CINCINNATI -- Anthony Alford made the Pirates’ Opening Day roster with an opportunity to establish a role as an everyday outfielder. Eleven games later, he was designated for assignment.
Now, following a months-long tear at Triple-A, Alford has rejoined the Pirates, and his enhanced approach at the plate stood out in Pittsburgh’s 11-3 loss to the Reds on Saturday at Great American Ball Park.
Alford, 27, had only two hits in his first stint with the Bucs this season, both of which were singles. On Saturday, he began his night with a double down the left-field line in the second inning. Then, he smoked a 106.2 mph double in the fourth inning -- the hardest-hit ball by either team -- before collecting a single in the ninth inning.
The double in the second was the first double that Alford has hit at the Major League level since May 23, 2017. However, dig into his success at Triple-A this season and this is not rare in the slightest. Alford paired 12 doubles with 14 home runs in 56 games with the Indians to power a 1.013 OPS.
That’s right: A four-digit OPS over more than two months of playing time.
“This is probably the best I’ve hit in my career,” Alford said before Saturday’s game.
The quality of the contact has obviously improved to lead to this success. Now, the question is: Will the consistency of the contact be more like it was in Indianapolis vs. when he struck out at a 55.2% clip in April with the Pirates? Manager Derek Shelton sees signs in Alford’s mechanics that could lead to a marked improvement there.
“He looks more grounded in the box, and I mean that in a good way. He looks more into his legs,” Shelton said. “That's significantly different from when he left here. Really good at-bats from Anthony tonight."
Some of Alford’s teammates have also seen the difference first-hand, including Mitch Keller. The right-hander, who allowed four runs in five innings on Saturday, spent nearly two months at Triple-A with Alford after Keller was optioned, and he felt like at any moment the outfielder could be called up.
“I’m just really excited that he’s getting an opportunity again, because I think he’s a really special player, and I think he’s going to be huge for us down the road,” Keller said. “Yeah, he had a great night tonight, but just looking at who he is and what he’s done in the past is impressive.”
As Alford continued to slug and slug, he said it was hard not to think about the day when he could return to the Majors and prove himself. But he kept his mindset simple, grinded through some changes in his swing that he worked on with Indians hitting coach Jon Nunnally and played for the name on the jersey.
“I don't know [how things will develop], so I had to focus on the bigger picture,” Alford said. “Really just had to be in the moment. So when I was down there, I told myself, ‘I’m playing for the Indians, and I'm gonna do what I can to help this team win. And once I do become a Pirate again, I’ll do what I can to help them win.’”
It’s hard for one player alone to help a team that has given up 28 runs in the past three games to a win, but Alford did his part on Saturday. He also made a shoestring catch in left field to potentially save yet another Reds run in a prolonged sixth inning.
But speed and fielding have been Alford’s M.O. Now, after four seasons of inconsistent playing time, he’s trying to bring the missing piece -- the consistency at the plate -- so he can claim a starting role in the future, whether that be with the Pirates or any other team.
The pressure is off, though. Alford knows what he needs to do to make an impact. Now, it’s about putting himself in the best situations to capitalize on this second shot with Pittsburgh and, in the meanwhile, to take it all in.
“Whether [I go] 4-for-4 or 0-for-4, whatever it is, I'm just trying to take it all in and enjoy it, because not everybody gets these opportunities to play in the big leagues,” Alford said. “I'm not gonna waste it [by] thinking about stuff I can't control. I'm really just gonna focus on enjoying the journey and having fun while I’m here.”