Red Sox’s ‘Aquaman’ hasn’t had haircut in 3 years, grew up rooting for Boston
FORT MYERS, Fla. — The nickname Aquaman originated when Jorge Alfaro was playing in the Dominican Winter League.
“This winter ball, I was playing with Licey down there and friends just started calling me Aquaman,” Alfaro said.
Listed at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, Alfaro has the same body-type as actor Jason Momoa who’s 6-4. He also has the same long hair.
Alfaro hasn’t had a haircut in a long, long time.
“It’s been like three years,” said Alfaro, who hasn’t even received a trim to tidy it up.
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He trimmed his beard about a month ago.
“It was really long too but I trimmed it down a little bit,” he said.
The Red Sox signed Alfaro to a minor league deal with a $2 million base salary if he makes the major league roster. It includes opt-outs June 1 and July 1. He’s competing with Reese McGuire and Connor Wong for one of two spots on the Opening Day roster.
“As a kid coming from Colombia, we don’t have too many games to watch on TV,” Alfaro said. “Most games that you watch is Yankees and Red Sox. So you become a fan of one of those two and I’ve been watching this team since I was a little kid when Manny Ramirez, Big Papi (David Ortiz), Pedro (Martinez), all these guys. Jason Varitek. I’ve been watching all these guys growing up. ... And I’m excited right now. I’m gonna do all my best to make the team and be part of this great organization.”
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He said it’s cool to get the chance to work with Varitek, who serves as Boston’s catching coach and game-planning coordinator.
“Whenever he gives me some advice on everything, it’s like a dream come true,” Alfaro said. ”Watching him play when I was a little kid and having the opportunity to work with him, it’s a blessing. And you just have to listen, learn whatever you can from that guy.”
Alfaro — who will leave camp temporarily to play for Colombia in the WBC — has a career .256/.305/.396/.701 line with 47 homers, 67 doubles and four triples in 478 major league games. He has struck out 566 times compared to drawing just 70 walks.
“Baseball isn’t boring,” Alfaro said. “That’s what I think. It’s a job. It’s a game. It’s a war out there. But at the same time, you go out there and enjoy the game. You have to enjoy the game.”
