Mar. 2—It was a bittersweet reunion for Anthony Alford and the Toronto Blue Jays, the organization that drafted and developed him, then discarded him last summer by designating him for assignment.
When Alford came to bat against Robbie Ray on Monday in Dunedin, Fla., it was as a designated hitter in his first game for the Pittsburgh Pirates since crashing into the center field wall at PNC Park last September. Alford fractured his right elbow on that play, which required season-ending surgery and an offseason of rehabilitation.
“I was playing free and having fun the short time I was there,” Alford said of his five games with the Pirates after being claimed off waivers late last August. “Once I got hurt, it was a very emotional time for me, because that was the first chance that I really got to play that much as far as consecutive days in the big leagues, and it was going well until that unfortunate injury.”
So, Alford made the most of his opportunity against the Blue Jays, crushing a 1-2 fastball to deep center for a home run in the second inning. The ball had an exit velocity of 102.7 mph and traveled 413 feet, a shot that showed the power potential that enticed the Pirates to give Alford a long look for their opening in center field.
Alford batted .250 with a triple, home run and four RBIs in five games last September. The Pirates loved his athleticism in the outfield and speed on the base paths, especially when paired with Ke’Bryan Hayes.
“We are really excited about what Alford did at the end of the year,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said, “before he got hurt.”
The hardest part for Alford, however, was not the lost opportunity for a spot in the starting lineup but rather the recovery from a debilitating injury. Before he chose to concentrate on pro baseball, Alford was a two-sport star who shined on the football field. He played quarterback at Southern Miss before switching to safety when he transferred to Ole Miss. As a junior at Petal (Miss.) High School, however, Alford tore the ACL in his right knee while playing football in November 2010.
“The biggest thing coming back from an injury like that is more mental, because once you have the surgery, you’re fixed,” Alford said. “Obviously, you have to build muscle up and go through the whole rehab process, but even with the ACL injury, I was kind of iffy about cutting on it or putting too much pressure on it or changing direction, but it’s more of a mental thing that you have to get through.
“I think that’s what I’m getting through now, just knowing that, ‘OK, your arm is healed. Just go out there and let it go.’ But, obviously, it’s easier said than done, but that’s something that I’ve been working on.”
This time, the injury delayed Alford from getting into his regular offseason routine. While his physical activities were limited, Alford had time to think about the setback and focus on his future. Alford started his throwing progression in December but endured a setback at the start of spring training that caused tightness and limited him to serving as DH.
Alford is working on his throwing with Pirates pitching coach Oscar Marin, and has increased his distance to 150 feet. Now, Alford says his arm is feeling “just as good” as it did before the injury, which he takes as a “a positive sign that we’re moving in the right direction.”
“I mean, obviously it was a serious injury, right?” Alford said. “I broke my elbow, so obviously it takes time for that bone to heal. I think it’s on the right track. But yeah, it was really more of muscle soreness. I guess just the volume obviously had to build up, but I’m not surprised. I expected stuff like this after a major surgery, but I don’t think it’s anything that’s going to hold me down for a long time.”
Against the Blue Jays, Alford’s biggest problem was his nerves. He knows many people within the organization. That includes his brother-in-law, outfielder Jonathan Davis — they’re married to sisters — and his best friend, first baseman Rowdy Tellez.
Alford wanted to prove the Blue Jays wrong for never giving him a true chance to prove himself, as he batted .169 in 51 games over four major league seasons and never played more than 16 games in a season. Alford also wants to prove something to the Pirates, who signed veteran Brian Goodwin to a minor-league deal and traded for Dustin Fowler to add competition and insurance depth to their outfield mix.
“I’ve just got to control what I can control, and obviously, the ballclub is going to do what’s best for the ballclub,” Alford said, before using another football analogy. “It’s kind of like when you’re in college or when you’re in the NFL, would you rather have one really good quarterback or would you rather have two or three good quarterbacks just in case one goes down? You have to have depth in every position.
“Not necessarily saying that’s what that signing is for. I don’t know the reason behind every move but, obviously, they’re going to make the best decision for the ballclub moving forward. But, like I said, I don’t shy away from competition. I’m a very competitive person, and I’m very confident in my ability.”
Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Kevin by email at kgorman@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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