Scouting Report: Yonder Alonso - 1B - CIN

Yonder Alonso - 1B - Cincinnati Reds. Bats: L Throws: R 6'2" 210. DOB: 1.8.87. College: Miami (FL) Drafted: 1st Round (7th Overall) 2008.

Scouted: Louisville Bats @ Columbus Clippers 6.1.10 (In Person)

The Twins selected Alonso as a catcher in the 16th round of the 2005 draft, but he opted to go to Miami where he had a prolific college career as a first baseman. After leading the Canes to Omaha as a junior, the Reds used the 7th overall pick on Alonso and signed him to big league contract at the deadline.

Stuck behind NL MVP Joey Votto at first base, the Reds experimented with Alonso in left field in both AA and AAA last season to the tune of 30 total games. Alonso made one error and had an impressive 4 assists as an outfielder, but he's just not fast enough to play out there at the MLB level.

College Stats

Year	Age	Class	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2006	19	FR	66	244	48	72	18	0	10	69	4	1	32	37	.295	.373	.492
2007	20	SO	61	210	57	79	13	1	18	74	13	3	64	31	.376	.519	.705
2008	21	JR	64	211	80	78	12	1	24	72	9	6	76	35	.370	.534	.777

Minor League Stats

Year	Age	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2008	21	A+	6	25	1	6	1	0	0	2	0	0	5	5	.316	.440	.368
2009	22	A+/AA	84	295	33	86	24	0	9	52	1	1	41	46	.292	.374	.464
2010	23	AA/AAA	132	507	69	147	36	2	15	69	13	3	56	92	.290	.362	.458
TOT	-	-	222	821	103	239	61	2	24	123	14	4	102	143	.291	.368	.458

Major League Stats

Year	Age	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2010	23	MLB	22	29	2	6	2	0	0	3	0	0	0	10	.207	.207	.276

It's important to note that getting one live look doesn't provide nearly enough information to produce a true scouting report, but that's not going to stop me from giving you my report anyway.

HITTING: Alonso is a patient hitter who knows the strike zone well. His appeal is his above average BB% and his relatively low K% for a slugger. My big concern with Alonso has always been his ability to hit LHP, as he struggled in that area in college and in his first full year as a professional. Last year, however, Alonso hit a respectable .269 v. LHP in AAA and .273 v. LHP in AA.

POWER: Alonso has plus power to all fields and uses his patience to punish pitches in the zone.

SPEED: Alonso has well below average speed.

ARM: The arm is average and adequate at first base.

DEFENSE: The Reds have tried Alonso at third base and left field and there's no denying that he's a first baseman and nothing more. While he's not fast, he's athletic enough that he could develop into an above average defender at first base.

FUTURE: Though he received a late season promotion during Cincinnati's pennate race, Yonder is clearly blocked by one of the National League's best players. I anticipated that the Reds would have attempted to use an Alonso headlined package to secure a left fielder this off season but that hasn't happened. Alonso will almost certainly start the season in AAA to garner consistent playing time and baring a Joey Votto injury, he'll stay in Louisville until the contending Reds want to buy at at the deadline.

Tags: 1b prospects, first base prospects, mlb prospects, top 100 baseball prospects, top baseball prospects, baseball prospects, reds prospects, cincinnati prospects, cincinnati reds, cincinnati, reds, sports, baseball, minor league, mlb, milb, yonder alonso