ORGANIZATION REPORTS
Baseball America|May 2024
Blaze Alexander entered spring training as a long shot to make the team, but there he was on March 28, starting and batting seventh in the D-backs’ Opening Day lineup.
ORGANIZATION REPORTS

Alexander Hits His Way Onto Roster

“He did it,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “He earned it. We didn’t just hand him this opportunity.”

The 24-year-old Alexander steadily climbed through the minor leagues after being drafted in the 11th round out of IMG Academy in 2018.

He first eased concerns about his ability to stick at shortstop, then in the past two years went about showing he had a chance to contribute at the plate.

He put it all together during spring training. Not only did he mash—Alexander went 22-for-50 (.400) with four doubles, two triples, two homers and five steals—he also showed he could handle second base and third base in addition to shortstop.

“I think I’ve shown I can play some lockdown defense wherever they’re going to put me and that I can control at-bats and can contribute,” Alexander said. “That I can hit the ball hard, run hard and play the game hard.”

Alexander is known for his tools—he has a huge arm and above-average raw power—but scouts in the past have often seen an unrefined approach. He started to clean that up the past two years, reining in his strikeout rate and boosting his walk rate.

Where Alexander takes this opportunity remains to be seen. He figures to get the bulk of starts at DH against lefthanders with some starts across the infield sprinkled in.

Moreover, top shortstop prospect Jordan Lawlar will miss at least two months with a torn ligament in his right thumb. Now, Alexander will get additional runway to show what he can do.

Esta historia es de la edición May 2024 de Baseball America.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición May 2024 de Baseball America.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE BASEBALL AMERICAVer todo
Wood Has Towering Upside- Nationals rookie James Wood also stands 6-foot-7 and also has game-changing power.
Baseball America

Wood Has Towering Upside- Nationals rookie James Wood also stands 6-foot-7 and also has game-changing power.

Aaron Judge and Oneil Cruz are 6-foot7 sluggers who stand out for their power in this year’s MLB Best Tools voting. Wood spent half of this season with Triple-A Rochester before making his MLB debut on July 1. While he was in the International League, he captured managers’ attention. Wood unanimously won Best Power Prospect and also claimed Most Exciting Player in a survey of league skippers. Wood hit .353/.463/.595 with 10 home runs in 52 games for Rochester. His .242 isolated slugging was the best for a player 21 or younger at Triple-A this season.

time-read
2 minutos  |
August/September 2024
ROAD BLOCK?
Baseball America

ROAD BLOCK?

Scholarship expansion puts mid-majors at a major disadvantage on the road to Omaha

time-read
4 minutos  |
August/September 2024
ROYALS REVIVAL
Baseball America

ROYALS REVIVAL

A revamped and rejuvenated farm system has Kansas City ready to rebound

time-read
6 minutos  |
August/September 2024
SUMMER STANDOUTS
Baseball America

SUMMER STANDOUTS

The top prospects in summer college leagues are poised to impact the 2025 draft

time-read
7 minutos  |
August/September 2024
FLORIDA COMPLEX LEAGUE TOP 10
Baseball America

FLORIDA COMPLEX LEAGUE TOP 10

Last year’s Florida Complex League prospect crop has been beset by lengthy injuries to many of its top players, including Yankees pitchers Henry Lalane and Carlos Lagrange, Mets infielder Marco Vargas and Red Sox catcher Johanfran Garcia.

time-read
6 minutos  |
August/September 2024
IN WITH THE NEW
Baseball America

IN WITH THE NEW

The 2024 draft is in the books. The trade deadline is history.

time-read
3 minutos  |
August/September 2024
WALCOTT BLASTS OFF
Baseball America

WALCOTT BLASTS OFF

It took some time for Rangers shortstop Sebastian Walcott to find his footing at High-A Hickory.

time-read
2 minutos  |
August/September 2024
A RECORD NIGHT FOR COLLEGIANS
Baseball America

A RECORD NIGHT FOR COLLEGIANS

Four key takeaways from the 2024 draft

time-read
4 minutos  |
August/September 2024
K.C.MASTERPIECE
Baseball America

K.C.MASTERPIECE

Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. wins games for the Royals with his bat, glove, speed and baseball IQ. He might be the most tooled-up player in the game.

time-read
7 minutos  |
August/September 2024
HOW THE MAJORS HAVE CHANGED FOR YOUNG PLAYERS
Baseball America

HOW THE MAJORS HAVE CHANGED FOR YOUNG PLAYERS

When negotiating the 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement, the MLB Players Association prioritized the earning power of young major league players, especially young stars.

time-read
2 minutos  |
May 2024