Minor League Recap: Anthony Alford 2015 Début

Lansing Lugnuts (10-3)

Fort Wayne TinCups (3-7)

Lansing win 8-1

A lot of hype has surrounded Lansing Lugnuts Anthony Alford since the Toronto Blue Jays used their 3rd round pick of the 2012 Amateur draft to select the Mississippi native. For the next three seasons Blue Jay were teased with a hand full of games a year.

Finally on the 30th of September, 2014, the Blue Jays announced that their patience had paid off. Anthony Alford would step away from football and focus on baseball. More importantly, he would be focusing on Blue Jays baseball.

After spending a less than spectacular off-season with the Canberra Cavalry, he would report to the Lansing to form a very enticing outfield tandem with fellow Mississippi native D.J. Davis. This could be the best and the fastest such tandem in the minor leagues.

Anthony made a triumphant 2015 season début with the Low A-Ball Lugnuts, finishing with 2 hits in 4 at-bats, a double, scored 2 runs, a walk and 2 strike outs. Maybe more importantly, D.J. Davis had his best game of 2015. Davis was 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, 4RBI, and no strike outs.

Every game won’t be like the 8-1 beating that the Lugnuts (10-3) laid on Fort Wayne TinCaps (3-7). Anthony Alford has only played in 26 minor league games over the past 3 seasons. To expect that the 20-year-old will be light the Midwest league up right away might be a stretch, but we’ll be keeping a close eye on the Blue Jays #15 ranked prospect.

The Lugnuts continue to utilize the teams speed to impact the game, with Davis and Tim Locastro making up the running game in this victory. Both players stole bases and both players were caught stealing. The Lugnuts are 21 and 13 in stolen base attempts.

LF Ryan McBroom was the only Lugnut not to register a base hit, but still managed to make an impact with 2 walks and 2 runs scored. 2B Tim Lacostro collected 3 hits, his 3rd multi-hit game in the young season, and 1B Rowdy Tellez drove in 2-runs

Shane Dawson (W, 1-1), the Alberta native, struck-out a season high 7 batters, with zero walks over 5 innings. Shane now has 19 strike outs in 15IP. Dawson’s ability to keep the ball in the yard (zero HR allowed) and on the ground (2.86 GO/AO) is what has impressed. Shane induced 6 ground balls and 2 flyballs, while only allowing 1 hit.

Next Game: Chase Mallard vs Fort Wayne’s Taylor Aikenhead

Buffalo Bisons (7-4)

Pawtucket (9-3)

Game 1- Pawtucket wins 0-1. Andrew Albers (L 1-2, 2.65ERA)

Game 2- The Bisons win 3-1. Scott Copeland (W 2-0, 0.90ERA)

Next Game: Randy Wolf (2-0, 0.90ERA) vs Pawtucket’s Steven Wright

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (6-7)

Trenton Thunder (7-5)

Thunder win 4-3. Taylor Cole (L0-1, 7.43ERA)

Next Game: Casey Lawrence (0-2, 4.38ERA) vs Thunder’s Taylor Garrison

Dunedin Blue Jays (6-7)

Daytona Tortugas (8-4)

Game 1: Daytona wins 3-0. Brad Allen (L 0-2, 3.94ERA)

Game 2: D-Jays win 6-1. Jayson Aquino (W 1-1, 2.30ERA)

Next Game: Luis Santos (0-1, 6.30ERA) vs Daytona’s Sal Romano