Toronto Blue Jays need to give Anthony Alford a chance
With nothing more to prove in the minor leagues, the Toronto Blue Jays need to give a real shot to their outfield prospect.
After dwelling in the upper levels of the Toronto Blue Jays farm system for the past two seasons, Anthony Alford needs to be given a legitimate shot in 2019 to show what he can do in the major leagues.
Background
Alford was originally drafted in the 3rd round of the 2012 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays out of high school in Mississippi. Alford was one of the youngest players in the 2012 draft, not turning 18 until July of that year. He also was committed to playing college football as a top recruit.
He was a legit first-round talent coming into the draft that was passed over by many teams due to his desire to play college football while pursuing his minor league baseball career. After a coaching change at Southern Miss and struggling with a position change after transferring to Mississippi, Alford gave up football for baseball full time.
In his first season playing full-time baseball, Alford was something special, hitting .298/.398/.421 with 25 doubles, 7 triples, 4 home runs, and 27 stolen bases, along with a 67/109 BB/K ratio over 107 games and 487 plate appearances across both A-ball levels. After that season, he was ranked as high as #25 in top 100 lists.
Alford spent the next two seasons fighting through injuries, but hitting well when he was on the field, with a .344 OBP, 9 HR, and 18 steals over 92 games in 2016 and .299/.390/.406 with 5 home runs and 19 steals over 77 games in 2017.
Alford finally got his first taste of the big leagues in 2017 due to injuries at the big league level for the Toronto Blue Jays, but the Jays injury bug that season got ahold of him as well.
The 2018 season was a disaster for Alford. A hamstring injury delayed the start of his season, and in watching plenty of video on Alford, he never had his legs under him the same way he once was able to previously. He pressed on through injury, and it took a toll on his numbers, finishing with a .238/.314/.339 line with 5 home runs and 17 steals.
What can he give the Toronto Blue Jays
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The Toronto Blue Jays are already
on their valuable trade assets, and as the dust settles on the early rounds of trading, the Jays could jump into the mix, making a premium on the teams who were “left behind” in the first round of deals, moving players like
Justin Smoak,
Kendrys Morales,
Russell Martin,
Marcus Stroman,
Ken Giles, and
Aaron Sanchez.
They would also be wise to explore the trade markets for Kevin Pillar and Randal Grichuk. While Pillar is an elite defensive outfielder, he struggled in 2018 defensively, posting the first negative DRS of his career after three straight seasons with double-digit DRS.
Alford is an elite defensive outfielder who could take over in center field for the Blue Jays in 2019 and develop his bat in the major leagues while providing at least the same level of offense as Pillar has provided at nowhere near the cost. Alford, however, has the elite athletic tools and when healthy in 2017 showed command of the strike zone at the plate, which could allow him to provide plenty of value either at the top or bottom of the order as he develops his above-average raw power that should play very well in Rogers Centre.
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With 2019 likely to be a lost season, the Toronto Blue Jays should clear the decks and see what they have with prospects close to the major leagues, as they have one of the most intriguing farm systems in the lower levels. That should start with finding room for Anthony Alford.