By Marcus Tolero

Houston Astros Assistant Hitting Coach Alonzo Powell visited the City College of San Francisco Rams Baseball Team during last Thursday’s practice at Fairmont Field in Pacifica, California. Powell, a former CCSF Rams baseball player, talked to the team about all-things hitting.

Powell used the practice to teach the Rams pro-style level hitting instruction, including hitting approach, working counts, and reading the tendencies of pitchers and defenses.

Head Coach John Vanoncini said that Powell’s visit reinforces what they are coaching to their players.

“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. It solidifies the fact that they are doing the right thing,” Vanocini said

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. He spent four seasons with the San Diego Padres as an assistant hitting coach. He is now entering his first year with the Houston Astros as an assistant hitting coach.