Prospect Report: Mason Auer Shows Array Of Skills

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Mason Auer‘s road to the Rays has been anything but linear. 

The 21-year-old speedster was a two-way prospect out of high school, and was thought of more as a pitcher than a hitter. That changed once he matriculated to college, first at Missouri State—where he spent the fraction of a season before the pandemic hit—and then a year later at San Jacinto (Texas) JC, where he posted a 1.152 OPS with 11 doubles, 11 homers and 34 stolen bases in 37 tries.

After a stint with Frederick of the MLB Draft League, Auer was set to transfer to Oregon for his 2022 season, but the Rays popped him in the fifth round of the 2021 draft and immediately began reaping the benefits of a player with the beginnings of a dynamic power-speed combination. 

The native Missourian is part of the Rays’ contingent in the Arizona Fall League, and on Wednesday he was part of Mesa’s offensive onslaught against Salt River. In the win, which came by a 19-8 score, Auer went 3-for-6 with two stolen bases and finished a home run short of the cycle. 

The teams decided to cut the game short after eight innings, which cost Auer—who was slated to lead off the ninth for the Rafters—a chance to complete the feat.

“I thought about it,” Auer said, “but it was a long game.”

Auer’s hot start in the AFL is a continuation of a fantastic first full season as a pro. Between both Class A levels, he finished with an .859 OPS that was fueled by 21 doubles, 12 triples (tied for the minor league lead) and 15 home runs. He also swiped 48 bases in 55 attempts while helping both of his clubs win their league championship.

Auer has utilized plenty of video to identify and correct some of the flaws in his game. Specifically, he’s noticed that he’ll sometimes lunge during his swing, which leaves him off-balance and prone to making poor swing decisions. 

To correct those tendencies, Auer has tried a variety of remedies. He’s swung a shorter bat, swung a fungo bat, swung with one hand and tested himself against specialized pitching machines. 

The improvement process, of course, will continue not only through the Fall League, but into next year, when Auer is likely to get his first test at the highest levels of the minor leagues. 

To prepare, he’ll continue getting as many reps as possible against as many different types of pitching as he can.

“I really focused on hitting a lot of offspeed stuff this offseason and really trying to hone in on that and try to see it better,” he said. “The more you see pitching, the better you’re going to be, so just seeing as much pitching as I can.” 

Luis Matos, OF, Giants: San Francisco’s highest-ranked prospect in the AFL continued his blazing start by homering in his second straight game. With the blast, he joins Addison Barger (Blue Jays) and Jordan Lawlar (D-backs) as the only AFL players with multiple home runs.

Addison Barger, SS, Blue Jays: Barger got love from managers in the Northwest League this past season for his powerful throwing arm. On Wednesday, he showed plenty of power at the plate. The 22-year-old sixth-rounder from the 2018 draft clubbed a pair of no-doubters which accounted for half of Salt River’s hits in the team’s loss to Mesa. Barger’s breakout 2022 campaign saw him shoot from High-A to Triple-A while hitting 33 doubles, 26 home runs and producing a .933 OPS. 

Jeferson Quero, C, Brewers: Though he went 0-for-4, Quero opened plenty of eyes with his defensive work. The 20-year-old backstop used a strong, powerful arm to catch three runners stealing. Each throw was on the money, including an especially excellent peg to third base that led teammate Moises Castillo‘s tag right onto Nick Gonzales‘ thigh. 

ORG	CLASS	PLAYER	AB	R	H	RBI	AVG	NOTES
	WIN	Brandon McIlwain, OF	5	1	2	1	0.400	2B (1),
	WIN	Connor Kokx, OF	4	1	1	1	0.250
	WIN	Jackson Merrill, SS	5	0	1	0	0.273	BB (3), E (2),
	WIN	Robert Hassell, CF	3	0	1	0	0.167
	WIN	David Fry, C	3	1	1	2	0.333	HR (1), BB (1),
	WIN	Angel Martinez, IF	5	0	2	0	0.250	SB (1),
	WIN	Luke Ritter, 2B	5	0	0	0	0.000
	WIN	Kevin Kendall, SS	6	1	3	0	0.444
	WIN	Justyn-Henry Malloy, 1B	4	0	2	0	0.333	2B (1), BB (4),
	WIN	Nick Yorke, IF	4	1	2	0	0.300	BB (4),
	WIN	Logan Wyatt, 1B	4	0	1	0	0.286
	WIN	Wilyer Abreu, RF	4	0	0	0	0.000	BB (3),
	WIN	Heston Kjerstad, OF	5	1	2	1	0.400	2B (2),
	WIN	Adrian Sugastey, C	4	2	2	0	0.400	2B (1),
	WIN	Kyren Paris, SS	4	0	0	0	0.000
	WIN	Luis Matos, OF	5	1	2	4	0.357	2B (1), HR (2),
	WIN	Werner Blakely, SS	3	0	0	0	0.167	BB (2),
	WIN	Lawrence Butler, 1B	4	1	3	4	0.500	2B (2), HR (1), BB (1),
	WIN	Mason Auer, OF	6	3	3	2	0.364	2B (1), 3B (1), 2 SB (2),
	WIN	Ronny Simon, 2B	6	2	3	2	0.500
	WIN	Brennen Davis, CF	4	3	1	1	0.222	2B (1), 2 BB (2), SB (1),
	WIN	Blake Hunt, C	1	1	0	0	0.250
	WIN	Jose Salas, SS	4	0	1	0	0.125	BB (1), E (2),
	WIN	T.J. Rumfield, 3B	5	1	2	3	0.375	BB (2),
	WIN	Victor Mesa, CF	5	1	1	3	0.111	HR (1), BB (1),
	WIN	Joe Mack, C	3	2	2	0	0.400	BB (3),
	WIN	Tyler Hardman, 1B	5	5	4	3	0.462	HR (1), BB (1), E (1),
	WIN	Gage Workman, SS	3	0	0	1	0.000	BB (1),
	WIN	Jordan Walker, 3B	2	3	1	0	0.250	2 BB (3), CS (1), E (1),
	WIN	Warming Bernabel, SS	5	0	0	0	0.100
	WIN	Braxton Fulford, C	4	0	0	0	0.000	E (1),
	WIN	Mike Antico, LF	4	0	0	0	0.000
	WIN	Deyvison De Los Santos, 3B	2	0	0	1	0.000	2 BB (2),
	WIN	Addison Barger, SS	3	2	2	5	0.375	2 HR (2), BB (1), E (1),
	WIN	Parker Meadows, CF	3	1	0	0	0.214	BB (1), SB (1),
	WIN	Colt Keith, 3B	2	2	1	1	0.500	2B (1), BB (2),
	WIN	Je’Von Ward, OF	3	1	1	0	0.333	2B (1), BB (1),
	WIN	Alex Isola, C	3	1	0	0	0.143	BB (1),
	WIN	Matt McLain, SS	4	1	2	1	0.286	BB (3), CS (1),
	WIN	Tyler Black, 2B	4	1	0	0	0.000	BB (1),
	WIN	Edouard Julien, 2B	2	1	0	1	0.167	2 BB (3),
	WIN	Zavier Warren, C	3	0	1	0	0.500	BB (1), SB (1),
	WIN	Andy Pages, OF	2	0	0	1	0.143	BB (1),
	WIN	Moises Castillo, SS	3	0	0	0	0.375	BB (1),
	WIN	Jeferson Quero, C	4	0	0	0	0.000
	WIN	Blake Sabol, OF	2	0	1	1	0.500	2 BB (2), CS (1),
	WIN	Carlos De La Cruz, OF	4	0	1	0	0.250
	WIN	Samad Taylor, 2B	4	1	1	0	0.100	3B (1),
	WIN	Will Wagner, 2B	3	1	2	2	0.364	3B (2), BB (2),
	WIN	Trevor Hauver, 2B	3	0	0	0	0.400	BB (3),
	WIN	Henry Davis, C	3	1	1	2	0.333	2B (2), SB (1),
	WIN	Aaron Zavala, OF	3	1	0	0	0.286	BB (2), CS (1), E (1),
	WIN	Johan Rojas, CF	5	1	2	1	0.385	2B (1),
	WIN	Nick Gonzales, 2B	4	1	2	0	0.333	3B (1), CS (1),

ORG	CLASS	PLAYER	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	ERA	NOTES
	WIN	Ty Adcock, RHP	1.0	1	0	0	1	3	0.00
	WIN	Lenny Torres, RHP	1.2	1	0	0	1	5	0.00
	WIN	Mason Hickman, RHP	1.0	3	1	1	1	3	4.50
	WIN	Christian Scott, RHP	2.1	6	4	4	1	7	15.43
	WIN	Noah Denoyer, RHP	2.2	3	1	1	2	8	3.38
	WIN	Jack Kochanowicz, RHP	2.1	2	0	0	0	7	0.00
	WIN	Nolan Hoffman, RHP	1.2	2	1	1	1	5	5.40
	WIN	Ryan Zeferjahn, RHP	1.1	4	3	3	1	4	20.25
	WIN	Sheldon Reed, RHP	1.1	0	0	0	0	4	0.00
	WIN	Shaine McNeely, RHP	2.0	2	3	3	0	6	13.50
	WIN	Ryan Cusick, RHP	4.0	2	3	0	3	12	0.00	W (1-0)
	WIN	Sandy Gaston, RHP	0.2	0	2	2	5	2	27.00
	WIN	Tyler Mattison, RHP	1.0	1	0	0	2	3	0.00
	WIN	Fineas Del Bonta-Smith, RHP	2.0	5	4	4	0	6	18.00
	WIN	Blair Calvo, RHP	0.2	4	6	6	2	2	27.00
	WIN	Anders Tolhurst, RHP	0.2	1	4	2	3	2	27.00	L (0-1)
	WIN	Jack Anderson, RHP	1.0	2	1	1	0	3	9.00
	WIN	Kyle Backhus, LHP	1.1	3	1	1	1	4	6.75
	WIN	Chase Solesky, RHP	4.0	5	3	3	2	12	6.75	L (0-1)
	WIN	Francis Peguero, RHP	1.1	0	0	0	1	4	0.00
	WIN	Vincent Timpanelli, RHP	1.0	2	2	2	2	3	18.00
	WIN	Tanner Dodson, RHP	1.2	3	1	1	0	5	5.40
	WIN	Matt Ruppenthal, RHP	2.0	0	0	0	1	6	0.00
	WIN	Jonathan Sprinkle, RHP	0.2	1	3	3	3	2	40.50
	WIN	T.J. Sikkema, LHP	3.0	2	2	2	3	9	6.00
	WIN	Taylor Lehman, LHP	2.0	1	0	0	0	6	0.00	W (1-0)
	WIN	Brett Schulze, RHP	1.1	0	0	0	2	4	0.00	Sv (1)