Saints Manager George Tsamis realized something last year about CHS Field: there is a lot of room in the outfield and having speedy athletes patrolling the area from foul pole to foul pole was necessary. Already with two of the quicker outfielders in the league in Alonzo Harris and Willie Argo, the Saints signed another speedy outfielder, Breland Almadova.
The 25-year-old Almadova from Honolulu, Hawaii, has spent his entire four year professional career with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Last season at High-A Visalia he hit .273 with four home runs and 43 RBI in 105 games. In 381 at bats he roped 21 doubles, three triples, stole 25 bases and had a .348 on base percentage and .375 slugging percentage. He finished fifth in the California League in stolen bases and managed to reach base safely in 23 straight games from May 6-June 2. He also had a season high 12 game hitting streak from May 17-30.
Almadova was a 37th round draft pick by the Diamondbacks in 2012 out of the University of Hawaii. In his first season of professional baseball he hit a career high .306 at the Rookie Level for Missoula. His team would go on to win the Pioneer League Championship where he was a major piece to the title. He finished tied for second in the playoffs in RBI (7), third in stolen bases (2) and 10th in batting average (.318).
In 2013 Almadova spent the entire season with South Bend in the Midwest League where he finished first in the league in chances (288) and putouts (272) by a centerfielder. South Bend made the championship series of the Midwest League.
His defense was rewarded in 2014 when, after playing just a half season in the Midwest League before being called up to the California League, Almadova was awarded with an MiLB Gold Glove award for outfielders in the Midwest League. He committed just one error in 247 chances. That season between South Bend and Visalia he set a career high with 35 stolen bases in 132 games. His 24 doubles and 57 RBI were also career highs and he tied his 2013 mark with seven home runs. Almadova reached base safely in 24 straight games in South Bend from May 29-June 6. Upon his promotion to the California League Almadova hit safely in 15 straight, a career high, from August 3-21. Visalia would reach the championship series of the California League.
Almadova was a two sport star at Iolani High School in Honolulu where he excelled at football and baseball. In his senior season Almadova was named the Hawaii Gatorade Player of the Year and Louisville Slugger Player of the Year in baseball. In 2008, as a junior, he was named to the ILH first team and All-State Second team in football. His football team were back-to-back state champs in 2007 and 2008.
The Saints have signed 13 players this off-season, eight position players and five pitchers.
The 2016 season begins on Thursday, May 19 at CHS Field with a 7:05 p.m. game against the Gary SouthShore Railcats.
[Saint Paul Saints press release, Sean Aronson]
