Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game Preview

East position players (*-starting lineup)

Catchers
Jake Rodgers, Mesa, .129/.206/.194, 31 AB, 2 2B, 2/7 BB/K
Daulton Varsho*, Salt River .381/.480/.452, 42 AB, 1 2B, 1 3B, 8/9 BB/K, 7 SB

Varsho missed time this season in the Diamondbacks system, but his performance on both sides this fall has scouts raving. He is incredibly athletic behind the plate and on the bases, which has some thinking he could move out from behind the plate, but his defense has come along quick enough that he could be an elite athlete offensively while also still playing behind the plate.

Infielders
Peter Alonso*, Scottsdale, .239/.321/.465, 71 AB, 4 2B, 4 HR, 7/20 BB/K, 2 SB
Bobby Dalbec*, Mesa, .208/.333/.415, 53 AB, 5 2B, 2 HR, 10/25 BB/K
Andres Gimenez, Scottsdale, .129/.308/.323, 31 AB, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 8/12 BB/K
Nico Hoerner, Mesa, .349/.373/.492, 63 AB, 2 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 2/15 BB/K, 1 SB
Jahmai Jones*, Mesa, .351/.431/.509, 57 AB, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 7/16 BB/K, 3 SB
Carter Kieboom*, Salt River, .308/.455/.423, 52 AB, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 13/12 BB/K, 4 SB
Shed Long, Scottsdale, .205/.314/.250, 44 AB, 1 3B, 7/11 BB/K, 3 SB
Pavin Smith*, Salt River, .298/.353/.319, 47 AB, 1 2B, 4/5 BB/K, 1 SB

Three guys have really been garnering plenty of notice in the Arizona Fall League this year. Carter Kieboom has shown himself incredibly advanced at the plate, and many have felt he is able to handle shortstop moving forward based on views this year, both things that scouts had not placed on the level that he’s shown in the AFL.

The other two guys are really of similar note. Nico Hoerner and Jahmai Jones both have hit very well in the Arizona Fall League. Both have work to do defensively to stay at their current defensive positions (Hoerner at SS and Jones at 2B), but their bats have shown plenty to scouts in the AFL.

Outfielders
Luis Barrera, Mesa, .268/.354/.366, 41 AB, 1 2B, 1 HR, 6/7 BB/K, 6 SB
Daz Cameron*, Mesa, .314/.444/.431, 51 AB, 2 2B, 2 3B, 12/14 BB/K, 6 SB
Monte Harrison*, Salt River, .353/.460/.431, 51 AB, 2 2B, 1 3B, 10/12 BB/K, 3 SB
Austin Listi, Scottsdale, .204/.291/.265, 49 AB, 1 2B, 1 3B, 6/5 BB/K
Taylor Trammell*, Scottsdale, .246/.295/.316, 57 AB, 2 2B, 1 3B, 4/14 BB/K, 3 SB

In the last month of the 2018 season, Monte Harrison made an adjustment in his swing, and he’s really begun showing it in the Arizona Fall League. A guy who struck out 30%+ throughout his minor league career suddenly has bat control, and with arguably the most athleticism in all of the minor leagues, if he’s disciplined at the plate, he’s going to rocket up the minors and could impact Miami next season.

East pitchers

Right-handers
Melvin Adon, Scottsdale, 7 G, 9 2/3 IP, 0.93 ERA, 0.52 WHIP, 2/19 BB/K
Bailey Clark, Mesa, 6 G, 8 IP, 2.25 IP, 1.38 WHIP, 6/6 BB/K
Jon Duplantier, Salt River, 4 G, 13 IP, 4.15 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 6/18 BB/K
Brett Hanewich, Mesa, 8 G, 8 1/3 IP, 7.56 ERA, 2.16 WHIP, 9/10 BB/K
Justin Lawrence, Salt River, 7 G, 7 2/3 IP, 3.52 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 5/8 BB/K
Trent Thornton, Scottsdale, 6 G, 11 IP, 4.91 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 4/16 BB/K
Forrest Whitley, Scottsdale, 4 G, 17 IP, 3.18 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 5/23 BB/K
Jordan Yamamoto, Salt River, 4 G, 16 IP, 1.69 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 10/20 BB/K

Forrest Whitley will be getting the start for the East squad, and he’s done nothing to question his reputation as one of the top 10 prospects in the entire game. There are two other righties on the East team that have made an impression, however.

Reliever Melvin Adon is a guy with elite velocity that the Giants have been using as a starter, but if they take his work in the Arizona Fall League as an example, he could move quickly to the major leagues as a multi-inning reliever. The other guy of note is the “no name” piece at the end of the Christian Yelich trade last offseason, Jordan Yamamoto, who many forgot was even part of that deal. He had an impressive season after missing some time this year to start the year, and he’s continued that impressive work in the AFL.

Left-handers
Ben Braymer, Scottsdale, 6 G, 7 1/3 IP, 6.14 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 4/9 BB/K
Darwinzon Hernandez, Mesa, 6 G, 9 IP, 2.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 5/18 BB/K
Devin Smeltzer, Salt River, 6 G, 7 IP, 2.57 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 1/7 BB/K

Hernandez is an interesting one, as he was a pop-up guy this year, with a big frame, improving control, and a chance to be a 3/4 starter, but he also is showing that he can be impressive in the relief role, especially as a multi-inning reliever.

West hitters

Catchers
Keibert Ruiz*, Glendale, .289/.365/.311, 45 AB, 1 2B, 6/2 BB/K
Meibrys Viloria, Surprise, .179/.425/.250, 28 AB, 2 2B, 11/7 BB/K, 1 SB

Ruiz will start behind the dish tonight, and the Arizona Fall League has been huge for him restoring his value as a prospect and possibly on the trade market for the Dodgers. Ruiz moved quickly up to AA, and then he struggled to the point of even losing his quality eye at the plate, one of his trademarks, and his excellent BB/K in the AFL is showing that to be back for the switch-hitter.

Infielders
Yu Chang, Glendale, .344/.400/.531, 64 AB, 3 2B, 3 HR, 4/15 BB/K, 1 SB
Lucius Fox*, Peoria, .333/.432/.397, 63 AB, 1 2B, 1 HR, 10/13 BB/K, 7 SB
Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.*, Surprise, .393/.443/.508, 61 AB, 7 2B, 6/3 BB/K, 2 SB
Keston Hiura*, Peoria, .343/.400/.597, 67 AB, 3 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 5/21 BB/K, 5 SB
Cole Tucker, Surprise, .339/.400/.411, 56 AB, 2 2B, 1 3B, 7/8 BB/K, 6 SB
Evan White*, Peoria, .259/.322/.463, 54 AB, 5 2B, 2 HR, 5/11 BB/K

While nearly everyone will be very interested in how Vladdy is doing, the guy that has been drawing the most attention has been Keston Hiura. He’s shown well at second base defensively, but most of all, he’s showing power and speed offensively. His patience at the plate could use to be better, but he’s showing good strike zone recognition – he’s just using an aggressive approach on balls he believes he can impact.

Outfielders
Cavan Biggio*, Surprise, .256/.404/.465, 43 AB, 3 2B, 2 HR, 11/11 BB/K, 2 SB
Estevan Florial*, Glendale, .158/.262/.263, 57 AB, 2 2B, 2 3B, 8/22 BB/K, 1 SB
Khalil Lee, Surprise, .175/.254/.281, 57 AB, 3 2B, 1 HR, 5/16 BB/K, 2 SB
Ryan McKenna, Glendale, .373/.484/.647, 51 AB, 5 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 10/14 BB/K, 2 SB
Cristian Pache*, Peoria, .290/.318/.387, 62 AB, 2 2B, 2 3B, 3/10 BB/K, 1 SB
Buddy Reed, Peoria, .375/.423/.500, 48 AB, 4 2B, 1 3B, 4/10 BB/K, 5 SB
Luis Robert*, Glendale, .341/.400/.439, 41 AB, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4/7 BB/K, 2 SB

This group is quite confusing. With one of the most talented overall groups of any position grouping in this entire list, somehow only one of the three guys that should be starting is doing so. Pache is the one starter that should be out there, and if he was hitting .100, his glove is worth the price of admission in center field, which would put his starting position in lock.

Florial is having one of the worst AFL seasons of anyone in Arizona currently, and while Biggio is having a solid Arizona Fall League, he’s not doing what Buddy Reed or Ryan McKenna is doing. McKenna, for his case, is answering a lot of the questions about whether or not his breakout in the Carolina League was “real” after he struggled in AA upon being promoted this year. He’s arguably the best hitter in the AFL at this point. I’d say it was real!

West pitchers

Right-handers
Miguel Diaz, Peoria, 4 G, 14 IP, 3.86 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 5/11 BB/K
Demarcus Evans, Surprise, 6 G, 7 IP, 6.43 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 4/12 BB/K
David McKay, Peoria, 7 G, 6 2/3 IP, 5.40 ERA, 2.25 WHIP, 5/7 BB/K
Wyatt Mills, Peoria, 6 G, 7 2/3 IP, 2.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 3/6 BB/K
Nate Pearson, Surprise, 4 G, 11 1/3 IP, 11.12 ERA, 2.65 WHIP, 11/16 BB/K
Jordan Sheffield, Glendale, 6 G, 6 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, 0/5 BB/K

Pearson will be getting the start tonight, and while his big velocity will definitely be fun to watch, his Arizona Fall League experience has not exactly been great so far as he’s struggled to get his feel back after missing most of the season due to injury.

The righties on this roster all come with big-time velocity, and it will be fun to see how they are deployed in the game tonight, but for the future, one to watch will be Miguel Diaz, who was a Rule 5 pick two years ago as a power reliever, and if he can translate that triple-digit sinker and slider combo into a starting role, it will be an impressive setup!

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Left-handers

, Glendale, 6 G, 7 IP, 1.29 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 2/11 BB/K

, Peoria, 4 G, 8 2/3 IP, 8.31 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 7/11 BB/K

, Surprise, 4 G, 15 2/3 IP, 1.72 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 7/14 BB/K

, Peoria, 5 G, 7 2/3 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.13 WHIP, 0/12 BB/K

, Peoria, 5 G, 8 IP, 1.13 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 6/11 BB/K

, Surprise, 5 G, 10 IP, 0.90 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, 1/9 BB/K

A number of excellent lefties have made their mark for the West club. Muller has shown very well after having a big season for the Braves system as a starter, and he’s likely working with lower innings due to the inning total he had, not a change in role going forward.

A guy that has turned a lot of heads as a reliever has been Weiman, who has shown excellent command and head-turning stuff on the mound from his long, lanky frame, giving hitters fits all fall thus far.

The Arizona Fall League has a couple weeks left of regular season play left as well, and while Peoria seems to be dominating the league right now, anything can happen in the playoffs, so take the time to follow the Arizona Fall League on their website (linked here).