PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Blaze Alexander is proving to be a more reliable player in the major leagues than last season, and his recent play has exhibited signs of a someone worth keeping an eye on down the stretch.
This year started off frustratingly for Alexander, who suffered an oblique strain in spring training that eliminated his chances to break camp with the team. He had started on Opening Day as a rookie in 2024, but the 26-year-old worried about falling behind while recovering from a nagging ailment. For a while, he was largely out of sight, out of mind.
Fast forward, and Alexander is now the everyday third baseman for the Diamondbacks after they traded Eugenio Suarez, a great responsibility and opportunity for him to show his development.
On Friday, Alexander played his best game of the year, driving in four runs on a double to left and a home run to right while playing clean defense at the hot corner. He started a game-ending, 5-4-3 double play to wrap up a 6-1 win over Colorado.
“Obviously, I’m happy to be getting everyday reps out there, the game’s easier that way,” Alexander told Arizona Sports. “When you’re in that flow, you’re playing every day, you are not really worried about anything. You’re just showing up to the field and doing your everyday routine.”
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo has used school as a metaphor for development as a major leaguer, saying every young player wants a Ph.D. but has to start from the bottom.
Alexander was a kindergartener last season, an excited rookie who started hot at the plate while making mistakes on defense.
When his offense tapered off after the league made its adjustments, he was sent back down to Triple-A Reno in early July and remained there through most of the year.
The adjustments Alexander has shown is evident.
“He’s tooled up,” Lovullo said. “You can tell he’s got a ton of tools and a ton of athleticism that’s gonna play out, but if you don’t put that into the bag and mix it up and pull it out piece by piece, you’re gonna make a lot of mistakes. He’s limiting the mistakes, slowing the game down.
“I’m really impressed with a couple things outside of the offensive approach. … It’s him stabilizing things at third base, a huge amount of range. His posture is great. His hands are out front, making really good hands plays. Hitting deep into counts, not being afraid to hit deep into counts. That’s the one thing that stands out more than anything else.”
Alexander still strikes out quite a bit (30%), but he is chasing fewer pitches outside the strike zone and putting together more quality at-bats from the bottom of the lineup. He knows his job is to set the table for thumpers like Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll atop the batting order, so getting on base it the primary focus.
This has been a hot start to August for Alexander, who through 30 plate appearances has hit .320 with a 1.0723 OPS. Only Alek Thomas has had a better OPS on the team since the July 31 trade deadline. On the heels of the trade deadline, Alexander went on a five-game hitting streak.
“I think I’ve really settled down,” Alexander said. “Last year, I was excited, excited to be out here, first taste of the big leagues, traveling around, seeing different players. But now, it’s my job, I kind of got outta that excitement stage and I want to be out there and I wanna perform and help the team win wherever I’m playing at any cost.”
On defense, Alexander has played a more confident third base than he looked at shortstop last year.
There was an opportunity for him to man shortstop when Geraldo Perdomo injured his knee in April 2024, but a lack of consistency picking up the baseball gave way for veteran Kevin Newman to grab that spot.
Alexander is not giving the same reasons to keep him out of the lineup this time.
“I think last year a lot of us saw him locked up, not playing free, kind of tense and I just really just wanted to talk to him about playing more one-handed, playing more free, more athletic and more fearless,” infield coach Shaun Larkin told Arizona Sports.
“Now moving over to third base, third base is a different position than short. It’s more of a one-handed play. It’s more of your footwork and angles. He’s gravitated towards it. He works hard every day. He’s playing more free and he’s a supreme athlete. I think that’s all we’re trying to do is bring out the athlete in him every single day, and obviously play tight within that freedom.”
Mistakes happen, but finding a rhythm that comes from everyday playing time has comforted Alexander. He also credits Suarez with showing him footwork, angles and the ins and outs of third base. Alexander said Suarez was his brother’s favorite player, so there was an added admiration.
“ I really looked up to that guy,” Alexander said.
When Alexander first returned to Triple-A Reno off the IL this spring, there were issues defensively. He made some “bad” errors on routine plays, he said, and doubt crept in. It had been a really bothersome start to the year, but it was his job to get over it and not press.
Working with bench coach Shawn Roof, his previous manager in Double-A Amarillo, helped put him on the right track, and he’s continued to get reps in daily with Larkin to sharpen his skills at third base. Fielding hot shots from a closer distance to work on reflexes is among those drills.
Where do the Diamondbacks end up with Blaze Alexander?
Where Alexander fits into the future plans of the Diamondbacks is a worthwhile question.
Perdomo signed an extension this year, as did second baseman Ketel Marte. Top prospect Jordan Lawlar is expected to get some run at third base sometime this season, as well.
Alexander has familiarity with multiple positions, even taking some reps in center field for Reno this year. He grew up playing middle infield. There is a lot of value in a super utility role, but that involves building trust that he can handle himself at shortstop again.
“I think Blaze, when it’s all said and done, will be able to pick up the baseball very comfortably at shortstop,” Lovullo said. “But for right now, we’re gonna give him reps at third base and make sure he locks that down.”
How good can Alexander become? Can he prove himself to be reliable as a major leaguer for an extended period?
He bears watching for the rest of the season as someone with questions to answer and the runway to prove himself.
