What a difference a year makes. Last year at this time, Yonder Alonso was helping his Miami Hurricane teammates head to Omaha, Nebraska to play in the College Baseball World Series. Now, the Cincinnati Reds' top pick in the 2008 draft is progressing quickly through the team's minor league system. One year removed, same quality results.
On Monday, Alonso was called up to the Reds' AA Southern League team, the Carolina Mudcats. He didn't disappoint in his AA debut, going 3 for 4, with 2 doubles, 3 runs batted in, and a walk. His promotion came after just 47 games with the team's Class A affiliate in Sarasota. Alonso hit .302 with 7 home runs and 37 runs driven in for the Sarasota squad.
Former college players often struggle in their first year in pro ball with their transition to the wooden bat. That apparently isn't the case with Alonso, who proved to be quite proficient at Miami. In 2008, he hit .373 with 15 home runs and 51 runs batted in. Those numbers led him to be rated as the top prospect in the Reds organization in 2009 after he was selected seventh overall in last year's draft. He played in six games last year in Sarasota after signing with Cincinnati.
Alonso is a first-baseman who was born in Cuba, but moved in Miami when he was nine-years-old. He played three years at Miami before entering the draft. He regularly works out with Alex Rodriguez in Miami.
Is Alonso the answer for the Reds at first base with the recent absence of Joey Votto? Even though many fans have been clamoring for the Reds to promote Alonso, it's highly unlikely he will suit up for Cincinnati anytime soon.
Alonso does not have the experience players typically do when they are called up to the majors, but his recent success does have him on the right path to provide the Reds with a bright future.
