Arizona Fall League: Salt River Rafters Prospect Report
Salt River may be the only team under .500 in the Arizona Fall League East division, but it is not for a lack of talent who are bound to make an impact at the Major League level. MLB prospect contributor Peyton Wesner highlights the Rafters’ 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. Hopefully, the Arizona Fall League continues that string of magical baseball.
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 Salt River Rafters, who are affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies, Miami Marlins and Milwaukee Brewers.
Hitting Leaders
- AVG: .417 – Rodrigo Vigil (MIA)
- H: 18 – Steve Wilkerson (BAL), Victor Reyes (ARZ)
- R: 10 – Steve Wilkerson (BAL)
- HR: 3 – Ryan Mountcastle (BAL), Monte Harrison (MIL)
- RBI: 13 – Ryan Mountcastle (BAL)
- SB: 9 – Yonathan Daza (COL)
Pitching Leaders
- W: 2 – Zach Jemiola (COL), Jon Perrin (MIL)
- SO: 16 – Zach Jemiola (COL), Ryan Atkinson (ARZ)
- ERA: 0.00 – Three players tied
- SV: 3 – Shane Broyles (COL)
- IP: 17.0 – Zach Jemiola (COL)
Prospect on the Rise: Lucas Erceg (MIL)
Stats: .324 AVG, 4 R, HR, 5 RBI, BB
Although no postseason berth came of it, this year was the Milwaukee Brewers best season since 2011. And, with the potential talent rising through the system, Craig Counsell’s squad could have the pieces to continue to compete in the National League Central for many years to come.
A quartet of highly touted Brewers, including former first-round pick Corey Ray, have been playing in the AFL over the last four weeks. Yet, no one has turned heads more than third baseman Lucas Erceg.
After 127 games at High-A Carolina, Erceg was given a taste of competitive baseball with Triple-A Colorado Springs this season. The 22-year old played well in three high-altitude Pacific Coast League games, recording four hits (two doubles) in ten at-bats.
Erceg has continued to raise his stock in Arizona.
The California native has reached base in all ten of his AFL games and ranks among the batting average leaders for Salt River.
While the Brewers are captivated by Erceg’s offense, his defense has been his downfall. Yes, the Menlo product has a strong arm from the hot corner, in large part to his days as a closer in the NAIA ranks. However, Erceg is prone to inaccuracy and control issues throwing across the diamond. In fact, he entered AFL play with an average of an error once every five games.
The previous average continues to move in the wrong direction as Erceg has three errors in ten Arizona games. Despite his defensive woes, there is no debate Erceg’s offense has allowed him to stick out among his Milwaukee teammates.
Arizona Fall League to MLB Opening Day: Jack Reinheimer (ARZ)
Stats: .280 AVG, 9 R, RBI, 6 BB
Five plate appearances into his Major League career and Arizona Diamondbacks’ infielder Jack Reinheimer is still hunting for his first ML hit. However, he may be given the opportunity to end his pursuit early next season.
Reinheimer, a fifth-round draft pick by Seattle in 2013, has not blown scouts away with his ability inside the batters’ box. But, his versatility in the field supplies him with value.
The 25-year old logged more than 180 innings at the positions of second base, third base and shortstop while posting a .955 fielding percentage with Triple-A Reno this season.
In the AFL, Reinheimer continues to improve at the trio of positions. In 15 games, the Swiss Army knife has started 9 games at shortstop, 5 games at second base and 1 game at third base. Between the positions, he has only one error.
It is not as though Reinheimer unskilled in hitting, however. The East Carolina University product has batted above .275 in each of his last two seasons with a combined strikeout-to-walk ratio of 1.88. But, concern lies in how his production will transfer from the hitter-friendly confines of the Pacific Coast League to that of the National League.
Overall, although Arizona’s starting infield appears set in stone, manager Torey Lovullo was forced to rely on utility players during the postseason, such as Daniel Descalso and Kristopher Negron, due to injuries to Yasmany Tomas, Nick Ahmed and Chris Owings. Hence, a skilled defensive savvy individual like Reinheimer has worth in Phoenix.
Team MVP: Zach Jemiola (COL)
Stats: 2-0, 2.12 ERA, 16 SO, 17.0 IP, 1.18 WHIP
For any Colorado Rockies’ pitching prospect, the road to Coors Field is an uphill climb. The journey starts with a taste of high altitude in Grand Junction, Colorado, and proceeds to mount at Triple-A Albuquerque.
Many struggle and few survive. Zach Jemiola is attempting to become one of the survivors.
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Jemiola, a ninth-round pick in 2012, has endured turbulent stops in both Grand Junction and Albuquerque. Yet, if one were to watch him pitch in the AFL, you would have no idea he has struggled in the past.
The right-handed pitcher is experiencing arguably the best stretch of his professional career, hurling back-to-back five-inning starts to conclude last month.
In Arizona, Jemiola has illustrated better control. In four starts, he owns a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.2 — a drastic improvement from a Pacific Coast League campaign that saw 40 strikeouts to 38 walks. On top of personal strides, the California native has proven to be a winner. Entering Tuesday, Salt River is 3-0-1 in games in which he takes the ball.
Although Jemiola failed to find comfort in the hitter-friendly PCL and posted a 6.83 ERA with just one scoreless start, the last four weeks could serve as a new beginning for the 23-year old.
Next: AFL - Glendale Prospect Report
Granted, a return to Albuquerque is likely; however, there is no reason Jemiola’s confidence won’t be high after being among the Rafters’ leaders in wins, strikeouts and innings pitched.