The first week of the Arizona Fall League has concluded, and it was a heck of a first week. The season kicked off with a fantastic matchup between Taijuan Walker and Kyle Zimmer that saw Walker strike out five in four innings of work, but did surrender five hits and a run. Zimmer struggled in his first start, as he only made it through 3.2 innings, walked two, gave up three hits and three runs including a home run off the bat of Seattle Mariner prospect Patrick Kivlehan, one of two home runs he hit in the first week.
The current leader in home runs should come as no surprise as Peter O’Brien hit home runs all season long between the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks systems. Roman Quinn is tied with Eddie Rosario in stolen bases after the first week, and Quinn looks every bit the part of a base stealer. He is small, but has a good first step both on the bases and in the field, and could certainly be an average top-of-the-order guy for the Philadelphia Phillies in a couple years.
The player of the week honors went to Jesse Winker and Jake Reed. Reed was a fifth round pick in this June’s MLB Draft and has already risen to earn the first AFL honors. Reed has put in three innings over two games, including one in which he recorded a save, and struck out five without allowing a run.
Winker has played in just three games, but leads the league with seven RBIs while scoring four runs and has five hits in 11 trips to the plate.
While Winker was able to get put in a four RBI game, Andrew Aplin managed to get all four of his RBIs with a single swing. He is also the only player both a four hit and a four RBI game (both in the same game for Aplin) and he is the lone player with a grand slam thus far.
Two players were added to rosters right as the season started, as Angel Sanchez of the Pittsburgh Pirates joined was added to the Scottsdale roster, and Clint Coulter was added to the Glendale roster.