Yonder Alonso, a Cuban-born first baseman, began his Major League Baseball career after being selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the first round of the 2008 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut with the Reds in 2010, showcasing his potential as a power hitter. Alonso's time with the Reds was relatively short, as he was traded to the San Diego Padres in December 2011 as part of a multi-player deal.
With the Padres, Alonso found more regular playing time and began to establish himself as a reliable presence at first base. In 2012, his first full season with San Diego, he played in 155 games and hit .273 with 9 home runs and 62 RBIs. His performance earned him a spot on the All-Rookie Team, highlighting his ability to adapt to the major league level.
Alonso's tenure with the Padres lasted until 2015, during which he continued to be a consistent player, though injuries occasionally hampered his performance. In December 2015, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics, where he spent the next two seasons. It was with the Athletics that Alonso experienced a breakout year in 2017. That season, he hit a career-high 28 home runs and was selected to his first All-Star Game, a testament to his improved power-hitting capabilities.
Midway through the 2017 season, Alonso was traded to the Seattle Mariners, where he finished the year. His stint with the Mariners was brief, and he signed with the Cleveland Indians as a free agent in December 2017. In Cleveland, Alonso continued to be a solid contributor, hitting 23 home runs in 2018.
The following year, Alonso was traded to the Chicago White Sox. However, his performance dipped, and he was released by the White Sox in July 2019. Shortly after, he signed with the Colorado Rockies, where he finished the season. Despite his efforts, Alonso's time with the Rockies marked the end of his MLB playing career.
Throughout his career, Yonder Alonso was known for his ability to get on base and his occasional power at the plate.
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