San Diego Padres Have Star Ready To Blossom With Yonder Alonso

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The 2012 MLB season was the first full year for Yonder Alonso at the major league level for the San Diego Padres. Alonso should be able to go into the 2013 season as a much better player, and one that could help San Diego get over the .500 mark. San Diego has themselves a pair of solid left-handed hitters in Alonso and Chase Headley right now for years to come.

Alonso hit .273 with nine home runs for San Diego, but the power numbers should go up this season with the team making changes at Petco Park which will allow for more offense and more home runs. Alonso has started spring training very slowly this season and while a lot of players dismiss stats in spring training, it is going to be important that Alonso pulls out of this slump within the next week or two so he is ready for Opening Day.

Alonso was stuck behind Joey Votto at first base when with the Cincinnati Reds, and probably never would have the chance to play. So when San Diego traded Mat Latos to Cincinnati, Alonso got his chance to play every day with the Padres.

This is an important season for San Diego as a whole as the team tries to improve over last season’s 76-86 record in an improved National League West. If Alonso can improve his numbers over the 2012 season and find a way to hit 15-20 home runs while hitting around .280, there is no reason why San Diego can’t find themselves near or above the 81-win mark for 2013. The continued development on Alonso though will be the key to that happening.

Andy Schmidt is a columnist/writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ASchmidtSports, like his Facebook page or add him to your network on Google.

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