Astros new assistant Alonzo Powell a U.S., Japan baseball veteran

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CLEARWATER, Fla. — Alonzo Powell is the only new face on the Astros coaching staff this year, replacing Alan Zinter, who took the lead hitting coach job for the Padres in the offseason.

Powell, coincidentally, was in the assistant job with the Padres before joining the Astros.

"That's baseball," Powell said. "It worked out that way and you know, I'm happy for Alan, he's got a great opportunity there in San Diego. ... It was kind of crazy that's how things happened."

Powell, 51, is in his fifth year as an assistant, but he's been around a lot longer. This is his 34th year either coaching or playing in the pros. He played 19 years, from 1983-2001, joining seven major league organizations in the U.S. — but Powell might be better known for the seven seasons he played in Japan. He made five all-star teams.

It's not the most obvious connection from afar, but Powell often ends up talking about Ichiro Suzuki when he's asked about his own career.

Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball has two leagues, just as MLB does. There's the Central League and the Pacific League.

Houston Astros assistant hitting coach Alonzo Powell pitches during batting practice for position players on the main field during spring training in Kissimmee, Florida, Monday, Feb. 22, 2016. Houston Astros assistant hitting coach Alonzo Powell pitches during batting practice for position players on the main field during spring training in Kissimmee, Florida, Monday, Feb. 22, 2016. Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 32 Caption Close Astros new assistant Alonzo Powell a U.S., Japan baseball veteran 1 / 32 Back to Gallery

Powell was playing in the Central League and Ichiro the Pacific League in the mid-1990s. Ichiro won the Pacific League's title from 1994-2000, while Powell had a streak of his own start the same year in the opposite league.

Powell won the Central League title from 1994-96.

"It's weird, because it always brings Ichiro into the picture," Powell said. "We both won in '94. And we kind of talked in spring training, 'Hey, let's do this again.' You know, we both won again in '95. And then we both won again in '96.

"Ichiro, every time I see him, he still reminds me he won seven in a row and I only won three in a row."

It's not a common circumstance, but if he wanted to, Powell could have a conversation in Japanese with another member of the Astros coaching staff: bench coach Trey Hillman, who managed in Japan.

In Powell's U.S. minor league playing career, he actually played for Hillman at one point. So when Hillman was headed over to Japan to manage, Powell picked up the phone.

"I found out before it was released," Powell said. "So I gave him a call and he was like, 'How'd you know?' I was like, 'Trey, I know everything that goes on in Japan.' We kind of laughed together. It was really nice to see Trey go over and have success."

Coming into his Astros job, Powell said he reviewed a lot of tape over the winter and that he prioritizes being on the same page as the lead hitting coach, Dave Hudgens.

"You have to have one consistent message throughout your hitters," Powell said. "Because the last thing you want to do is cause any type of confusion. ... Me and Dave had some conversations over the winter and you know, we've talked about different guys and what to look for. That transition part's been relatively easy."