Amarista is the little man that can

By now, you all know he's small. By now, you also know Alexi Amarista can play baseball.

The 5-foot-something, 19-year-old Venezuelan has been the Cedar Rapids Kernels' best player the first month of the Midwest League season. It hasn't been close.

He's been their most consistent offensive and defensive player, not to mention best baserunner. Among the regulars who have been here since opening day, Amarista has the best batting average, most runs scored, most hits, doubles, triples, walks and stolen bases.

He has done it all.

"I was just telling Rob Picciolo, our infield (roving instructor) just how special he has been. Just unbelievable," said Kernels Manager Bill Mosiello. "He plays all facets of the game. He's been a great defender, a great basestealer, a great offensive player. He gets his walks, doesn't strike out much. He has command of the strike zone, yet he's aggressive within it.

"We're watching a special little player. It's pretty neat. And he's only a 19-year-old."

Amarista looks every bit a teenager. He has a youthful face and is quick with a smile. Then there's his physical stature.

The parent Los Angeles Angels list him at 5-foot-8 and 150 pounds, but those numbers seem generous. Amarista claims he's 5-5, though the tape measure might actually prove him to be even shorter.

The dude is tiny. His game is not.

"I'm feeling confident, feeling good," said Amarista, through teammate Roberto Lopez. One thing Amarista doesn't do well, yet, is speak English.

"Thank God I've been able to stay consistent. I'm glad I've been able to do that," he said. "I've been able to drive the ball into the gaps, use the whole field."

And he's been able to get used to a new defensive position. Amarista played primarily center field last season when he was named to the postseason Arizona Rookie League team and was added late to the Kernels' playoff roster primarily as a pinch runner.

He literally shrugged his shoulders when asked, through Lopez, how tough it was been moving from the outfield to the infield.

"I've always been an all-around guy," he said. "I've always played outfield. Last year, I played a little shortstop and second base. I'm used to it. I wasn't really surprised they asked me to move positions. I've always loved playing second base, too."

Being an infielder should be a boon to his pro career, considering you don't see many 5-3, 5-5 or whatever it is outfielders in the majors. Then again, the Angels never seem to care how tall you are.

"He's been our best defensive player, by far,"  Mosiello said. "He can turn the double-play really well. He's in the right organization, too, because we're not afraid to play little infielders. I've told him that.

"If you bunt, do the little things, get your walks, hit with two strikes, play defense, you can play in the big leagues (with the Angels). Other organizations don't have those kind of guys. But you look at (Maicer) Izturis and (Erick) Aybar and Chone Figgins. Those kind of players play for the Angels, no doubt about it."