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!