in center against Tennessee (3/19). Scored once, going 2 for 3 in win over Kent (3/14). Went 2 for 4 in win over Wright State (3/12). Was 2 for 4 with a double, driving in a run and scoring once in the win over NCAT(3/2). Two for three at the plate, doubled, was hit by a pitch, scored and drove in a run against Cleveland State (2/24). Pegged three of four runners on the bases in the opener, driving in a run and scoring twice against CSU(2/22a).

2007: One of the top defensive catchers in the nation, he helped the Cardinals limit opponents to just 34 steals on 70 attempts in 71 games. Named to the Johnny Bench Award Watch List. Threw out 14 of 26 baserunners in BIG EAST play. Hit safely in 7 of 8 NCAA postseason games. Logged his first career five-hit game in the NCAA Regional, belting a solo home run and scoring three times in the win over Miami (6/1). Went 2 for 3 , scoring twice in win over Notre Dame(5/13) completing a sweep. Was 5 for 9 in the first two wins at Seton Hall, scoring four runs. Went 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI in win at WKU (4/17) in his return to his hometown. Doubled and added a sac in 2 for 3 effort against UConn (4/14). Went 4 for 4 with a home run in win over Kentucky (4/11). Crushed his first career grand slam in win over Marshall (4/3). Went 3 for 6 with three RBI, two runs and his second home run of the season in final two games of the WVU series. Was 2 for 5 in win at Villanova (3/25). Went 2 for 3 with RBI and run scored in win over Cal (3/10). Belted a two-run home run in win over Indiana State (3/9). Went 2 for 3 with a walk and run scored in win over WKU(3/7). Logged his first career four-hit game in win over Illinois State (3/3), going 4 for 5, tripling and scoring the tying run in the 11th. Doubled and tripled, driving in three-equalling a career-high in win over Illinois State (3/2). Scored twice in win at Stetson (2/24). Went 2 for 3 with a double, RBI, two runs, was hit by a pitch and threw out the only runner that attempted to steal against him in win over Murray (2/20).

2006: Named Third Team All-BIG EAST catcher after batting .313 with 14 doubles and four steals in five attempts. Threw out 18 of the 42 who attempted to steal against him, including 10 of 20 in league play. Posted a .327 average, scoring 20 of his 34 runs in league play. Had multi hit efforts in first three BIG EAST Championship games, going 8 for 13 with six RBI and three runs. Was 2 for 5 with three RBI in BIG EAST Championship win over Rutgers. Belted a two-run home run in win over Morehead (5/16). Had multi-hit efforts in each of the three games at #8 Notre Dame, going 6 for 13 on the weekend. Was 3 for 6 with two RBI and two runs in win over UC (4/29b). Had his fourth three-hit game of the season, driving in two at WVU (4/23). Logged a 2 for 4 effort with his first triple, scoring twice at WVU (4/22b). Went two for four with a pair of doubles, driving in a run at USF (4/14). Was 2 for 4, driving in a run in the win over Evansville (4/11). Two for three with a double, a walk and two runs scored in win over Georgetown (4/8). Notched his third three-hit game of the season, going 3 for 4 with a double, and RBI and walk in win over UCONN (4/1). Went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored, adding his third stolen base of the season. Was 3 for 3 with a double and a run scored also swiping a base in win over Rutgers (3/25). Picked up a pair of hits and scored in game one against Ball State (3/18). Doubled and scored at Evansville (3/14). Matched a career-high with three hits at #28 UGA (3/11), also drawing a walk. Enjoyed 2 for 5 afternoon at EKU (3/7) in which he doubled, was hit by a pitch, drove in a run and scored three times. Belted a solo home run in the sixth inning, helping the Cards to a 4-2 win over EMU (3/5). Drove in two runs in win over EMU (3/4). Went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI, adding four assists in his first career start at third against Xavier (2/22). Went 2 for 4 at FAU (2/19).

2005: Nabbed 15 of the 38 baserunners that attempted to steal against him, adding two pick-offs, while starting 32 games and playing in 37 as a freshman at catcher. Committed just three errors behind the dish and was 2 for 2 as a pinch-hitter. Walked and scored as a pinch-hitter in win over Evansville (5/17). Drove in a pair of runs and walked twice in win over Wright State (5/16). Was 3 for 4 at Charlotte (5/7). Smoked a pinch-single in win over Morehead (5/4). Jacked his first career home run to left at SLU (4/25) in a pinch-hit appearance. Singled, scored a run and nailed a runner at second in win at SLU (4/23a). Pegged all four runners attempting to steal against him at Houston (4/8). Was 3 for 6 in his homecoming at WKU (4/5), driving in a run and scoring twice. Plated runs in each of the two wins over # 1 Tulane. Drove in a pair in the conference opener at UC (3/18). His walk-off two-run single in the bottom of the ninth capped a four-run rally as the Cards topped NIU 8-7(3/15). It was his first career RBI. Swiped his first base of the season in win over #12 Georgia (3/13). Had a pair of hits against Miami (3/5). Went 3 for 4 with a run scored in win over Toledo (2/25). Picked up his first collegiate hit in 11-4 win over Kent (2/19).

High School: Lettered six times in baseball at Warren Central HS. Named four-time All-District, two-time All-Star and was Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year in 2004. Played SS, 3B and C for Shane Humphries. Holds 13 Warren Central offensive records, and is top 15 in eight state career categories, including hits(220), doubles(57), triples(12), RBI(177), runs(173), steals(98) and average(.417). Had single season highs with a .510 batting average, 51 hits, 15 doubles, four triples, four home runs, 19 steals, 39 runs and 39 RBI.

Personal: Born 7/6/85 in Bowling Green to Rick and Nancy Alfonso. Has one older sister. Is majoring in sport administration. His father is his biggest influence in athletics. Listed under hobbies and interests is simply baseball. Scarface, Sandlot and Bull Durham, are his favorite movies. Also enjoys The Shield, Nip/Tuck and Rescue Me on TV. Shrimp and pizza are his favorite foods. The Oakland Raiders are his favorite team. His dream dinner guests would be Tony Montana, Al Davis, Derek Jeter and Muhammad Ali.

Career Stats for: AlfonsoYear       Avg   GP-GS     AB    R    H   2B   3B   HR  RBI   BB   SO   SB-ATT2005....  .227   37-32    110   13   25    4    0    1   12   10   24    3-42006....  .313   57-56    214   34   67   14    2    2   31   14   23    4-52007....  .274   70-66    234   32   64    9    3    5   31    8   37    4-62008....  .260   33-26    100   16   26    4    0    4   13    7   17    2-2TOTAL...  .277  197-180   658   95  182   31    5   12   87   39  101   13-17

Conference GamesYear       Avg   GP-GS     AB    R    H   2B   3B   HR  RBI   BB   SO   SB-ATT2005....  .205   17-14     44    6    9    2    0    1    6    3   10    1-12006....  .327   27-27    101   20   33    8    1    0   12   10   10    3-32007....  .247   27-25     81   13   20    3    0    1    9    5   20    3-42008....  .242   11-9      33    6    8    0    0    1    3    6    4    0-0TOTAL...  .270   82-75    259   45   70   13    1    3   30   24   44    7-8