Alfaro has really caught on behind the plate
READING - As soon as Jorge Alfaro signed with the Texas Rangers in 2010, his focus shifted to doing whatever he could to make it to the majors.
READING - As soon as Jorge Alfaro signed with the Texas Rangers in 2010, his focus shifted to doing whatever he could to make it to the majors.
But Alfaro grew up playing the outfield, third base, and shortstop. He didn't have any catching experience and the Rangers moved him behind the plate anyway.
He wasn't expecting it. But he wasn't surprised, either. Alfaro was ready to do whatever was asked of him.
"I will play anything," Alfaro said."But I really like catching [now]. Since I started, everybody told me I could be a good catcher. I love the position and just try to get better all the time."
Alfaro has thrown out 42 percent of baserunners trying to steal against him this season and is ranked by Baseball America as the Phillies' fourth-best prospect. Going into the weekend he also was batting .291 with 48 RBIs and 51 runs scored in 67 games at double-A Reading this season as he continues to work on his plate discipline. In the double-A all-star game on July 13, Alfaro went 3 for 3 with three singles.
Another example of a catcher's starting off as a position player is the Phillies' Carlos Ruiz, who began his career as a second baseman.
As a Colombia native, Alfaro, now 23, was able to sign with the Rangers at 16 years old. The Phillies acquired him in the Cole Hamels trade last summer, when he already had several years of catching experience under his belt.
"You got a guy that they saw had a big arm, the potential to be an athletic catcher," Fightin Phils manager Dusty Wathan said. "Texas saw something early and I think it was a good idea by them and he's taken to it."
Alfaro's arm strength - as evidenced by his throwing out 25 of 59 baserunners this season - is what "everybody wants to talk about first," Wathan said.
Alfaro's favorite part of playing catcher, though, is working with pitchers, another element he had to learn seven years ago. But he knows he still has a ways to go.
"I'm still learning. You never stop learning in this game," Alfaro said. "So far, I just try to do my best and learn all my pitchers and learn what they want to do and what they like to do."
At the plate, Alfaro has enough power to smack home runs even when he mishits the ball, Wathan said. However, as Alfaro moves up the ranks of minor-league baseball, he's starting to realize he can't hit every pitch. That means he has to be more disciplined and wait for the ones that give him the best chance to get on base.
Alfaro has struck out 67 times compared with 15 walks. But in the last 28 days, he struck out 21 times while picking up 11 walks.
"Just try to be patient," Alfaro said. "Try to be patient and just try to look for my pitch. Take my time. That's all."
Alfaro has worked with hitting coach Frank Cacciatore. Instead of preparing to swing as soon as the pitcher releases the ball, Alfaro has implemented better plans.
"It's a gradual process. The light's not going to go 'ding' one day," Wathan said.
But the foundation for Alfaro has mostly already been built.
As the Fightin Phils trailed, 8-0, in the fourth inning on Thursday night, Alfaro hit a comebacker directly to Hartford's pitcher. An easy toss over to first ended the inning. Still, Alfaro slammed his foot on the base, running full speed the whole way.
Wathan took note of the play.
"He's a guy that Philadelphia fans are going to love," Wathan said.