Outfielder Anthony Alford makes a powerful first impression on Pirates at the plate

After enduring the longest week of his life, Anthony Alford was trying to make a strong first impression when the Pittsburgh Pirates gave him the opportunity he was looking for in the outfield.

Alford’s first start did just that, as he crushed a Ryan Tepera 1-1 cutter deep to center field for his first home run with the Pirates in the 8-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night at PNC Park.

“That was an easy one against a former teammate,” Alford said of Tepera, who spent the past five seasons in Toronto. “But I was really just trying to not do too much and just put together a good at-bat. But it felt really good.”

That’s the same view Pirates manager Derek Shelton had of Alford’s 428-foot blast.

”It’s good to see him get his feet wet,” Shelton said. “To get two good swings off today is a step in the right direction. We just need to continue to work with him and watch.”

The Pirates claimed Alford off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays, where Shelton, general manager Ben Cherington and assistant GM Steve Sanders had watched his development while working there. They saw raw power in the 6-foot-1, 210-pound Alford, who played quarterback at Southern Miss and safety at Ole Miss before giving baseball his undivided attention.

“I think he does have untapped potential,” Shelton said. “I’m excited for him to start working with our offensive group. We’re not gonna put any pressure on him. He’s gonna get the opportunity to play and get some at-bats. We’ll formulate a plan and kind of work from there.”

That is all Alford is asking for, a chance to play on a regular basis. He debuted in the majors at age 22 with the Blue Jays but appeared in only 46 games over four seasons. He was stuck behind Teoscar Hernandez, Randal Grichuk and Lourdes Gurriel in Toronto, so he was thrilled to be claimed by a team that has a need for an outfielder.

“Honestly, I was hoping that it was a team like … where I would get some opportunities, instead of going to another team where I would be in a similar situation where their outfield is kind of set. I’m glad I ended up here,” said Alford, who went 2 for 4 against the Cubs.

“It’s just kind of tough to evaluate somebody in that small of a sample size of at- bats. But I definitely feel like there’s way more opportunity here for me, to get more at-bats, more reps in the field and show what I can do at this level. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Although Alford can play all three outfield positions, his preference is to play center field. That’s where he played in his Pirates debut Tuesday, when he pinch ran for Jose Osuna in the eighth inning and remained in the game.

Alford got an RBI in his first at-bat with the Pirates, when Ke’Bryan Hayes scored on his one-hopper to the pitcher.

Alford started in center for the first time against the Cubs on Thursday.

But Alford started in left field on Wednesday — Cole Tucker played center — and found the cavernous territory at PNC Park to be intimidating.

“I look around, and I’m like, ‘Jesus Christ, this is a lot of grass out here,’” Alford said. “It’s a lot of ground to cover from center and left field. It’s deep out there in left-center, too. You get beat, those can be triples. The thing I have to get used to is the ball flight. You go to some parks, it can get big out there. It can fly pretty good. But here, I feel like the ball doesn’t carry too well in this park. You really have to get it to get it out of the park. Which, for me, I like that because I can really play shallow and go back on balls.”

Alford was charged with one of three Pirates errors when he threw to the wrong base on a Willson Contreras single in the seventh, trying to get Nico Hoerner at third instead of preventing Contreras from taking second. The next batter, Anthony Rizzo, hit a two-run single to right-center to score both runners.

“That was definitely the wrong decision on my part,” Alford said, adding Pirates outfielders coach Tarrik Brock reminded him to make sure to keep the double play in order. “That’s just a mental breakdown on my part.

“Those are mistakes that can’t happen. It ended up costing (Derek) Holland a run. I was more upset about that than anything else because any time if I’m the reason that our pitcher gives up an extra run, I don’t like that. I’m out there to really have his back and pick him up.

“I did make the wrong decision, and I realized that as soon as the ball left my hand. You just have to learn from it and grow.”

But it was a play Alford made coming forward that drew the most scrutiny. He appeared to make a diving catch on a Contreras hit to shallow left to end the eighth inning. The Cubs challenged the call and video replays clearly showed the ball bouncing before Alford caught it.

Did Alford think he caught the ball?

“Umm, I thought so,” Alford said. “When I looked at the replay, I obviously didn’t. When I extended for it, I kind of turned my head. I kind of felt it go in my glove. I didn’t realize it hit the ground. After reviewing the play, it showed that it did. They made the right call.”

Alford wants to prove to the Pirates that they made the right call in claiming him by fulfilling his potential.

“I know I can be a great player at this level,” Alford said. “It’s just a matter of getting here and playing on a regular basis and showing it, just believing in myself. I believe I can be great at this level, do the same thing here that I’ve done anywhere else. It’s just a matter of having an opportunity to show it.”