Yonder Alonso riding hot streak in May

ST. LOUIS - Like any new kid on the block, San Diego first baseman Yonder Alonso tried hard to fit in.

Maybe a little too hard.

On April 24, after an 0-for-3 performance against Washington, the highly-touted Alonso was hitting .196 in his first season for the Padres.

"I was probably trying to do too much up there," Alonso said. "I was having good at bats, but things weren't falling for me."

Rather than panic, Alonso simply stayed the course. The former University of Miami standout stuck with his original game plan and did not change a thing.

That attitude has paid big dividends.

Alonso is currently one of the hottest players in the National League. He is 32-for-87 (.368) since the dismal start and has hit safely in 20 of his last 23 games. He leads all NL rookies in batting average (.301), hits (43), and doubles (14).

A native of Havana, Cuba, Alonso has raised his average .105 points in the last 28 days.

"He was trying to impress too early," San Diego manager Bud Black said. "In the last few weeks, he's become the hitter we all knew he could be."

The 25-year-old says he knew things would eventually fall into place after the rough start.

"You're going to have days like that, you're going to have weeks like that," Alonso said. "You can't over-think or go crazy over it. You have to keep grinding and come to the park every day thinking things are going to change."

Alonso has developed into a doubles hitter with five two-double games already this season. He is tied for second with David Wright of the Mets for most doubles behind Joey Votto (17).

"My game plan is to keep studying and just try and learn from the past and the mistakes I've made," Alinso said. "Watch and pick up things."

Alonso was acquired from the Reds along Edinson Volquez and two others players in exchange for Mat Latos on Dec. 17.

Now, after overcoming a few early-season obstacles, Alonso feels good about his future in San Diego.

"I'm fitting in with the guys and I've got a normal routine going," Alonso said.


(mlb.com)