Arizona Fall League: Peoria Javelinas Prospect Report

Propelled by a multitude of talented and productive Atlanta Braves prospects, Peoria sits atop the AFL West division as the only team with more wins than losses. MLB prospect contributor Peyton Wesner highlights the Javelinas’ top performers 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 Peoria Javelinas, who are affiliated with the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays.

Hitting Leaders

• AVG: .373 – Eric Filia (SEA)
• H: 21 – Ronald Acuna (ATL)
• R: 19 – Ronald Acuna (ATL)
• HR: 5 – Ronald Acuna (ATL), Alex Jackson (ATL)
• RBI: 14 – Austin Riley (ATL), Alex Jackson (ATL)
• SB: 4 – Jonathan Davis (TOR)

Pitching Leaders

• W: 3 – Max Fried (ATL), Henry Owens (BOS)
• SO: 29 – Max Fried (ATL)
• ERA: 0.00 – Art Warren (SEA), Andrew Case (TOR)
• SV: 2 – Art Warren
• IP: 23.0 – Max Fried (ATL)

Prospect on the Rise: T.J. Zeuch (TOR)

Stats: 1-0, 0.64 ERA, 11 SO, 14.0 IP, 0.79 WHIP

2017 started off promising for former Toronto Blue Jays’ 2016 first round draft pick T.J. Zeuch. The tall right-handed starting pitcher was 3-3 with a 3.23 ERA and 3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio through his first ten starts with High-A Dunedin and appeared to be on track to reach Double-A within his first full season.

Then, the injury bug came biting and consumed two months of the University of Pittsburgh product’s season. In his MiLB return, Zeuch struggled to find consistency and return to previous form.

Though, now he has rediscovered his groove out West.

Zeuch owns a 0.64 ERA, allowing just one run in 14 AFL innings. The 6’7″ Ohio native has also re-illustrated his comfort in going deep into contests — he has thrown five innings in two of his three starts.

Prior to a trip to the disabled list, Zeuch told Call to the Pen, “For the most part, I’m fastball first, attacking guys [and] getting early contact. Get in. Get out.

“I’ve got good movement to my fastball, which, to my defense’s credit behind me, it makes for short outings because I get a lot of early contact.”

Zeuch has posted six 1-2-3 innings over the last four weeks, a testimony to his ability to make quick work of hitters. Thus, assuming he is healthy come the start of the 2018 regular season, Eastern League baseball should await him in April.

Arizona Fall League to MLB Opening Day: Ronald Acuna (ATL)

Stats: .323 AVG, 21 R, 5 HR, 12 RBI, 8 BB, 2 SB

There may be a debate, but Atlanta Braves’ prospect Ronald Acuna had one of the best campaigns by a MiLB hitter this year.

And, that’s not accounting the fact that the Venezuelan is UNDER twenty years old.

Acuna, following a campaign in which he hit .325 with 21 home runs, 82 RBIs and 44 stolen bases between High-A Florida, Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett, has overmatched opposing AFL pitchers while building a case for the Joe Black MVP Award.

Acuna has exploded during his last nine games, hitting all five of his AFL-leading home runs after October 24. During the surge, MLB.com‘s fifth overall prospect is batting .351 with 9 RBIs. Yet, that’s not all. Two of his home runs came against Pirates’ top pitching prospect Mitch Keller and former Minnesota Twins’ top draft pick Tyler Jay. 

Many claim Acuna is a legitimate five-tool player, as his statistics indicate. But, that does not mean there is no room for improvement. The future Braves’ center fielder can improve his plate discipline; Acuna struck out in 23.5 percent of his plate appearances in 2017 and currently sits at a strikeout percentage of 24.7 in Arizona.

Regardless, his time at SunTrust Park is rapidly approaching — so much so that the only question is whether Acuna or 20-year old sensation Ozzie Albies will bat leadoff.

If you ask most Braves’ fans, they don’t have a preference as long as both are mainstays at the top of the lineup for many years to come.