Yonder Alonso
From BR Bullpen
Yonder Alonso
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 215 lb.
- School University of Miami
- High School Coral Gables High School
Yonder Alonso was a first-round pick in the 2008 amateur draft.
Alonso left Cuba for the USA when he was 9 years old. He hit .405 as a high school freshman and .510 as a sophomore. As a junior, he batted .420, followed by a .530 senior campaign, winning him All-State honors. He set single-season school records for average (.530), walks (33) and RBI (33) at the high school attended by Mike Lowell. He was a 15th-round pick in the 2005 amateur draft by the Minnesota Twins but opted for college.
The first baseman hit .295/.373/.492 as a freshman at Miami and became the second freshman in school history to lead the team in home runs (10) and RBI (69); Ryan Braun had done so previously. He hit .273 in the 2006 College World Series. He hit 8 home runs in the Virginia Valley League.
Alonso batted .376/.519/.705 as a sophomore. He was second in the Atlantic Coast Conference in slugging and OBP, trailing Tony Thomas Jr.. He led the ACC in homers, tied with Allan Dykstra with 18. Alonso led the ACC with 64 walks and tied Dustin Ackley for the RBI lead, 74. He failed to make the All-Conference team due to the presence of Ackley at first base. Baseball America named him as a second-team All-American behind Brett Wallace.
Alonso had an excellent summer for the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod League, hitting .338/.468/.497 and leading the league in OBP. He was third in average, .007 behind Conor Gillaspie. He tied for second in hits (51) and tied Reese Havens and Gillaspie for second in doubles (12). He was named the All-Star 1B. Baseball America rated him the #2 prospect in the Cape Cod League.
Alonso made his pro debut with the Sarasota Reds on August 26, 2008, going 1 for 3 with a double, walk and run against the Clearwater Threshers.
