Anthony Alford promoted to MLB by Blue Jays

Anthony Alford made it to "The Show" Friday.

The former Petal High multi sport star was called up to the big leagues by the Toronto Blue Jays. Alford made his Major League debut in Friday's game against the Baltimore Orioles, finishing 0-for-2 at the plate while coming up with a highlight reel catch in left field that robbed an Orioles hitter of a home run. 

The 22-year-old outfielder was hitting .325 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 33 games with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Toronto's AA affiliate. His batting average was good enough to be ranked ninth in the Eastern League at the time of his promotion. 

Alford played quarterback for one season at Southern Miss before transferring to Ole Miss where he played defensive back for one season.

"I feel awesome," Alford told the Hattiesburg American Friday before boarding a plane bound for Baltimore. 

More:Former Petal star recently Schwarber's teammate

Alford was twice named Mississippi's Gatorade Player of the Year in football and was named the Hattiesburg American's All-Area Baseball Player of the Year and Mr. Baseball (by The Clarion-Ledger) as a senior in 2012.

Rated one of the top 100 prospects in Major League Baseball prior to the 2017 season by three major publications, Alford was taken by the Blue Jays in the third round of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft. 

A career .273 hitter with 19 home runs and 98 RBIs in 969 professional at-bats, Alford has 65 career stolen bases.