Cincinnati Reds prospect first baseman Yonder Alonso was solid in his Arizona Fall League debut, hitting .267 with 3 home runs and 23 RBIs in 23 games with the Peoria Saguaros. Peoria manager David Bell raved about Alonso to the Cincinnati Enquirer, highlighting his maturity and advanced hitting approach, two intangibles that point to a bright future for Alonso.

Of course, Alonso has plenty of tangible skills, too - enough to earn a No. 2 organizational prospect ranking by Baseball America. He hits for contact and for power and is patient at the plate with a good feel for the strike zone. He’s also making tremendous strides in other areas, according to Bell.

Bell told the Enquirer, among other things:
“He’s made improvements in all parts of the game. It’s been great for him to get the experience out here. He’s playing better defense, his baserunning is better. To me, those are the last pieces to getting ready. He’s getting closer and closer.”

The 22-year-old may be getting closer, but from a fantasy baseball perspective, he doesn’t figure to arrive until at least the 2011 season. Alonso is currently blocked by Joey Votto at first base, but figures to force the issue as soon he’s ready for the big stage.

One key to watch during the 2010 season is how Alonso’s power develops over the course of an entire season; in 314 career at-bats (90 games) in the minors, Alonso has 9 home runs.