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Top 2008 Draft Prospects: Yonder Alonso

Greg Pappas

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Greg Pappas Hangout Grand Counsel

Greg Pappas

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Key: (X) is their age at the time of the 2008 Draft

9. *Yonder Alonso {College 1B/DH, Miami} (21) Alonso, ranked as Baseball America's #5 College prospect, does one thing very well... hit. He is not overly athletic, nor plays a particularly good defensive 1B, but if a team wants a young hitter who can sting the ball, take a walk, and has a keen batting eye, then the 6' 2-215 Alonso is your man. As a sophmore at Miami, he posted in 61 games> a .376 BA, 18 HR's, 74 RBI, 64 walks, a .519 OBP and slugged .705!

I am of the opinion that he'll settle in at DH, and would be surprised to see a National League team take him. I can see him eventually succeeding as a middle of the order DH, ala David Ortiz, although I don't think he'll be the hitter Ortiz is (not many are). Yonder has a reputation as being less than well-conditioned, and hasn't spent a great deal of time working on his defense... so, one can draw the conclusion that he has ridden his considerable talents up to this point, but may stumble at the pro level with those issues. However, were Alonso to show marked improvement in those areas, he could certainly stick at 1B.

Greg's Grade= 84

Next: High School OF/RHSP, Aaron Hicks

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Greg Pappas Hangout Grand Counsel

Greg Pappas

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Doesn't sound like a guy to get excited about, despite his terrific numbers. Kind of limited if he's projected to be a DH.

This season is important in my view for Alonso, more from a work-ethic and defensive improvement aspect then as a hitter. He may show that he's able to play 1B, and thus have all teams, including the NL ones, considering him. Personally I would not want him as a first rounder.

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Stotle Hangout Grand Counsel

Stotle

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Unless he bats a 1.300 OPS with 30+ HR, I don't see Yonder moving up to the 4th slot--not with Smoak, Beckham, Alvarez, and a couple of pitchers likely to compete for the top 3 slots.

Hosmer/Alonso will be an interesting pair. Which goes first and who ends up the better pro player. Hosmer's demands may fall a bit if ASU ends up in trouble, making him more easily draftable for more teams. Both should be top 10 guys based on talent.

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Stotle Hangout Grand Counsel

Stotle

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This season is important in my view for Alonso, more from a work-ethic and defensive improvement aspect then as a hitter. He may show that he's able to play 1B, and thus have all teams, including the NL ones, considering him. Personally I would not want him as a first rounder.

You wouldn't take him in the first round? I understand the concerns you're listing, but the kid can flat out hit -- average and power -- and he gets on base. If he doesn't go in the top 10 I'd be pretty surprised, no?

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Battleship High-A

Battleship

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You wouldn't take him in the first round? I understand the concerns you're listing, but the kid can flat out hit -- average and power -- and he gets on base. If he doesn't go in the top 10 I'd be pretty surprised, no?

I agree with this, especially considering the potential signability of some of the other guys. This guy tore up the Cape league this past summer and has put up very nice numers in college. I could definitely see him going to SF or the White Sox.

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Stotle Hangout Grand Counsel

Stotle

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I agree with this, especially considering the potential signability of some of the other guys. This guy tore up the Cape league this past summer and has put up very nice numers in college. I could definitely see him going to SF or the White Sox.

CHA could be a very good fit. I don't think CIN bites, and I think SF takes whoever is left out of Alvarez/Beckham/Smoak/Matusz/Crow -- maybe Hosmer is ASU falls off and he is disuaded from college ball enough to drop his demands. FLA will hopefully take Martinez.

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Battleship High-A

Battleship

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CHA could be a very good fit. I don't think CIN bites, and I think SF takes whoever is left out of Alvarez/Beckham/Smoak/Matusz/Crow -- maybe Hosmer is ASU falls off and he is disuaded from college ball enough to drop his demands. FLA will hopefully take Martinez.

I don't know on SF. If there's an easier sign there for them that they rate close to the Boras guys, they may go for that player. I could see them taking Skipworth, Melville, or Alonso.

I don't see Fla taking Martinez as he's projected to be a 3B. I see Skipworth or Melville here.

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Stotle Hangout Grand Counsel

Stotle

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I don't know on SF. If there's an easier sign there for them that they rate close to the Boras guys, they may go for that player. I could see them taking Skipworth, Melville, or Alonso.

I don't see Fla taking Martinez as he's projected to be a 3B. I see Skipworth or Melville here.

Maybe Melville, but it's a little high for Skippy, no? I think Alonso is a good bet. I also think Melville's signing demands could scare them off.

I think Martinez will really help himself out this senior year. Come draft time, he will be behind only Hosmer and Beckham on my list (I'm projecting, off course). He will definitely swith to 3b, but he will be plus-defense there with a strong arm and great offensive tools. The only knock is lack of speed, which hardly matters for 3b. It's a little early, I don't disagree, but I see his stock rising over the next three months.

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Battleship High-A

Battleship

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The Marlins drafted a 3B with their first pick last year, that's why I was thinking they'd stay away from Martinez. I'd love it if they took him as it would mean another good player dropping to the Nats.

I hadn't heard Melville as having big bonus demands. That would obviously cause him to drop combined with him being a HS pitcher.

So who do you have the O's and Nats taking? You seem to know what you're talking about:)

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