Alexi Jose Amarista (born April 6, 1989) is a Venezuelan professional baseball utility player for the Guerreros de Oaxaca of the Mexican League.
He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Angels, San Diego Padres, and Colorado Rockies.
Amarista opened 2012 as a utility infielder on the Angels 25-man roster[3] but only played in a single game as a pinch runner before being optioned to AAA Salt Lake on April 13.
[4] On May 3, 2012, Amarista and minor league pitcher Donn Roach were traded to the San Diego Padres for reliever Ernesto Frieri.
On June 28, 2012, Amarista hit his first career home-run, a grand slam off of Brett Myers, to cap off a six-run ninth inning in a victory against the Houston Astros.
He began the year making spot starts in center and around the infield and serving as a pinch hitter.
[9] Amarista picked up a handful of starts at third and second when Chase Headley was out with a strained calf in late April and early May.
[10] He saw more time at second and third in June when Jedd Gyorko was out with plantar fasciitis[11] and Chase Headley sat with a herniated disc.
[19] On May 31, Amarista was once again brought in to pitch with 2 outs in the 8th inning of a blowout, this time against the Seattle Mariners, and retired the only batter he faced on a ground-out to second base.
[26] On January 24, 2018, the Detroit Tigers signed Amarista to a minor league contract with a non-roster invitation to spring training.
Due to the cancellation of the 2020 ALPB season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Amarista did not play for the Skeeters and became a free agent after the year.
On February 10, 2021, Amarista signed with El Águila de Veracruz of the Mexican League for the 2021 season.
On September 4, 2021, Amarista was loaned to the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.