2. Anthony Alford, OF
Birthdate: 6/20/94 (22 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: high A
Stats in 2016: .236/.344/.378, 9 HR, 18 SB
Many considered Alford to be unsignable in the 2012 draft because he wanted to play football with Southern Miss. The Blue Jays gambled on allowing him to do both, and spent a 3rd round pick on Alford.
After three years of playing both, one year with Southern Miss and two years at Ole Miss, Alford chose to focus exclusively on baseball in 2015. He exploded onto the scene in 2015 with a big year in his first full season concentrating on baseball, hitting .298/.398/.421 across both A levels.
He returned to high A in 2016 to start in 2016, but multiple trips to the disabled list for a knee injury and a concussion, respectively, kept him from making big strides offensively on the year.
Alford did show out with more of his power than had been seen in 2015 in the FSL, hitting 9 home runs and 17 doubles in his 92 games. He has the ability to hit for solid power with a quick bat and athletic frame that could generate 15-20 home runs as he matures.
Alford’s biggest carrying tool will be his plus-plus speed, which he uses to completely alter the game when he’s on the base paths and track down everything in center field.
Hopefully healthy in 2017, Alford will work his way to AA, and the Blue Jays will be excited to see how he handles the upper minors.
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