Arizona Fall League Hot Sheet (Oct. 21)
This edition of the Arizona Fall League Hot Sheet takes into account what AFL players did from Oct. 14-20.
Contributing: J.J. Cooper, Vince Lara-Cinisomo and Josh Norris.
1. Gleyber Torres, ss, Yankees
Team: Scottsdale
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: .462/.588/.846 (6-for-13), 3 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 4 BB, 2 SO, 2-for-4 CS
The Scoop: The Yankees’ prize for sending Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs continues to shine in the AFL. Torres is a powerful hitter who’s shown the ability to hit for both average and power as well as the ability to stick at shortstop. He hit his first AFL home run to the opposite field and his second to the pull-side alley. He is ready for his first taste of the upper levels next season at Double-A Trenton. (JN)
2. Tyler O’Neill, of, Mariners
Team: Mesa
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .313/.389/.750 (5-for-16), 4 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 2 BB, 5 SO, 1-for-1 SB
The Scoop: One of the AFL’s premier power brokers continued showing off this week. O’Neill crushed a 400-foot home run off a tee in the preseason Bowman hitting challenge, and he has proceeded to swat three more in six games. He swatted 24 homers at Double-A Jackson this season and has emerged as one of the brightest prospects in an improving Mariners system. (JN)
3. Michael Kopech, rhp, Red Sox
Team: Surprise
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 5 SO, 0 BB
The Scoop: The best arm in a loaded Red Sox system, Kopech is building up innings after missing time this year with injuries to his hand—sustained in an altercation with a teammate—and oblique. In his first outing, he was vintage Kopech. He touched 100 mph with his fastball and then whiffed five in three scoreless innings on Saturday. (JN)
4. Bradley Zimmer, of, Indians
Team: Mesa
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: .286/.615/.571 (2-for-7), 3 R, 2 2B, 2 RBIs, 5 BB, 3 SO, 2-for-2 SB
The Scoop: Zimmer had his fair share of strikeouts this year, but he also showed the same tool-rich ability he has since his first-round selection in 2014. He walked five times in the three games this week, but when he did swing, he carded a pair of extra-base hits and swiped two bags as well. Zimmer and Mesa teammate Greg Allen give the Indians enviable prospect depth in the outfield even with Clint Frazier traded to the Yankees. (JN)
5. Frankie Montas, rhp, Athletics
Team: Mesa
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 6 SO, 0 BB
The Scoop: Part of the package the Dodgers sent to the Athleics to acquire Josh Reddick and Rich Hill for the playoff run, Montas missed most of this season with rib surgery early and a broken rib in June, but he has looked no worse for wear in the AFL. He hit 99 mph with his fastball, and has let up just four hits and walked nobody in first six innings. Scouts are split on whether he’ll be a starter or a reliever, but Oakland will groom him as a starter. (JN)
6. Chris Stratton, rhp, Giants
Team: Scottsdale
Age: 26
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 1.00, 2 GS, 9 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 SO
The Scoop: Stratton is the rare AFL pitcher who racked up a lot of innings during the season. The 2012 first-rounder threw 135 between Triple-A Sacramento and a 10-inning stint in the Giants bullpen. While Stratton’s stuff has regressed in pro ball, he fills the zone with an average 90-93 mph fastball and mixes three fringe-average to average secondary pitches. He improved his control this season and is not far away from helping as a fill-in starter or a low-leverage reliever. (JJ)
7. Jared Miller, lhp, Diamondbacks
Team: Salt River
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 3.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 8 SO, 0 BB
The Scoop: The Vanderbilt product transitioned to the bullpen this season to great effect. The Diamondbacks told the 6-foot-7 lefthander he would have a quicker route to the majors as a reliever, and low Class A Kane County pitching coach Rich Sauveur—himself a tall lefthander—worked with Miller on a new cutter. He struck out 80 in 61.1 innings, for a rate far above his career norms. (VLC)
8. Scott Heineman, of, Rangers
Team: Surprise
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: .500/.545/.750 (4-for-8), 3 R, 2 2B, 1 RBIs, 2 BB, 0 SO, 0-for-2 SB
The Scoop: An 11th-round pick from Oregon in 2015, Heineman had right ankle surgery after signing and did not debut until this year. He jumped straight to high Class A High Desert this year and succeed. He lacks a standout tool but has at least average traits across the board, and the Rangers love his makeup. (VLC)
9. Mauricio Dubon, ss/of, Red Sox
Team: Surprise
Age: 22
Why He’s Here .438/.438/.625 (7-for-16), 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 1 SO, 2-for-3 SB
The Scoop: Dubon would seem to be blocked in Boston, but scouts who’ve seen him believe he’s on the fast track to the majors. He clearly has feel to hit and projects to grow into more power. His actions at shortstop are solid since he slowed the game down, but he’s playing center field as well in the AFL as the Red Sox test his versatility in preparation for a big league role. (VLC)
10. Justin Williams, of, Rays
Team: Peoria
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .333/.385/.750 (4-for-12), 2B, 2 3B, 2 RBIs, 2 BB, 1 SO
The Scoop: Though Williams is more of a power hitter than a speedster, he collected three triples in his first week and a half in the AFL. That’s notable because he had just two during the season. Don’t expect Williams to keep racking up the triples, but as a lefty bat with power and a knack for putting barrel to ball, do expect to see him become one of the more productive hitters in the league. (JJ)
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