Yonder Alonso flirts with cycle in Bats' win

It doesn't matter if it's a first baseman's mitt or an outfielder's glove, Yonder Alonso is comfortable wearing it.

Continuing his transition to the outfield, Alonso fell a single shy of the cycle and drove in three runs Wednesday as the Triple-A Louisville Bats beat the Rochester Red Wings, 7-3.

Alonso extended his hitting streak to seven games when he tripled home Zack Cozart in the third inning. The seventh overall pick last June drilled his fourth homer of the season in the fifth, again plating Cozart, then doubled and scored in the ninth.

MLB.com's preseason No. 49 prospect, Alonso nearly had a fourth hit when he lined to center field in his first at-bat.

"I really thought that it was going to drop," he said. "The center fielder had been playing me to right-center, but for some reason today he was shifting me to left-center and it was right at him. Things happen for a reason, but it would have been nice to get the cycle."

In addition to the hitting streak, the University of Miami product has driven in runs in four consecutive games, totaling seven RBIs during that span. After a slow start, he's raised his average to .313 and ranks fifth in the International League with 11 doubles.

"I've been having good at-bats and making adjustments, and it's been working out for me," Alonso said. "I'm just trying to go with what the pitcher gives me. Last year, I felt like I tried to force things a little and that's when I got into trouble. And I told myself, 'Just be me and don't force it.'"

A natural first baseman, Alonso is blocked at the Major League level by reigning National League MVP Joey Votto. After playing 30 games in left field for for Double-A Carolina and the Bats in 2010, he's beginning to settle in in the outfield.

"It's been going great," Alonso said. "I feel like I've been making strides out there and I feel comfortable."

Asked what position he most closely identifies with, he responded, "I see myself as both. I feel like I can play first base well, but I can play left field well. It's helped my game out because now I'm not just a first baseman, I can be a left fielder, too. Now I have more options, so it's definitely helped me out."

Off to a hot start, the notion of getting called up to Cincinnati is not something on which Alonso dwells.

"It crosses my mind, but it's something that I try not to think about," he explained. "What I have to do is worry about what I have to do here."
Catcher Devin Mesoraco, MLB.com's No. 45 prospect, contributed a solo homer, his fourth.

"This guy can flat-out play," Alonso said. "He improved so much on the hitting side, but on the defensive side he's unbelievable. He's going to be a big-time Major Leaguer and I think he's going to be great. ... He's been huge for our team and I'm looking forward to seeing him the whole year."



(web.minorleaguebaseball.com)