By Marcus Tolero

San Diego Padres Assistant Hitting Coach Alonzo Powell visited the City College of San Francisco Rams Baseball Team during Monday’s practice at Fairmont Field in Pacifica, California.

Powell, a former CCSF Rams baseball player, talked to the team about the intricate science of hitting. Powell spent most of the practice teaching pro-style level instruction to the Rams, touching on topics like hitting approach, working counts on pitchers, using the entire field as a hitter, and trying to get an edge on a pitcher in any way from picking up a pitcher’s tendencies to reading how a defense is set up.

Head Coach John Vanoncini said that Powell’s visit gave his team even more encouragement to succeed on and off the diamond because Powell used to be in their spikes.

“Alonzo was just like one of these other guys when he was here. The hard work and determination, and a little bit of luck, got him to where he is,” Vanoncini said. “They can be in the same position that he is in. It lifted the spirits of the team to know that there is somebody out there who was just like them. It got us all pumped up. It’s right before the start of the season, and here comes this pro-hitting coach and he’s saying all the things we’re saying and it solidifies the fact that they are doing the right thing.”

Powell attended CCSF in 1982. In 1983, the San Francisco Giants signed him as a non-drafted free agent outfielder. From there, he spent time in the Montreal Expos, Minnesota Twins, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Colorado Rockies systems. He reached the majors with the Expos (1987) and the Mariners (1991). He then left the United States to continue his playing career in Japan in the Japanese League. He played with the Chunichi Dragons (1992-1997) and Hanshin Tigers (1998). He won three consecutive batting championships from 1994 to 1996.

After his playing career ended, Powell spent five seasons as a coach in the Cincinnati Reds’ Organization (2002-2006) and five years with the Seattle Mariners organization (2007-2011), where he coached eventual future Hall-of-Famers Ken Griffey Jr. and Ichiro Suzuki. Powell is now headed into his fourth season with the San Diego Padres as an assistant hitting coach.