Arizona Fall League: Mesa Solar Sox Prospect Report
Filled with prospects from the last two World Series champions, Mesa leads the AFL East with two weeks remaining and is prime for its second consecutive Arizona Fall League championship. MLB prospect contributor Peyton Wesner highlights the Solar Sox’s top performers, including one of baseball’s top prospects, through a month of action.
Last Wednesday, history was made at Chavez Ravine in Southern California as the Houston Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, winning their first World Series championship in a seven-game series for the ages.
Therefore, with a champion crowned, Major League Baseball players have the majority of the next four months off to rest, relax and prepare for next season. Yet, that does not mean baseball is absent until pitchers and catchers report to Florida and Arizona in February.
In fact, there are two weeks left of games.
Over the last month, future Major League Baseball stars have taken over the desert for Arizona Fall League. In its 25-year history, the likes of Derek Jeter, Roy Halladay, Albert Pujols, Kris Bryant and Andrew McCutchen have refined their skills in the Arizona Fall League before beginning accolade-filled careers and playing in sold-out stadiums.
This year’s class is no exception as talented position players and pitchers have continued their respective 2017 campaigns. Thus, let’s take a look at the top performers on the Mesa Solar Sox, who are affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Oakland Athletics, and Washington Nationals.
Hitting Leaders
- AVG: .349 – David Bote (CHC)
- H: 22 – David Bote (CHC)
- R: 15 – Sheldon Neuse (OAK)
- HR: 4 – David Bote (CHC), Sheldon Neuse (OAK)
- RBI: 18 – Sheldon Neuse (OAK)
- SB: 5 – Daniel Johnson (WSH)
Pitching Leaders
- W: 3 – Kyle McGowin (WSH)
- SO: 25 – Kyle McGowin (WSH)
- ERA: 0.00 – Zac Houston (DET), Mark Ecker (DET)
- SV: 2 – Pedro Araujo (CHC)
- IP: 19.0 – Kyle McGowin (WSH), Alec Mills (CHC)
Prospect on the Rise: Sheldon Neuse (OAK)
Stats: .271 AVG, 15 R, 4 HR, 18 RBI, 7 BB
2017 was a season of firsts for Oakland Athletics’ prospect Sheldon Neuse.
For one, the 22-year old was embarking on his first full professional season following a brief 36-game cameo last year. Furthermore, he was traded just over 13 months after being drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 2016 MLB Draft. Also, he earned two in-season promotions, finishing his campaign in Double-A.
In other words, Neuse had an eventful, not to mention productive, regular season. And, nothing has changed in the AFL.
After hitting .321 with 16 home runs and 79 RBIs, the Oklahoma University product has added four more home runs and a team-high 18 RBIs in Arizona. In college, Neuse split time between shortstop and relief pitcher; yet, 18 months into his MiLB career and hitting has not been the issue, strikeouts have.
As many young prospects, Neuse has a high strikeout percentage. During the regular season, he struck out in 23.2 percent of plate appearances, which included a strikeout rate of nearly 30 percent in 73 plate appearances with Double-A Midland.
In Arizona, Neuse has made strides in plate discipline; His strikeout rate is down to 18.1 percent. Additionally, he is drawing more walks, especially as of late.
Of course, a stint in Arizona with poor discipline will not break the now third baseman’s career. Yet, there are encouraging signs from Neuse as he has struck out just twice, while walking three times, in his past 23 plate appearances.
Arizona Fall League to MLB Opening Day: Victor Robles (WSH)
Stats: .250 AVG, 6 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 5 BB, 4 SB
Victor Robles may have gained the most Major League service time of any player in this year’s AFL class. The speedy outfielder from the Dominican Republic, despite starting at High-A Potomac, was recalled by Washington for 24 regular season at-bats and a trip to the postseason.
Why is he in Arizona?
Robles had just one plate appearance during the Nationals’ NLDS series versus Chicago. Hence, he is making up for lost time and keeping his skills sharp with Mesa.
In 28 plate appearances, Washington’s top prospect has seven hits, a pair of home runs, five RBIs and four stolen bases as a member of the Solar Sox. Aside from the lackluster statistical line, the 20-year old has a knack for hitting on the biggest stage.
Last Saturday, Robles drove in the tying run in the 8th inning and was the only player in the Fall Stars Game to score a pair of runs, subsequently, earning him Most Valuable Player. Last weekend was not the first time he had his hand in an important victory; Robles had RBIs in a pair of Washington wins in September.
As the AFL concludes, the real question is not whether Robles has the potential to be a future star, but rather, whether he will be in the starting outfield next Opening Day. As Jayson Werth’s contract expires, a spot is open. But, Robles will have to battle Michael A. Taylor and Adam Eaton, who missed the entirety of the 2017 season, to claim a position.
Team MVP: David Bote (CHC)
Stats: .349 AVG, 13 R, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 5 BB, SB
The Chicago Cubs are no stranger to their prospects performing well in the AFL. Since the Joe Black MVP Award was created in 2002, three Cubs have won the award — Jason Dubois, Sam Fuld and 2016 National League Most Valuable Player Kris Bryant.
David Bote is making his case to be the fourth.
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Bote, an 18th round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, has experienced the peaks and valleys of Minor League Baseball. From a .227 batting average in his first full-season to a career-high 14 home runs this season, the Colorado native has been forced to make adjustments as a professional.
A prime example is transpiring now. In his first six Arizona contests, Bote had four home runs, a continuation of his time with Double-A Tennessee. Since October 19, however, the second baseman has been held hitless in five of ten games and is batting an anemic .216.
Despite the current struggles, nothing can be taken away from Bote’s AFL stint. However, for Mesa to repeat as champions and for the Neosho Community College product to leave Sloan Park fully satisfied, he must post a torrid final two-week stint.
Next: AFL - Scottsdale Prospect Report
If such occurs, Bote could be on his way to a noteworthy 2018 Spring Training and creating a conversation of a quick promotion from Triple-A Iowa. After all, he is hitting .448 at Sloan Park over the past month, the spring home of the Chicago Cubs. Coincidence? Very doubtful.