Pirates Top 30 Prospects No. 19: Omar Alfonzo Cruises to Double-A Before Stalling; Can He Rebound in ’26?
This is one in a series of stories breaking down PBN’s Top 30 Pittsburgh Pirates prospects.
Omar Alfonzo comes from a baseball family.
His father, Eliézer, played six seasons in the big leagues from 2006-11 with the San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Colorado Rockies. His older brother, Eliezer Alfonzo Jr., has played eight seasons in the Detroit Tigers’ system and reached Triple-A this year.
As for Omar, he’s been with the Pirates since he signed with the organization in 2019. With no minor-league season in 2020, Alfonzo didn’t start his professional career until the 2021 season with the Dominican Summer League.
His first year of minor-league baseball was solid. He posted a .762 OPS — thanks largely to a .429 on-base percentage and a 24% walk rate — in 39 games. The following season, Alfonzo underwhelmed in the Florida Complex League, when he owned a miniscule .462 OPS in 33 games.
But Alfonzo emerged on radars in 2023. After sizzling to start the year back in the FCL, Alfonzo was promoted to the Low-A Bradenton Marauders. In 52 games there, the left-handed hitter batted .273/.390/.413 with seven doubles, one triple, four home runs and 37 RBI in 52 games.
His success at the plate was paired with solid defense behind it. In 35 games at catcher with Bradenton, Alfonzo had a 30% caught stealing rate and a .993 fielding percentage.
Alfonzo’s second season with the Marauders in 2024 wasn’t matched with the same level of success, but he did enough to earn a promotion to High-A Greensboro. In 24 games with the Grasshoppers, he slashed .247/.371/.457 and belted five home runs and drove in 12 runs.
Alfonzo took a step forward back with the Grasshoppers to begin the 2025 season and was promoted to Double-A on July 1. With the Curve, Alfonzo slumped to a .218/.302/.335 batting line (87 wRC+) with nine doubles, a triple, three home runs and 22 RBI in 49 games.
Alfonzo might not have a standout tool in his skillset, but he has enough power to make him an appealing prospect, especially in an organization starved for offensive help.
Though he’s dabbled at first base in his career, Alfonzo has the ability to stick behind the plate long-term. If he’s able to hit more like he did before reaching Double-A in his second year with the Curve in 2026, his bat will play at either position.
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