CINCINNATI -- Anthony Alford has played for a lot of different people the past year.
First, it was the Blue Jays, the only team he ever knew before the Pirates claimed him off waivers last season. When he found himself in Class AAA Indianapolis, he started playing to show off for scouts.
“I just want to show them something, show them what I’m capable of,” Alford told reporters on the field of Great American Ball Park before Saturday’s game against the Reds.
That mindset changed not long after, and with it, his fortunes started to turn.
“When I was down there, I told myself, ‘I’m planning for the (Indianapolis) Indians and I'm gonna do what I can to help this team win. And once I do become a Pirate again, I’ll do what I can to help them win,’ ” Alford said. “It's kind of just living in the moment.”
After a torrid tear in Indianapolis where he hit .307 with 14 home runs and a 1.013 OPS -- and a 1.160 OPS over his most recent 38 games since June 1 -- he finally got his second shot in the majors Saturday after the Pirates selected his contract.
Alford’s return to the majors went extremely well from an individual standpoint, recording three hits, two doubles and a diving catch in left field, but the Pirates were once again blown out by the Reds, this time 11-3.
And with Ben Gamel being placed on the injured list Friday, there is an opening for everyday playing time in left field. That is what gave the Pirates the final push they needed to recall him.
“We’re really proud and excited about the strides he made in Indy,” assistant general manager Steve Sanders was telling me. “Obviously he improved and made some adjustments at the plate. It felt like this was the right time to bring him up there and hopefully see some of that success carry over. And he’ll have the opportunity to do that.”
Playing time was key for Alford. During a Zoom call set up by the Indians in June, Alford talked about how important it was to get those consistent at-bats and work through his early season struggles.
While Alford did make the opening day roster, he was splitting the center field job with Dustin Fowler. Consecutive starts were a rarity for either player, and neither could find their swing. They were both designated for assignment in April.
“You have to have those consistent at-bats in order to make adjustments,” Alford said. “You can go 0-for-4 with three punchouts, but on that last at-bat you felt something, that next day you can go make that adjustment and carry it into the game, as opposed to sitting on it for a few days.”
Alford and Indianapolis hitting coach Jon Nunnally took those game feelings and worked on changes in approach and mechanics. That includes cleaning up some of the wasted motion in his swing and putting his body in the right position to hit
Alford said that Nunnally “talked to me in ways that nobody else has ever talked to me my whole career.” It helped him simplify and post the best results he ever has at any level of the minors.
“This is probably the best I’ve hit in my career,” Alford said.
The three hits are what counted Saturday, but the biggest wows came during batting practice, hitting the railing of the riverboat out in center field.
It was a complete change from where he was in late April. Then, he was batting just .083 and struck out 16 times over 29 plate appearances.
Before the game, Derek Shelton said Alford deserved this second look.
“He looks more grounded in the box, and I mean that in a good way,” Shelton said after the game. “He looks more into his legs. That's significantly different from when he left here.”
Going into spring training, Alford was penciled in to be a starting outfielder and, ideally, hold that spot for years to come. Now in August, that opportunity is still there.
This time, Alford is going to try to enjoy this chance more and focus less on looking over his shoulder and what other people competing for that job are doing. Play for himself and the team, not the scouts and looking for another opportunity. He’s got that now.
“I'm just gonna enjoy the journey and try to have fun every day,” Alford said. “Whether [I go] 4-for-4 or 0-for-4, whatever it is, I'm just trying to take it all in and enjoy it because not everybody gets these opportunities to play in the big leagues. I'm not gonna waste it [by] thinking about stuff I can't control. I'm really just gonna focus on enjoying the journey and having fun while I’m here.”
MORE FROM THE GAME
• To clear room on the roster for Alford, the Pirates optioned Phillip Evans and designated Erik González for assignment. González was activated off the injured list just before the move.
For González, with the addition of Hoy Park in the majors and utility players Michael Chavis and Tucupita Marcano in Class AAA, they did not need his defensive versatility as much.
“That was a challenging [decision], especially with the kind of person Erik is,” Shelton said. “I think one of the things is, we’ve acquired some people recently who we’re going to give opportunities to currently and then moving forward. Because of that, Erik wound up being the roster casualty.”
GETTY
Mitch Keller.
• Mitch Keller's second start back in the majors did not fare much better than his first. He allowed four runs on seven hits and four walks over four innings, striking out four.
Unlike his first start back, Keller's breaking pitches looked much better, but the fastball was the trouble pitch. While Shelton again stressed the importance of fastball control postgame, finishing more breaking pitches is a positive for Keller.
Frustrations with Keller are obvious, but he and the team feel like he is still headed in the right direction.
"When we were throwing those, just making sure they were getting to off the edge, down in the zone or wherever it may be that we’re trying to go," Keller said. "Just focusing on that. I think I executed a lot of them today.”
In the bullpen, Chasen Shreve allowed two runs in two innings of relief, and Chris Stratton, who hadn't been used in three games, allowed four runs in the eighth inning to put the game out of reach.
• Colin Moran made his first start since coming back from the injured list. He went 0-for-3 with a walk and a pair of strikeouts.
• Bryan Reynolds is continuing to establish himself as one of the best players in the National League, falling a double short of a cycle Saturday.
On the season, he is slashing .304./387/.515 with 19 homers now, and his 3.8 fWAR is the fifth-best in the National League.
"I just try to come in every day, and I’ll do what I can do," he said.
THE ESSENTIALS
• Boxscore
• Scoreboard
• Standings
• Statistics
THE LINEUPS
Shelton's card:
1. Hoy Park, SS
2. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B
3. Bryan Reynolds, CF
4. Colin Moran, 1B
5. Gregory Polanco, RF
6. Rodolfo Castro, 2B
7. Anthony Alford, LF
8. Michael Pérez, C
9. Mitch Keller, RHP
And for David Bell's Reds:
1. Jonathan India, 2B
2. Jesse Winker, LF
3. Nick Castellanos, RF
4. Joey Votto, 1B
5. Mike Moustakas, 3B
6. Kyle Farmer, SS
7. Tucker Barnhart, C
8. Shogo Akiyama, CF
9. Vladimir Gutierrez, RHP
THE SCHEDULE
The Pirates will try to salvage at least one game out of this four game set Sunday at 1:10 p.m. Bryse Wilson (2-4, 4.42) will make his second start with the Pirates, taking on Tyler Mahle (8-3, 3.86). I've got you covered from Cincinnati.
IN THE SYSTEM
• Indianapolis
• Altoona
• Greensboro
• Bradenton
THE CONTENT
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