Bregman collects 3 hits in showcase
SAN DIEGO — Much of how Alex Bregman spent his Sunday afternoon was a harbinger of things to come.
Bregman dressed in a major league clubhouse. He read his name in the second spot of a major league lineup card. A few hours before first pitch, he grabbed his black Marucci and took batting practice on a major league field.
For Bregman, the Astros’ top prospect and a potential franchise cornerstone, this should soon become the norm.
“I feel close. I feel really close,” he said even before starring in the annual All-Star
Futures Game and finishing a home run shy of the cycle in the U.S. Team’s 11-3 loss to the World Team at Petco Park. “I feel like I’m (close to) accomplishing one of my goals, and that was to get to the big leagues this year.
“That’s not the only goal this year, though. The goal is to get to the big leagues and win this year and try and be on a team that wins a World Series.”
Asked if he felt major league ready, the confident 22-year-old didn’t hesitate with his answer.
“Yeah, I do,” he said. “I feel ready to go. I feel like I can help up there and help win games. … Whether that day is tomorrow or a few weeks from now or whenever it is, I’m ready and I’m excited.”
Stands out from crowd
A July promotion from Class AAA is not out of the question, though August seems more likely.
With Carlos Correa blocking him at shortstop, Bregman’s entry point to the majors is expected to come at third base. The team’s current third baseman, the hot-hitting Luis Valbuena, could shift across the diamond to first base, and the recently summoned A.J. Reed could see more of his playing time in the designated hitter’s role.
Sunday’s performance merely furthered Bregman’s strong case for the surging Astros to expedite his path to the majors. On a field filled with baseball’s best prospects, last year’s No. 2 overall draft pick stood out from the outset of the talent-laden exhibition.
Facing a fellow elite prospect in fireballing righthander Alex Reyes (Cardinals) in the first inning, Bregman laced an 0-2 fastball to right field, resulting in a triple when the ball was misplayed by right fielder Tyler O’Neill (Mariners).
Two innings later, Bregman ripped a full-count fastball from lefthander Angel Perdomo (Blue Jays) into the left-center field gap for a double. In the fourth, he added a single against righthander Francisco Rios (Blue Jays) on a line drive that bounced off the glove of leaping shortstop Willy Adames (Rays).
Bregman admitted he was trying for the cycle in his final two plate appearances. He popped out to the foul side of first base in the seventh against Reynaldo Lopez (Nationals) and two innings later struck out to end the game against Adalberto Mejia (Giants), a pitcher he homered off in a Pacific Coast League game six days earlier.
“I would’ve gotten a hard time if I didn’t swing for it,” Bregman said. “It
was all in good fun. But I wish I could’ve done it.”
Any position OK by him
Bregman started the game at third base — Dansby Swanson (Braves), the only player drafted ahead of him 13 months ago, manned shortstop — and moved to his natural position for the top of the sixth inning.
Although Bregman has yet to play third base in his first eight games in AAA, his ability to handle the position is not much at issue. He played 11 games there in Class AA and has taken grounders at the hot corner every day since his debut at the position May 13.
Bregman said he feels just as comfortable at third base as he does shortstop, noting with a smile that at third base “you have less time to mess it up.”
“I like third base,” he said. “I like shortstop. I like second base. I like wherever. I like left field. It doesn’t matter to me. I just want to play.”