Youth Movement

Yonder Alonso was rated by Baseball America as the Reds number one prospect. He was a star for three season on the Miami University Hurricanes, a well respected baseball program.

The Reds signed him to a major league contract last August. He was invited to major league camp after just 16 professional at bats with the Reds advanced A, Sarasota club.

In his spring debut he grounded out to first in his initial at bat and struck out in his second at bat.

It was in the field that Alonso really struggled. He failed to scoup a pair of low throws by other infielders and botched a slow roller to first with two outs and the bases loaded. Ramon Ramirez was about to escape a bases loaded jam when Alonso failed to come up with the squibber.

Manager Dusty Baker stuck up for the clubs first pick in last year's draft.

"He has come in early everyday to take ground balls," Baker said. "We have seen the improvement. He was over aggressive on the ground ball and was out of control."

It is Juan Francisco, however, that has shown the tools of the trade so far.

Francisco is 21-years old with a beefy 6'2" frame that is listed politely at 180 pounds. He lead the Reds minor league system with 23 home runs and 92 RBI. He played in the Dominican Winter League and broke Rafael Batista's 34-year old record for home runs by a lefthanded hitter with 12. He hit six more in the playoffs.

Baker finds the winter league performance credible.

"Winter ball is no joke," Baker said. "It is more serious for some guys from that country. A lot of big time people are into it. There's gambling. There's a lot pressure that you gotta play good or you'll here it. He batted cleanup on his team. They have big ballparks."

Baker likes his aggressiveness at the plate.

"He's what you want young to be. You want hitters that you can tone down," Baker said. "You want guys to be selective, you want guys to go deep in the count but that's something that comes with experience. Young hitter you want to see aggressive. He strikes out a lot right now but you can tone that down. Its hard to turn that flame up."

Baker sees a versatile fielder in Francisco. He has a strong arm and has played some outfield.

"He has good foot work, a great arm. There's a good athlete in that young oversized body right now. He'll tone up. Not everyone can be born skinny. Albert Pujols wasn't skinny either."

"He can play outfield. David Bell likes his hands. It depends on what the organization needs. You have (Todd) Frazier also at third. Alonso at first. I mean eventually they all have to be together."

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