Alcides Escobar is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB with the Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals and the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Brewers sold shortstop Hardy to the Minnesota Twins after the 2009 season ended, making Escobar their starting shortstop in 2010. Baseball America ranked Escobar as the greatest prospect in the game prior to the 2010 season.
Zack Greinke and Yuniesky Betancourt were dealt from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Kansas City Royals on December 18, 2010. With four home runs and 46 RBIs in 158 games in 2011, he slugged.254/.290/.343.
Escobar signed a four-year, $10 million contract extension with the Royals on March 15, 2012, which included club options for 2016 and 2017. Escobar could make $21.75 million if both options are exercised.
Instead of earning $519,500 in 2012, Escobar will make $1 million in 2012 and $3 million a year from 2013 to 2015, according to his original budget.
In 2016, he had a $5.25 million option with a $500,000 buyout. At the time of the buyout, his 2017 option was worth $6.5 million.
As a result, he was granted a contract extension for the remainder of his arbitration-eligible seasons. When he became eligible for the open market, he was covered by the club options.
What Number Is Alcides Escobar?
Professional baseball infielder Alcides Escobar wears the number 3 jersey of the Washington Nationals.