Arizona Fall League: Scottsdale Scorpions Prospect Report
With two weeks remaining, Scottsdale is in the hunt for its fourth AFL title, trailing AFL East-leading Mesa by 1.5 games. MLB prospect contributor Peyton Wesner highlights the Scorpions’ top performers, which are headlined by a pair of New York Yankees, 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 Scottsdale Scorpions, who are affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets, New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants.
Hitting Leaders
- AVG: .375 – Kyle Holder (NYY)
- H: 23 – Thairo Estrada (NYY)
- R: 14 – Steven Duggar (SF)
- HR: 3 – Taylor Sparks (CIN)
- RBI: 19 – Billy McKinney (NYY)
- SB: 9 – Steven Duggar (SF)
Pitching Leaders
- W: 2 – Three players tied
- SO: 23 – Albert Abreu (NYY)
- ERA: 0.00 – Four players tied
- SV: 4 – Cody Carroll (NYY)
- IP: 22.2 – Albert Abreu (NYY)
Prospect on the Rise: Kevin Kaczmarski (NYM)
Stats: .367 AVG, 9 R, HR, 8 RBI, 4 BB, 2 SB
Outside of Missouri Valley Conference baseball fans and die-hard New York Mets enthusiasts, outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski is an unknown commodity.
The 25-year old has moved through the organization, primarily, station-to-station, only skipping Short-Season Brooklyn, during his three seasons of professional baseball. He has received just one in-season promotion and has not received an MiLB award since 2015.
Again, he is an unknown commodity. But, that could soon be changing.
Kaczmarski is taking full advantage of what the Arizona Fall League has to offer by stringing together a noteworthy month of bonus baseball.
The University of Evansville product is showing visible improvements at the plate, including in hitting with runners in scoring position. Kaczmarski struggled in such a scenario with Double-A Binghamton, hitting .258 last season. Granted, it is in a small sample size; however, he is batting .444 — 8 hits in 18 at-bats — with Scottsdale.
For Kaczmarski, the area of necessary improvement resides in consistency versus left-handed pitching. In 2017, southpaws dominated and frustrated the Illinois native, ultimately, keeping him in check with a .187 mark. But, this was a year after the left-handed hitter had no issue batting.303 between Low-A Columbia and High-A St. Lucie.
In the AFL, Kaczmarski has had just 11 at-bats against left-handed pitching, so a lack of evidence remains whether he can finally solve the puzzle and cross off the weakness.
Arizona Fall League to MLB Opening Day: Billy McKinney (NYY)
Stats: .311 AVG, 5 R, HR, 19 RBI, 6 BB
In less than two years, Billy McKinney went from heralded Oakland Athletics’ prospect to an organizational player with the Chicago Cubs. Luckily for him, Chicago needed bullpen help during the 2016 season, resulting in him being shipped to the Bronx.
Talk about a career-saving trade.
Blocked by Kyle Schwarber and Albert Almora, the Cubs had no place to advance the then outfielder through the organization. The Yankees have.
McKinney rectified his career with career-highs in home runs (16), triples (7) and total bases (213) this season. Additionally, he reignited his offense with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Baree and punished International League pitchers with a .309 batting average and 10 home runs in 55 games.
As the Texan’s bat continues to bop pitches — he leads the AFL in RBIs with 19, New York is eagerly watching, not McKinney’s production at the plate, but his adjustment to first base. In seven Arizona starts, he has been effective and has only one error, which came on a throw.
While McKinney’s 2018 beginning destination will likely be determined by his ability on defense, one cannot help but remember the long pondering that went into Aaron Judge making the Opening Day roster.
Are McKinney and Judge the same? Of course not. However, with Greg Bird’s injury history, having an established McKinney at first base will be beneficial for the Yankees next season, whether in March, July or September.
Team MVP: Justus Sheffield (NYY)
2-1, 2.37 ERA, 21 SO, 19.0 IP, 0.79 WHIP
Similar to McKinney, Yankees’ prospect Justus Sheffield was also acquired last season for a bullpen arm (Andrew Miller). Just as his former Trenton teammate, the left-handed pitcher appears very close to making his Major League debut.
Sheffield, completing his third full MiLB season in 2017, has been the epitome of consistency as a professional. The 21-year old has been a mid-season all-star each of the last three years. He has also posted a sub-3.50 ERA during the past trio of campaigns.
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In the Arizona Fall League, the former Cleveland Indians’ prospect has continued to be steady. Sheffield has pitched into the fifth inning in all four of his AFL starts. Furthermore, he has struck out six batters in three of his four appearances.
Although the Tennessee native has experienced some turbulence, Sheffield is smothering right-handed hitters. Righties are batting just .170 with eight hits in 13.2 innings entering Tuesday.
In the past, Sheffield’s problem had been free passes — he walked 3.18 batters per nine innings in 17 Eastern League starts this season. In Arizona, conversely, no such issue exists as he is averaging less than one walk per nine innings.
Next: AFL - Salt River Prospect Report
Individually, Sheffield is arguably the best pitcher in the AFL. Though, for Scottsdale to be the best and win its second AFL championship in the last three years, Sheffield must uphold his command of his fastball in the strike zone.
If he can, not only with Scottsdale enjoy the final two weeks, the New York Yankees will enjoy many years of quality starts.