Feb. 18--For most of his baseball career, Albert Almora dazzled evaluators with his aggressive-but-productive approach at the plate and his fearlessness in the outfield.
But toward the end of a second consecutive inconsistent season, Almora finally heeded Cubs executives who suggested that their 2012 first-round pick become more selective -- regardless of the count.
The results were extremely pleasing to Almora as well as the Cubs.
"I finally understand," said Almora, who batted .356 from Aug. 5 to the end of the season at Double-A Tennessee. "I love to swing. I love to get the ball in play. But now I'm starting to swing at pitches I can do damage. That's the biggest part for me right now, just to have that confidence knowing I'm going to get my pitch in an at-bat and not to get crazy with it. When I get it, do damage.
"If I get it and swing and miss or foul it off, I know that I'll have another opportunity. ... I can go deep in counts and do damage."
Almora's confidence swelled after he hit 13 doubles and struck out only 13 times in his final 33 games.
There is no rush to bring Almora to the majors this season, especially with the addition of Jason Heyward in center field and with the more experienced Matt Szczur and Javier Baez competing for backup duty.
Almora, however, feels invigorated after his late-season success, not to mention that of the Cubs.
Almora batted .429 (6-for-14) in the spring of 2014 and impressed manager Joe Maddon last March by batting .345 and playing exceptional defense.
Almora said he left South Florida last month to continue his preparation at the Cubs' spring training facility, and another impressive spring could land him at Triple-A Iowa to start the season.
"I feel I'm getting older, but I'm only 21," Almora said. "Just from learning from these guys, I feel I know what to do to prepare myself."
"To see the names (the Cubs added) in the offseason, where the goal is, to see the expressions on the faces as they get closer to (the World Series), it makes me work that much harder."
Almora won't temper his aggressiveness in the outfield, which resulted in two concussions last season, including an injury while crashing into an outfield wall that caused him to miss the final three games.
"I can't," Almora said in a firm tone. "Even in batting practice, I'm trying to rob guys of home runs. That's just the way I am. I feel I cheat the game if I don't play like that. Whatever's in store for me is already written. I can't change the way I play the game. I won't. I'll feel like I disrespect it.
"If I feel like my time is going to be cut short because of the way I play, so be it. I'm going out there with a positive mentality and try to help the team in every shape and form."
mgonzales@tribpub.com
