With a little over a full week under his belt since being recalled from Triple-A Buffalo, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder and Columbia native Anthony Alford’s second stint in the bigs has come to a close.
Alford was called up when starting left field Curtis Granderson strained his hamstring, but the veteran didn’t need a trip to the disabled list, making the day-to-day plan for Alford’s playing time up for speculation. Seven games in and it seemed Alford was settling into a righty-lefty platoon in left field with Granderson, as well as serving as a late-game defensive replacement and pinch-runner.
However, the Blue Jays decided to option the 6-foot-1, 215-pounder back to Buffalo with Granderson healthy again and the Blue Jays through a lefty-heavy stretch.
After his May 6 season debut, in which he went 1-for-4 with Granderson unavailable, Alford drew the start May 8 against the Seattle Mariners and lefty James Paxton. However, Paxton not only shut down Toronto, but he no-hit the Blue Jays. Alford did draw a walk, though. The following day against a righty, Alford wasn’t in the starting lineup and came off the bench as a pinch-runner, scored a run and stayed in as a defensive replacement for the ninth inning.
With righty Mike Leake on the mound for Seattle in the series finale May 10, Alford once again was out of the lineup in favor of Granderson but replaced the veteran as a pinch-hitter in the eighth with lefty reliever Marc Rzepczynski toeing the rubber.
In a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox over the weekend, Alford drew three straight starts in left field as the Red Sox trotted out three consecutive lefties, Chris Sale, David Price and Drew Pomeranz. He had an RBI single to center field off Price on Saturday but went 1-for-8 overall in the series. Alford wrapped up his brief spell going 2-for-14 with an RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base.
The news of being demoted isn’t necessarily bad, though. Alford is still developing and can benefit immensely from playing every day, regardless of matchup, more so than in a platoon. If the Blue Jays remain in contention in the latter part of the season, Alford will likely be recalled to serve the same role he recently occupied. If the Blue Jays fall out of the playoff race, expect the consensus Top 50 prospect to be given every opportunity to play every day in The Show with an eye toward a starting role in 2019.
Pictured Above: Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Alford was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. | Photo Submitted
