Zoilo Almonte

1. Career

Zoilo Almonte's professional baseball journey spans over a decade and across multiple international leagues, including stints in North America, Japan, South Korea, and Mexico.

1.1. Major League Baseball (MLB)

Almonte began his career in the MLB system, progressing through various minor league levels before making his major league debut with the New York Yankees.

Almonte signed with the New York Yankees as an international free agent on July 2, 2005. He made his professional debut the following year with the Dominican Summer League Yankees. In 2007, he played for the rookie-level GCL Yankees, hitting .268 with three home runs and 24 RBI. He spent the 2008 season with the GCL Yankees before advancing to the Low-A Staten Island Yankees in 2009, where he slashed .274/.355/.440 with seven home runs and 39 RBI.

In 2010, Almonte split his time between the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs and the High-A Tampa Yankees, achieving a combined batting line of .269/.331/.424. His progress continued in 2011, as he played for both Tampa and the Double-A Trenton Thunder, logging a .276/.345/.459 line with 15 home runs and 77 RBI. Following the 2011 season, the Yankees added Almonte to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

In 2012, Almonte spent the entire season with the Trenton Thunder, where he recorded a .277/.322/.487 batting line with a career-high 21 home runs and 70 RBI. For the week of June 11-17, 2012, he was named the Eastern League player of the week.

He started the 2013 season with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, where he continued to perform strongly, earning the International League player of the week award on May 6, 2013. Due to a series of injuries and poor offensive performance among Yankees players, particularly Vernon Wells, Kevin Youkilis, and Travis Hafner, and a scarcity of healthy outfielders, the Yankees promoted Almonte to the major leagues on June 19, 2013. He made his MLB debut on the same day in the second game of a doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers, grounding out as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning. His first major league hit came the next day against Kyle Farnsworth of the Tampa Bay Rays, a pinch-hit single that struck the third base bag. He hit his first major league home run the very next day off Roberto Hernández of the Rays, receiving a curtain call from the fans. On July 20, he was placed on the disabled list due to a left ankle sprain and returned on September 9. He finished his rookie MLB season with a .236/.274/.302 slash line and nine RBI.

Almonte began the 2014 season with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, being called up to the Yankees on May 13. After hitting just .158 in nine games, he was sent back down to Triple-A on June 3. He was recalled on July 9 to replace Masahiro Tanaka, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list. On July 13, he was sent back down to Triple-A to make space for relief pitchers, but was recalled again on July 28 to replace pitcher Jeff Francis. He was designated for assignment on September 2, 2014, and outrighted to Triple-A Scranton on September 5. He elected free agency on November 3, 2014.

Almonte with the New York Yankees in June 2013.

1.1.2. Atlanta Braves

On November 10, 2014, Almonte signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Braves. However, he was outrighted off the roster on March 31, 2015, and elected free agency on April 9. He then spent the off-season playing in the Dominican Winter League.

1.2. Mexican League (LMB)

Almonte has had several stints in the Mexican League (LMB), particularly with the Sultanes de Monterrey, where he found considerable success.

1.2.1. Pericos de Puebla

On February 1, 2016, Almonte signed with the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League. He appeared in only seven games for the team, posting a .250/.344/.321 slash line with one RBI before being traded.

1.2.2. Sultanes de Monterrey (First Stint)

On April 12, 2016, Almonte was traded from the Pericos de Puebla to the Sultanes de Monterrey. He finished the 2016 season with Monterrey, recording a .288/.350/.495 batting line with 20 home runs and 77 RBI, earning him a Mexican League All-Star selection. In 2017, he again earned All-Star honors after hitting .355/.421/.536 with 15 home runs and 70 RBI.

1.2.3. Sultanes de Monterrey (Second Stint)

On January 31, 2022, Almonte signed with the Sultanes de Monterrey for his second stint. In 109 games, he hit .355/.421/.536 with 15 home runs and 70 RBI. Across 90 games, he recorded a .322 batting average, 27 home runs, and 95 RBI.

1.2.4. Sultanes de Monterrey (Third Stint)

On January 16, 2024, Almonte signed with the Sultanes de Monterrey for a third time. In 78 games for Monterrey in his current stint, he has batted .326/.375/.599 with 22 home runs and 63 RBI. Across his three tenures, he has played 300 games for the Sultanes, hitting 62 home runs and driving in 242 runs.

1.3. Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB)

Almonte played multiple seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chunichi Dragons, experiencing both significant success and struggles.

1.3.1. Chunichi Dragons (First Stint)

On December 26, 2017, Almonte officially signed a one-year contract with the Chunichi Dragons for the 2018 NPB season, with a salary of 50.00 M JPY plus incentives. He was assigned jersey number 42. Almonte had previously expressed interest in playing in Japan.

In spring training, Almonte showcased his power, including a grand slam against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks on March 20, 2018. He finished the preseason with a .280 batting average, four home runs, and 11 RBI. He made his NPB official game debut on March 30, 2018, as the starting third hitter and left fielder against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp at MAZDA Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima. Initially, concerns were raised about his defense, especially after errors in the opening series. However, his strong hitting quickly compensated. On April 8, he contributed to a victory against the Hanshin Tigers with four hits and four RBI, which initiated a six-game RBI streak. On April 12, he hit a massive two-run home run into the fifth deck of the right field stands at Nagoya Dome (now Vantelin Dome Nagoya) from the left-handed batter's box against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. By April 15, he held a .407 batting average (second in the league, with 24 hits, first in the league), four home runs (second in the league), and 15 RBI (tied for first in the league), demonstrating exceptional clutch hitting with a .625 batting average with runners in scoring position (10 hits in 16 at-bats).

In May, Almonte played all 25 games as the third batter, hitting .371 with five home runs, 21 RBI (tied for second in the league), and 36 hits (first in the league). He recorded hits in 23 games and multiple hits in 10 games, leading to him receiving the Central League Player of the Month award for May. On July 21, during a game against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, he suffered a left wrist injury and was removed from the roster on July 22. He returned to the first team on August 1 and recorded hits in eight consecutive games. Although his form dipped briefly due to the wrist injury, he showed strong recovery in September. On September 11, in a game against the Hanshin Tigers, he hit a go-ahead 13th home run, a three-run shot in the first inning, and a game-winning two-run single in the ninth, achieving a career-high five RBI in Japan. He finished the 2018 season with a .321 batting average (fifth in the league), 15 home runs, and 77 RBI (tied for tenth in the league). He also led the league (tied) with 37 doubles.

In 2019, Almonte started the season as a regular but struggled with a 0-for-14 start. Despite later hitting his first home run, he struggled with a batting average under .100 with runners in scoring position and was removed from the roster on April 25 due to a foreign player roster limit. After spending time in the minor leagues, he was promoted back to the first team on July 6, making a pinch-hit appearance. He then solidified his position as the third hitter and left fielder. However, on August 13, he injured his right thigh during a game against the Hanshin Tigers, effectively ending his season. The team considered offering him a developmental contract in the offseason, but he remained on the active roster.

In 2020, Almonte hit his first grand slam in NPB (and second of his career) off Atsushi Nomi of the Hanshin Tigers on June 30 at Nagoya Dome. However, he was removed from the roster on July 3 due to a left oblique injury. He returned to play in a minor league game against Hiroshima on August 11 and was promoted back to the first team on August 14. In a game against the Yomiuri Giants on the day of his return, he played right field for the first time in NPB, a position he reportedly played regularly for eight years in the US. In October, he was in excellent batting form, hitting .419 (18 hits in 43 at-bats) with one home run and seven RBI. He had a 21-game hitting streak from September 19 to October 15, and a 30-game on-base streak from September 8. However, on October 15, after hitting a right-field single in his first at-bat, he felt discomfort in his leg during the fifth inning and was substituted. He was removed from the roster on October 16. For the 2020 season, he recorded a .294 batting average, nine home runs, and 29 RBI, but only played in 62 games due to injuries. On November 8, 2020, the Chunichi Dragons announced that they would not renew his contract for the following year, along with Enny Romero, Sandy Brito, Moises Sierra, and Luis Gonzalez. During his first three years with the Chunichi Dragons, Almonte achieved a .316 batting average, 31 home runs, and 131 RBI.

1.3.2. Chunichi Dragons (Second Stint)

On November 22, 2022, it was announced that Almonte had signed a contract with his former team, the Chunichi Dragons, for the 2023 season, marking his return after three years. He was assigned jersey number 96, as his previous number 42 was being worn by Kenta Bright.

However, this return was met with skepticism. Former Chunichi coach Takeshi Nakamura expressed his fondness for Almonte as a person but questioned his abilities as a player, stating he didn't expect much power or defense. Nakamura even joked he thought Almonte was returning as a batting coach. Similar doubts were voiced by critics and within the team regarding the decision to re-acquire him. These concerns unfortunately materialized during the season, as Almonte struggled significantly, appearing in only 28 games and recording a mere .189 batting average, one home run, and two RBI. He was released by the team after the 2023 season.

1.4. KBO League

Almonte also had a brief stint in the KBO League in South Korea.

1.4.1. KT Wiz

On December 23, 2020, Almonte signed a one-year, 775.00 K USD deal with the KT Wiz of the KBO League, brought in as a replacement for Mel Rojas Jr.. He struggled due to pre-existing lower body injuries and a right Achilles tendon tear suffered in June. His performance was below expectations in both offense and defense. He slashed .271/.336/.404 with seven home runs and 36 RBI in 60 games. He was released by the team on June 26, 2021, to make room on the roster for newly signed outfielder Jared Hoying.

2. Player Profile and Personal Life

Zoilo Almonte is recognized for his versatile playing style, distinctive appearance, and humble personality.

2.1. Playing Style and Defense

Almonte is a switch-hitter, known for his ability to hit from both sides of the plate, initially evaluated as a "middle-distance hitter" upon his arrival in Japan. While he primarily played left field in NPB, he has experience playing center field and right field in MLB (including minor leagues) and the Mexican League. During his 2020 season with Chunichi, his defense was often criticized for being subpar, leading to concerns from media and fans.

2.2. Nicknames and Symbols

Almonte's nickname is Martillo (Martillo_Hammer^Spanish), referring to his powerful batting. He is also distinctive for his long, flowing beard, which earned him the moniker "Lucky Beard" and "Agohige no Switch-ho" (あごひげのスイッチ砲_{Bearded Switch-hitter}^Japanese) among Japanese fans. He started growing his beard in the 2017 season while playing in the Mexican League, which coincided with a significant improvement in his batting performance, leading him to believe it brought him good fortune. He had previously expressed discomfort with the New York Yankees' strict policy requiring players to be clean-shaven (only well-trimmed mustaches were permitted). One of the reasons he joined the Chunichi Dragons was that he was granted permission to keep his beard.

Year	Team	Games	At Bats	Runs	Hits	Doubles	Home Runs	Total Bases	RBI	Stolen Bases	Caught Stealing	Sacrifice Flies	Walks	Intentional Walks	Hit By Pitch	Strikeouts	Grounded into Double Play	Batting Average	On-base Percentage	Slugging Percentage	OPS
2013	NYY	34	113	9	25	4	1	32	9	3	1	1	6	0	0	19	2	.236	.274	.302	.576
2014	NYY	13	36	2	5	0	1	8	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	14	1	.139	.139	.222	.361
2018	Chunichi	132	546	56	160	37	15	242	77	1	1	3	44	1	1	95	16	.321	.375	.486	.861
2019		49	174	19	54	8	7	83	25	0	1	1	8	1	1	37	6	.329	.362	.506	.868
2020		62	247	32	63	9	9	99	29	1	0	1	30	2	2	42	9	.294	.385	.463	.847
2021	KT	60	250	18	61	9	7	91	36	1	0	2	22	0	1	50	9	.271	.336	.404	.740
2023	Chunichi	28	54	3	10	1	1	14	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	18	2	.189	.204	.264	.468
MLB: 2 years		47	149	11	30	4	2	40	12	4	1	1	6	0	0	33	3	.211	.242	.282	.523
NPB: 4 years		271	1021	110	287	55	32	438	133	2	2	5	83	4	4	192	33	.309	.366	.471	.838
KBO: 1 year		60	250	18	61	9	7	91	36	1	0	2	22	0	1	50	9	.271	.336	.404	.740

3.2. Annual Fielding Statistics

Year	Team	Left Field (LF)						Right Field (RF)						Outfield (OF)
Year	Team	Games	Putouts	Assists	Errors	Double Plays	Fielding Percentage	Games	Putouts	Assists	Errors	Double Plays	Fielding Percentage	Games	Putouts	Assists	Errors	Double Plays	Fielding Percentage
2013	NYY	25	49	0	0	0	1.000	3	7	0	0	0	1.000	-
2014	NYY	6	13	1	0	0	1.000	4	6	0	0	0	1.000	-
2018	Chunichi	-						-						122	178	5	3	0	.984
2019		-						-						43	61	0	0	0	1.000
2020		-						-						59	77	2	0	0	1.000
2021	KT	35	52	1	2	0	.964	-						-
2023	Chunichi	-						-						11	13	0	1	0	.929
MLB		31	62	1	0	0	1.000	7	13	0	0	0	1.000	-
NPB		-						-						235	329	7	4	0	.988
KBO		35	52	1	2	0	.964	-						-

3.3. Awards and Honors

Monthly MVP: Once (Hitter division: May 2018, Central League)
Mexican League All-Star: (2016, 2017)
Eastern League Player of the Week: (June 11-17, 2012)
International League Player of the Week: (May 6, 2013)

3.4. Key Records

; NPB First Records

First appearance/start: March 30, 2018, vs. Hiroshima Toyo Carp (Game 1, Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima)
First at-bat: March 30, 2018, vs. Yusuke Nomura (groundout to shortstop)
First hit: March 30, 2018, vs. Yusuke Nomura (single to right field)
First RBI/First home run: March 31, 2018, vs. Hiroshima Toyo Carp (Game 2, Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima), solo home run to right field off Ryoji Ichioka in the 8th inning.
First stolen base: July 4, 2018, vs. Hanshin Tigers (Game 13, Hanshin Koshien Stadium), stealing second base in the 3rd inning (pitcher: Shintaro Fujinami, catcher: Ryutaro Umeno)

; NPB Streaks

21 consecutive games with a hit (September 19 to October 15, 2020)
30 consecutive games reaching base (September 8 to October 15, 2020)

3.5. Jersey Numbers

45 (NYY: 2013)
63 (NYY: 2013)
24 (NYY: 2014)
18 (Sultanes de Monterrey: 2016-2017)
42 (Chunichi Dragons: 2018-2020)
4 (KT Wiz: 2021)
96 (Chunichi Dragons: 2023)

3.6. Walk-up Songs

"Bye Bye" by Mozart La Para ft. Liro Shaq and Chimbala (2018)
"Shin Takarajima" by Sakanaction (mid-2018 season)
- This song was provided by Ichiro Yamaguchi, the lead singer of Sakanaction, who is a big Chunichi Dragons fan and fulfilled a dream by having his song used by Almonte.
"Culpables" by Ala Jaza (2019)