Alan Roden collects first Triple-A hit after promotion to Buffalo Bisons

Alan Roden has only been in Triple-A with the Buffalo Bisons for a few days and he's already registered his first base hit.

Roden, who is the sixth-ranked Jays Journal Top 30 prospect, singled in the seventh inning during his fourth and final plate appearance in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Worchester Red Sox. The base hit came after he grounded out to second base and struck out twice, the first time with the bases loaded in the second inning.

Roden also played the entire game in right field for Buffalo, catching a fly ball in the eighth inning. He also has a full nine-inning game in left field for the Bisons.

Roden was called up Thursday evening from Double-A New Hampshire, after the Blue Jays called up infielder Addison Barger to the majors. Earlier in the week, the Bisons placed outfielder Nathan Lukes on the 7-day Injured List.

For the most part, Roden has shown the ability to get on base consistently. But prior to the season, Roden said that a goal of his was to increase his power at the plate. It seemed like he made some progress with that this year.

A third-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Roden, 24, was hitting .267 with an on-base percentage of .373 in 244 plate appearances with the Fisher Cats. Roden hit 11 doubles and seven home runs with 27 RBI in 54 games, while sporting an .805 OPS. Roden has also been hit by a pitch seven times this season, while drawing 29 walks against 34 strikeouts. In 100 games over two seasons with New Hampshire, Roden hit .287 with a .395 OBP and an .840 OPS.

After his time at Creighton University, which means Roden was a Blue Jay before being drafted, Roden joined the Dunedin Blue Jays following 22 games in the Cape Cod League in 2022. The next season, Roden was promoted to the Vancouver Canadians, where he hit .321 with a .437 OBP and an .896 OPS over 323 plate appearances in 69 games. Roden hit four home runs, scored 57 runs and drove in 41 runs, while walking 42 times and striking out just 32 times.

That earned him a midseason promotion to the Fisher Cats for 46 games. Between Vancouver and New Hampshire, Roden hit 29 doubles and 10 home runs in 115 games during the 2023 season.

Roden did earn a spring training invite from the Blue Jays back in February, and he played in 11 preseason games. He went 6-for-24 with a double, two home runs, five runs scored and six more driven in.