Yasmani Grandal going strong

Bakersfield catcher Yasmani Grandal earned a Major League contract from the Cincinnati Reds for the power-hitting skills he showed at the University of Miami. Grandal slugged 31 home runs over his last two seasons with the Hurricanes and is a power threat for the Blaze with a .298 batting average and eight homers in 37 games.

Grandal's path to the Majors began long before the Reds made him the 12th overall pick in last year's Draft. He was born in Cuba and came to the United States with his mother when he was a child.

"It was an experience I won't forget," he said. "It was tough getting here and not knowing anybody. Once you look back, everything plays out."
Grandal had to leave most of his family behind to have a shot at better opportunities in Miami. His father still lives in Cuba and he calls his relatives there when he can.

The Reds have a recent Cuban connection. Four of their top 30 prospects were born in Cuba. Pitcher Aroldis Chapman and outfielder Felix Perez defected from Cuba and guys like Grandal and Triple-A Louisville first baseman Yonder Alonso came from Havana to Miami as children.
Grandal and Alonso were college teammates and Grandal is looking forward to playing alongside Alonso again in Cincinnati.

The Reds have another top-rated catching prospect ahead of Grandal. Devin Mesoraco was the team's 15th overall pick in 2007 and is the immediate future behind the plate.

Grandal is used to competition at his position. Jason Hagerty was a star catcher at Miami when Grandal joined the Hurricanes. Grandal played so well that he pushed Hagerty to first base.

"I had to fight to get that spot," he recalled.

Grandal has high praise for Mesoraco, adding, "I think competition within the organization is even better."

The 22-year-old is developing his skills behind the plate in Bakersfield, focusing on working with a staff of pitchers he'd never seen before this season.

"[I'm] trying to call pitches better and trying to get a feel for that," he said. "So far, it's going well, especially with the starters."

Grandal sees competition from college as well as from his Team USA days. Last week, he went up against Stockton outfielder Michael Choice, who went 10th overall to Oakland in last year's Draft. Both played for Team USA in 2009.

The Reds surprised Grandal with their Major League contract offer.

"I was just trying to get drafted in the first place," he said. That focus has allowed him to hone his game without giving in to the pressure that accompanies high expectations.

"I think every first-rounder is going to feel pressure because they're expected to put up numbers and develop quickly," he said. "Just because they offered me a MLB contract, it doesn't mean they're going to put more pressure on me. If you play ball under pressure, you're not going to get too far."



(minorleaguebaseball.com)