IMG’s Alfredo Escalera answered some questions recently for MLB Draft Guide. Escalera grew up in Puerto Rico and began attending IMG when he was 13. While he has not received as much publicity as some other 2012 players, Escalera has a legitimate chance to emerge in the months leading up to the draft.
Matt Grabusky: How old were you when you started playing baseball?
Alfredo Escalera: I was 4 years old when I played on an organized team in Puerto Rico
MG: When did you realize that you could have a future in the sport?
AE: The best way to illustrate how passionate I am about this game goes back to my early childhood. When I was 2 years old, since my Dad is a golf aficionado, one of his friends gave me a plastic golf club so I could start practicing with them. Well, the reality is that instinctively I started swinging the golf club as a baseball bat. The rest is history; I’ve been playing ever since. So, I don’t know exactly when I realized that baseball was going to be so important in my life, but it seems to me that I have been dreaming about playing baseball all my life.
MG: What do you consider your strengths as a player?
AE: My best strength is my mental balance. I am a very young player (16 years old) who is consistently successful competing with my older 17 to 19 year old peers. On top of that, I can say that I am a four-tool baseball player. Specifically, I have above average bat speed with a smooth polished approach that allows me to handle fastballs and turn around top velocity pitchers. This, together with great barrel accuracy and my balanced stance allowed me to achieve a .506 and a .420 batting average in the 2011 spring and summer baseball seasons, respectively. As an addition to my batting ability I believe that speed was a tool I was born with. I am a consistent 6.5 runner in the 60-yard dash. I use my speed in both the offensive and defensive fields, allowing me to play in both the infield and the outfield. In the infield I have soft hands, quick feet, balance and an above average range. In the outfield I can really cover a lot of ground.
Finally, I have solid arm strength with an infield throw measured at 87 MPH during a recent Baseball Factory event.
MG: What aspects of your game do you feel need the most work?
AE: I need to work in getting stronger in order to enhance my power at the plate. Due to my young age I definitely believe that I have a lot of opportunities to get stronger.
MG: You have the ability to play all over the field. At what position do you see yourself in the future?
AE: I can easily play both in the infield or the outfield. I would like to play third base. But, the reality is that coaches are repeatedly using my speed and fielding ability in center field. The reality is that I can cover a lot of ground when I am at center field. My teammates also feel comfortable when I am at center field since they can actually engage in more difficult (risky) defensive plays, knowing that I will be covering their back.
Bottom line, I see myself playing at the position that could contribute the most to my team. I have no demands or limitations…just a simple desire to play.
MG: Is there a Major League player who you would compare your game with?
AE: I have been compared to Placido Polanco due to my skill to move laterally and arm strength at third base. But I think that I can compare myself to a variety of players in different ways depending if I am on or off the field. On the field, in the offensive aspect, my stance looks a lot like Carlos Beltran, but while running bases I compare myself with Jose Reyes since I like to turn singles into doubles and I love to steal bases. On the defensive side, I run towards the ball as aggressively as Curtis Granderson.
Off the field, I am working really hard so one day I can compare myself with Roberto Clemente. His dedication to his fans and to the needy people was remarkable. Clemente was always involved in charity work and trying to get small children to discover through baseball the values of personal sacrifice, respect and hard work, which are important for everyday life.
MG: Who has had the most influence on your baseball career?
AE: The most influential people in my development are my parents and my sister. Four years ago I asked my parents to allow me to spend a summer at the IMG Academy Summer Camp. Not only did they come along with me, but also they allowed me to attend high school there. By doing that I was able to spend my high school in a place where I would receive both a great education as well as an intensive baseball development.
MG: What has been your highlight in baseball to this point?
AE: Last summer, I was playing in a tournament in Miami. In my second chance at bat I was hit by a fastball on my left arm and despite the fact that I was able to run the bases and finally score a run, I was removed from the game in order to get some rest and to get some ice packs on the trauma. Since we were playing in a single elimination tournament, the fact that we were losing by 3 runs in the last inning was almost securing our depart from the competition. My teammates were relentless, and with two outs they were able to load the bases. Coach Fernandez asked me to go back in. He really needed a hit to keep things going. I didn’t feel my best, but my team and my coach needed me. After working the pitcher until achieving a full count, I blasted a walk-off grand slam.
MG: Who are the best players that you have been on the field with?
AE: The best two players that I have played are Brian De la Rosa (C) and JR Murphy (C).
MG: If baseball ended tomorrow, you would?
AE: If my opportunities to play baseball ended tomorrow, I would participate in baseball in another aspect.
MG: What is something that fans would be surprised to learn about Alfredo Escalera?
AE: One thing that usually gets overlooked is my desire to help others. Over the last 4 years I have spent one entire summer assisting academically underperforming elementary school kids, cleaning beaches back in my native Puerto Rico, helping in the training of my community’s Special Olympic soccer team and feeding the homeless on Thanksgiving day among other activities. I truly believe that I was given an athletic talent so one day I could use that ability to help others.
I would like to thank Alfredo for taking the time to answer these questions for MLBDG and our readers.
