“Process Over Results” Key to Alexander’s Development Heading into 2024

RENO, Nev. – On September 20th, 2022, 23-year-old Blaze Alexander made his thunderous Aces entrance 438 miles from the Biggest Little City at Las Vegas Ballpark.

The uber-athletic IMG Academy product went 2-for-3 with two walks in a blowout Reno victory. It was the start of a titanic 6-for-19, two-homer Triple-A debut series that confirmed his ability to make astonishing plays with his arm and launch blasts at the plate.

In a 19-game September stretch between Amarillo and Reno, he hit .349 with five doubles, a triple, five homers, and 13 walks. Once an 11th-round pick, Blaze was one of the most extensive breakouts in the Diamondbacks system, adding nearly 100 points of batting average and 300 points of OPS after a down 2022 season for Hillsboro.

In addition to his tools on the diamond, he plays the game with magnetic buzz and energy. When asked to describe himself as a player, he said, "Electric."

A pair of freak injuries temporarily delayed Blaze's meteoric rise in 2023, limiting him to just 73 games for Reno. He capitalized on 305 plate appearances with 23 extra-base hits, 42 walks, and an on-base percentage over .400 for the first time since 2018. He entered Scottsdale this spring with a process-over-results mindset.

"Everyone wants to try to break camp and make the team, Alexander said, "but my focus is (to) have really good ABs (at-bats), play lockdown defense, and just have fun really."

A fantastic start to Cactus League play revealed the soundness of that process. After 10 games, he's 8-for-21 with a double, two triples, two steals in two tries, and at least one highlight-level catch at shortstop.

Now 24, he hopes the tips he received last year from accomplished veterans like Phillip Evans and Kyle Lewis will help him improve his game.

"I took a lot of information from the older guys about how they go about their business," he said, "getting your work in to make the game easier."

The galvanic infielder is prepared to play wherever and do whatever it takes in 2024 to help the organization win.

The Reno Aces will kick off the 2024 season with a three-game trip to Las Vegas beginning on Friday, March 29th. They will play their home opener on Tuesday, April 2nd, when the Sacramento River Cats, the San Francisco Giants Triple-A affiliate, visit Greater Nevada Field at 2:05 p.m. PDT.

Single-game tickets for the 2024 season are available at RenoAces.com, texting "TIXX" to 21003 or calling (775) 334-7000.

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