Yonder Alonso stating case for callup to Reds

CINCINNATI -- With the MLB First-Year Player Draft in the books after Day 3 on Wednesday, Reds fans with an eye toward the future can turn their focus back to the Minor Leagues. In the case of some Cincinnati prospects, you don't have to look too far forward to envision them at Great American Ball Park.

Yonder Alonso, the organization's No. 1 prospect, according to MLB.com, is hitting .323 at Triple-A Louisville. Alonso was originally a first baseman, but with a certain National League MVP clogging that hole for the near future, Alonso has spent the last two years learning to play left field.

In 75 career games in the outfield, Alonso has committed one error against 14 assists. With left field being one of the weak spots in Cincinnati's lineup this season, it would not be surprising if the Reds call up Alonso later this season -- although, as manager Dusty Baker pointed out earlier this week, offense has not been an issue for Cincinnati, and adding Alonso to the mix may not be the missing piece.

The Reds have another big-name catching prospect in Yasmani Grandal, last year's first-round pick and the organization's No. 5 prospect. Grandal is considered a better defensive catcher than Mesoraco, but he does not have as high of a ceiling in the batter's box. He is hitting .279 at Class A Advanced Bakersfield this year.

Just who exactly could be throwing to Mesoraco or Grandal in the future remains a mystery. With the possible exception of Robert Stephenson, the team's first-round pick on Monday, Cincinnati lacks a head-turning starting pitching prospect.


(mlb.com)