by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

OAKLAND–On Sunday, January 24, 2016, the Oakland Athletics Fanfest at the O.co drew over 12,000 enthusiast. Many autograph seekers, specially of the new A’s players this 2016. and one of them is Cuban born first baseman, Yonder Alonso, born in 1987 in Havana, Cuba) has played in the majors since 2010, with the Red and Padres and now he is a member of the Oakland A’s.

Last year Alonso’s season with the San Diego Padres ended in August with a torn tendon in the top of his right forearm. He previously missed 30 games from late June to late July, with right wrist tendinitis. As he singed for over half and hour at The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame table, he told me his is 100X100 ready for this season: “Estoy bien, listo para jugar” trans “I am fine, ready to play”. Affable with fans young and old alike he took photos with many, specially kids and even whole families of Athletics fans during a cool but sunny day at Oakland. Alonso enjoyed the experience meeting new fans, many who greeted him in Spanish.

On December 2, 2015, the Padres traded Alonso and Marc Rzepczynski(try to spell that quickly) to the Oakland Athletics for pitchers Drew Pomeranz, Jose Torres and a player to be named later, or cash considerations. By the way, this trade has trade reunited Alonso with Danny Valencia, one of his teammates who played with him in the University of Miami. On January 13, 2016, the A’s and Alonso announced that they had agreed to a one-year contract worth $2.65 million to avoid arbitration.

A’s Pitchers and catchers will report to Mesa, Arizona, Spring Training home for the Oakland Athletics by mid February, and not much later Yonder Alonso will also join his new teammates. The A’s who finished 68-94 last season will have some new faces to mix with established stars (All Stars) like pitcher Sonny Gray and catcher Stephen Vogt and will begin their quest to regain respectability in the American League West.