Toronto Blue Jays top 10 prospects for 2019

9. Anthony Alford, OF

Birthday: 7/20/1994 (24)
Acquired: Draft, 3rd round, 2012
Level(s): high-A Dunedin, AAA Buffalo, MLB Toronto
Statistics: Majors: .105/.190/.105, 13 G, 21 PA, 2 2B, 1 SB, 2/9 BB/K; Minors: .238/.314/.339, 112 G, 442 PA, 23 2B, 5 HR, 17 SB, 7.5% BB, 27.1% K

The running story for Anthony Alford since he was drafted has been that if he would be healthy and playing baseball full-time, he would absolutely explode on the scene. He played a total of 25 games over his first three seasons in the Toronto Blue Jays farm system after being drafted while he pursued college football in the fall.

After focusing his efforts on baseball in 2015, he did jump fast, bounding through both A-ball levels with ease. However, then the injuries began hitting, sapping his 2016 and 2017, playing a total of 92 games and 77 games the two seasons in the minor leagues, respectively.

In 2018, though he did have some time missed, in general, Alford was healthy enough to play 112 minor league games and 12 major league games, yet for the first time, when he was healthy and on the field, he wasn’t productive, and he looked even worse when he was in the big leagues, with a swing that seemed incredibly feeble.

Alford is still arguably the most athletic player on any field he steps onto, and that will get him plenty of opportunities, but he is turning 25 midway through the 2019 season, so the time is now to earn his way into the Toronto Blue Jays future plans. Otherwise, he may be looking to ply his trade elsewhere.