Yonder Alonso
Encyclopedia
Yonder Alonso is a Cuban
-American
baseball
first baseman
for the Cincinnati Reds
.
, where he played three seasons for the Hurricanes
. He led the team to the College World Series
as a freshman, with a team leading 69 RBIs.
His sophomore year he batted .376, led the Atlantic Coast Conference
with 18 home runs, knocked in 74 runs, and scored 57 times. He also ranked second in the ACC with a .519 on-base percentage and .705 slugging percentage. Alonso went to the Cape Cod Baseball League
in 2007 and played for the Brewster Whitecaps
.
In 2008, he hit .373 with 15 homers, 51 RBIs, and eight stolen bases.
by the Minnesota Twins
, but chose to attend college.
In 2008, Alonso was drafted with the seventh overall pick by the Cincinnati Reds
in the draft
. He signed a major-league contract with the Reds worth $4.55 million through 2012.
He made his Minor League
debut on August 26, 2008 for the Class A Sarasota Reds against the Clearwater Threshers
. He went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. In just six games for the A-Advanced Reds that year, he went 6-for-19 with two RBIs.
After the 2008 season, he joined the Waikiki BeachBoys of the Hawaii Winter Baseball league
and hit .308 with four homers and 21 RBIs in 29 games. He had 32 hits in 104 at-bats.
Alonso entered the 2009 season ranked as the number one overall prospect in the Reds organization by Baseball America
. He started the season with Sarasota, played 49 games, and hit .303 in 175 at-bats with seven home runs, 13 doubles, and 38 RBIs. After receiving a promotion to Class AA Carolina
, he hit .295 in 105 at-bats, with 11 doubles, two homers, and 14 RBIs over 29 games. He also played for the Peoria Saguaros
of the Arizona Fall League
in 2009, .267 in 23 games.
Alonso started 2010 in Carolina playing left field, as he is blocked at first base in Cincinnati by Joey Votto
. Alonso was called up by the Reds on September 1, with rosters expanding.
Alonso made his debut with the big club on September 1, 2010, pinch hitting for Brandon Phillips. On September 4, 2010, in his second at bat as a pinch hitter, Alonso got his first major league hit, a double off St. Louis Cardinals
pitcher Mike MacDougal
. Later in the inning, he scored his first major league run.
On July 26, 2011, Alonso was recalled to the Cincinnati Reds, after the trade of Jonny Gomes
. It was announced that Yonder will focus completely on left field for the 2012 Reds season.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
.
College
Alonso attended the University of MiamiUniversity of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
, where he played three seasons for the Hurricanes
Miami Hurricanes
The Miami Hurricanes, of Coral Gables, Florida, are the varsity sports teams of the University of Miami. They compete in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference . The university fields 15 athletic teams for 17 varsity sports...
. He led the team to the College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
as a freshman, with a team leading 69 RBIs.
His sophomore year he batted .376, led the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
with 18 home runs, knocked in 74 runs, and scored 57 times. He also ranked second in the ACC with a .519 on-base percentage and .705 slugging percentage. Alonso went to the Cape Cod Baseball League
Cape Cod Baseball League
The Cape Cod Baseball League is a collegiate summer baseball league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, in which many college baseball stars play during the summer. Many future Major League Baseball players have started there during their college years; MLB has provided...
in 2007 and played for the Brewster Whitecaps
Brewster Whitecaps
The Brewster Whitecaps are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Brewster, MA. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League and plays in the league's Eastern Division. Brewster played its home games at Cape Cod Regional Technical High School until 2006, when Stony Brook Field was opened...
.
In 2008, he hit .373 with 15 homers, 51 RBIs, and eight stolen bases.
Professional career
Alonso was drafted in the 15th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft2005 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
by the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, but chose to attend college.
In 2008, Alonso was drafted with the seventh overall pick by the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in the draft
2008 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft continued Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 5 and 6, 2008.-First round selections:* Did not sign...
. He signed a major-league contract with the Reds worth $4.55 million through 2012.
He made his Minor League
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
debut on August 26, 2008 for the Class A Sarasota Reds against the Clearwater Threshers
Clearwater Threshers
The Clearwater Threshers are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the Florida State League. Since 2004, the team competes in the West Division....
. He went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. In just six games for the A-Advanced Reds that year, he went 6-for-19 with two RBIs.
After the 2008 season, he joined the Waikiki BeachBoys of the Hawaii Winter Baseball league
Hawaii Winter Baseball
Hawaii Winter Baseball, based in Honolulu, Hawaii, was a professional baseball league located on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. It was loosely affiliated with Major League Baseball.-History:...
and hit .308 with four homers and 21 RBIs in 29 games. He had 32 hits in 104 at-bats.
Alonso entered the 2009 season ranked as the number one overall prospect in the Reds organization by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
. He started the season with Sarasota, played 49 games, and hit .303 in 175 at-bats with seven home runs, 13 doubles, and 38 RBIs. After receiving a promotion to Class AA Carolina
Carolina Mudcats
The Carolina Mudcats are a minor league baseball team based in the eastern suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the Carolina League, are the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians major-league club beginning in 2012.-History:...
, he hit .295 in 105 at-bats, with 11 doubles, two homers, and 14 RBIs over 29 games. He also played for the Peoria Saguaros
Peoria Saguaros
The Surprise Saguaros are a baseball team that plays in the West Division of the Arizona Fall League. They play their home games at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona....
of the Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
in 2009, .267 in 23 games.
Alonso started 2010 in Carolina playing left field, as he is blocked at first base in Cincinnati by Joey Votto
Joey Votto
Joseph Daniel "Joey" Votto, is a Canadian Major League Baseball first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds. He is the 2010 NL MVP, the recipient of the National League Hank Aaron Award for 2010, and won the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's athlete of the year in 2010.-Early life:Votto was born on...
. Alonso was called up by the Reds on September 1, with rosters expanding.
Alonso made his debut with the big club on September 1, 2010, pinch hitting for Brandon Phillips. On September 4, 2010, in his second at bat as a pinch hitter, Alonso got his first major league hit, a double off St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
pitcher Mike MacDougal
Mike MacDougal
Robert Meiklejohn MacDougal is a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball, who is currently a free agent...
. Later in the inning, he scored his first major league run.
On July 26, 2011, Alonso was recalled to the Cincinnati Reds, after the trade of Jonny Gomes
Jonny Gomes
Jonathan Johnson "Jonny" Gomes is an American professional baseball outfielder.-Early years:...
. It was announced that Yonder will focus completely on left field for the 2012 Reds season.