The Golden Sombrero’s Top 50 Prospects: #32 – Yonder Alonso (Video) | The Golden Sombrero Baseball Blog | MLB, Fantasy, College & High School Baseball News

The Golden Sombrero’s Top 50 Prospects: #32 – Yonder Alonso (Video)

#32 Yonder Alonso – Cincinnati Reds

1B/LF

DOB: 4-8-87

ETA: 2011

With over 400 Triple-A AB’s already under his belt, it would be astonishing if Alonso was not seen in Cincinnati in 2011. But he profiles as a below average outfielder, and the Reds have an MVP in Joey Votto at first who figures to be entrenched there for a long time.  Nevertheless with plus defenders all over the field in Jay Bruce, Drew Stubbs, Votto, Scott Rolen, and Brandon Phillips, it seems like the Reds would be willing to take a small hit in left to get another young left-handed bat in the lineup.  The Reds made a total bonehead move when they exercised their 2011 option on Jonny Gomes in November, essentially forcing the youngster Alonso into a platoon role at best. But the Reds will be in a playoff race and likely will have to give Alonso the brunt of the LF AB’s at some point.

A product of the Miami Hurricanes, Alonso slashed .296/.355/.470 in Louisville as a 23-year old.  He knocked 12 bombs while hitting for extra bases 45 times in only 406 AB’s.  With the organization’s finest strike-zone judgment and highest hit tool grading, Alonso appears virtually slump proof against righties.  There is evidence that he will struggle against lefties, at least at the onset of his Big League career, but with age on his side, as well as the presence of other young lefty bats in the organization, Alonso figures to improve substantially in that regard.

2 Comments

  1. Clint says:

    There’s a reason the Reds won’t trade this guy. He can flat out rake. I think he’s a serious talent and it’s a shame there isn’t a spot for him. I would love to see what he could do in 140 games at the big league level. I think that it would be a mistake to move him unless they can recover big time value. I think he is an Adrian Gonzalez type of talent.

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