West Aurora’s Oscar Alexander Jr. is never going to forget his first time stepping up to the plate in an MLB stadium. Especially since it was at Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox.
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The rising senior catcher went into that at-bat with a plan in mind.
“I just wanted to hit the ball hard, a single, a pop fly or something,” Alexander said with a smile. “I wanted to start the game off right and keep us going. And I ripped it.”
Alexander did exactly that Wednesday night, delivering an RBI double in the first inning to spark the East All-Stars to a 9-2 win over the West in the Double Duty Classic in Chicago.
Behind the plate, Alexander created a defensive masterpiece, throwing out two runners trying to steal and also catching another player in a rundown. It impressed East teammate Mikey Watson.
“He blocked everything and threw out three runners,” said Watson, an Illinois-Chicago recruit and senior-to-be shortstop for Homewood-Flossmoor. “He prevented a couple of other rallies.”
Watson and Marian Catholic’s Jazarris Mackmore, also a rising senior, shared the Minnie Minoso Award as the game’s co-MVPs. Watson, Alexander and Mackmore batted 1-2-3 in East’s order.
“He was new to everybody, but he stepped up and handled all the different pitchers out there,” Mackmore said of Alexander. “We started out with a triple and double and he was a huge part.”
Alexander smashed a hard line drive down the left field line in his first at-bat.
“It was a fastball up and in and I just had to go with it,” he said. “My hitting style is to work the middle and adjust. I’m trying to hit the ball to all sides of the field
“After that first double, I just realized I belonged here. They selected me to play. There was pressure, there were nerves, but I realized I had to come out and make some plays.”
Alexander jumped at the opportunity to be part of the game.
“It was a great experience,” he said. “It was my first time ever playing in a Major League stadium. At times I just had to remind myself what I was doing. This is part of everybody’s dreams.”
He also validated the decision to make him the No. 2 hitter in the lineup.
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“The coaches believed in me,” Alexander said. “Being behind the plate, throwing people out, I just got more comfortable throughout the game.”
Throwing out a runner at third base in the sixth inning prevented the West All-Stars’ comeback.
“Something like that just changes the game because there could have been more runs there,” Alexander said. “I’m always willing to make the next play and do whatever I have to do.”
Working with six different pitchers over seven innings, Alexander also showed his ability to handle every scenario. Chemistry is everything in the relationship between pitcher and catcher.
Alexander learned the game playing with the North Aurora Sparks. He was a natural who gravitated to the competition.
“My dad put me in my first game when I was probably 4 years old,” he said. “I was always good and I stuck at it. I started with the batting cages and I was good at it.
“I just found my love for the game and kept going with it.”
The youngest of three brothers, Alexander is full of pride and fury. And he loves to show off his competitive streak.
“I’ve always been very competitive — just born that way,” he said. “Pickleball, you name it, I do not like to lose. Getting the big hit or throwing a guy out in a close game?
“Those are the things that really matter to me.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.