Alfonsin Rosario Makes Full-Season Debut in Myrtle Beach

Tuesday, May 28 by Sam Weiderhaft

At 16 years old, Alfonsin Rosario moved away from his native Dominican Republic to play baseball in the United States. From there, he developed into one of the top high school prospects in the country. Now, he’s showcasing that at the professional level.

“It was pretty hard, especially because of the language,” Rosario said.

He made his move from San Cristobal, Dominican Republic to a private school in Boston. That’s where he learned most of the English language and began to get comfortable. From there, he would move to P27 Academy in Lexington, South Carolina to further his baseball career.

The Cubs took notice of Rosario’s abilities, as he came to a showcase at Pelicans Ballpark last summer in front of scouts. After seeing the young outfielder’s talent, Rosario was taken in the sixth round by the Cubs in the 2023 MLB Draft.

“When I heard my name, I was so happy,” Rosario said. “Everybody was giving me a hug; it was pretty fun.”

Rosario, now fluent in English, made his organization debut in the Arizona Complex League last year. He played nine games and collected seven hits while also stealing four bases.

He got the promotion to the Pelicans in late April and hit the ground running. In the 19-year-old’s first six games in Single-A, he hit two home runs and two doubles while driving in five runs.

“It’s challenging, that’s what I like about ball,” Rosario said about playing at the full-season level. “It makes me have a different approach all the time.”

Rosario has continued his strong power numbers, with four home runs and six doubles entering the series with the Charleston RiverDogs. The Pelicans’ outfielder has also collected 16 RBI, the fourth-most on the team despite getting a late start.

“I try to hit line drives,” Rosario said about his approach. “My swing is naturally coming up, so as long as I try and stay on top of the ball, I’ll get good results.”

Rosario has become an everyday player, with eight starts in centerfield and 12 at right along with six games as the designated hitter.

“It’s different when you get to an affiliate, everything is different,” Rosario said. “For everything you do, you need an approach. I’m just trying to learn my game and be the best player I can be this year.”