September 20, 2019

By Andy Clark

Canadian Baseball Network

TORONTO -- Alejandro Cazorla Granados has spent this week’s Blue Jays’ Tournament 12 controlling what he can, and taking advantage of opportunities.

It’s working out just fine. ,

The outfielder and third baseman for Team Orange has put in a strong presentation in front of pro and college scouts, hitting .360 with an outstanding 1.045 OPS (On Base Plus Slugging). He was back at it on Friday, in a 5-4 victory over Team Red.

The Venezuelan native, who attend the Okotoks Academy, in Alberta, was humble postgame, focusing on his consistency at the plate.

“I just kept the same approach all tournament long,” said Cazorla Granados, on his plate appearances. “Me and my dad talk about it all the time.

“You can only control what you can, your attitude and effort. If you hit balls hard you can't control where you put the ball on the field so you just gotta hit the ball hard and the rest is up to God.”

Committed to Oregon State University for 2020, Cazorla Granados was a standout at the plate on Friday in Team Orange's 5-4 win over Team Red.

Currently playing prep baseball for the Okotoks Dawgs, he credits his plate success against some of Canada's best pitchers to the prep program.

“The velocity here is impressive, but out at Okotoks at our academy the coaching staff does a really good job at training us,” he said. “It's not the first time we've seen 90 or high 80 arms.”

His highlight play from Friday’s game was a seventh inning triple coming off LHP Giordano Mezzomo, of Coquitlam, B.C., Cazorla Granados knew what his approach was going to be before he even stepped to the plate.

“Before the at bat, I got to see [Mezzomo] the inning before, he was gassing up to 88, but I realized the little things after every pitch," said Cazorla Granados. “He was looking up to the radar gun, so obviously he’s not trying to locate he’s just trying to gas up,”

Power is an important part of the young players’ game, but he also saw the ball well on the seventh inning at bat and was able to get it over the centre fielder’s head.

“He was a lefty, so he was going to sit away, so I set my sights middle away trying to keep a nice swing on the ball and I managed to do so” said Cazorla Granados, on the triple.

With the infielder/outfielder’s impressive showing so far, coach Andy Stewart believes he will be included in the final day All-Star event.

“I'm going to have to assume he’s going on the All-Star team of some kind, but he’s also a great kid so a guy like that to have on your team makes coaching a lot easier.” said Stewart on Cazorla's tournament so far.

Cazorla Granados was more humble on his chances of making it to the Saturday game, but if his name is called, he's ready to step up.

“Hopefully I get to play. God knows it's up to the Blue Jays or scouts or whoever it's up to. I think I’ve shown i can play at a high level i feel like i can play on that squad tomorrow,” he said.

“To be honest if I am on that roster, I’m going to keep the same approach, hit balls hard, play my game with heart and passion and play hard.”