Here’s a look at Saturday’s top performers in the Arizona Fall League from each team’s Top 30 Prospects list.
Cardinals: Jordan Walker, OF (MLB No. 6), Salt River Rafters
One of the most exciting prospects in the Fall League circuit, the Cardinals’ top prospect crushed his first AFL home run to open up the scoring in Salt River’s 6-3 loss to Surprise. Facing Quinn Priester, the Pirates’ top pitching prospect (MLB No. 44), the 20-year-old took a first-pitch slider before jumping all over the next offering, cranking it 103 mph off the bat and sending it 423 feet over the left-field fence. The righty slugged 19 dingers in the regular season.
Cubs: Brennen Davis, OF (MLB No. 48), Mesa Solar Sox
Chicago’s second-ranked prospect smacked a homer for the second time in four games with a third-inning dinger in Mesa’s 12-11 win over Peoria. Davis, who only played in 53 regular season games due to injury, jumped all over the first pitch he saw in the third frame for a solo dinger to left field. So far, the 22-year-old is batting .294 with a 1.106 OPS, three extra-base hits and four RBIs through four Fall League games. More »
Rangers: Luisangel Acuña, SS (No. 7), Surprise Saguaros
With his team down by a run, Acuña came to the plate with the bases loaded in the eighth and ripped a two-run double to put Surprise ahead for good in its 6-3 win. The younger brother of Ronald, the 20-year-old jumped all over a first-pitch curveball and lined it to center for his second two-bagger of the Fall League. Acuña has collected six hits, four of them for extra-bases, and five RBIs in his first four AFL games. More »
Reds: Rece Hinds, OF (No. 18), Glendale Desert Dogs
Hinds only recorded one hit in Glendale’s 13-11 win, but it was a big one. The 22-year-old cranked a two-run homer as part of a five-run second frame for the Desert Dogs. Hinds fell behind in the count 1-2, but fouled off the next two offerings before connecting on the sixth pitch of the at-bat, sending it to right field. The 2019 second-rounder also drew a walk and scored another run in the contest.
Tigers: Joey Wentz, LHP (No. 24), Salt River Rafters
Wentz spun one of the best starts so far in the young AFL season, striking out three across four perfect frames. The southpaw was more than economical, tossing 28 of his 37 pitches for strikes and running just one three-ball count. The 25-year-old ended his season with the big league club and saw success in seven starts with Detroit, pitching to a 3.03 ERA in 32 2/3 innings with 27 strikeouts while holding opposing batters to a .195 average.
Twins: Austin Martin, SS (No. 12), Glendale Desert Dogs
There were questions about how Martin would fare in the AFL after an average 2022 campaign, and in a big win for Glendale, he showed off his bat-to-ball skills. The 23-year-old collected three hits, two RBIs and stole two bases in the Desert Dogs’ win. Martin smacked singles to every field and swiped his second and third bags of the circuit as part of his first multihit effort in four games, and he has amassed three walks and three RBIs in his starts.
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