Arizona Fall League Announces 2015 Top Prospects Team
December 7, 2015 - Arizona Fall League (AzFL) News Release
Phoenix, Arizona - The Arizona Fall League announces its 2015 Top Prospects Team. Selected by Fall League managers and coaches, the Top Prospects Team recognizes players who distinguished themselves throughout the league's six-week schedule against other top prospects from every organization in Major League Baseball. Voters were asked to consider Fall League performance and major-league projectability.
Outfielders Adam Engel, Glendale Desert Dogs (White Sox) Fall League's top offensive catalyst ... winner of Joe Black MVP Award ... also walked away with the EyePromise Vizual EDGE PRO Batting Title Award as the Fall League's leading hitter (.403) ... ranked among league leaders in most offensive categories - first in batting (.403), on-base percentage (.523) and slugging percentage (.642), second in doubles (9) and stolen bases (10), third in hits (27-tie) and runs scored (16-tie), and fourth in extra-base hits (12-tie) and walks (16) ... 2 hits, 2 walks, 2 runs scored and 1 RBI as the West Division's starting center fielder in the November 7 Fall Stars Game ... the AFL's week five player of the week ... also excelled defensively ... MLB.com's No. 17 White Sox prospect. Raimel Tapia, Salt River Rafters (Rockies) 2015 Fall Stars Game participant ... league MVP candidate ... 4-for-4 with an inside-the-park home run, 2 RBI, 3 runs and 1 walk on November 4 ... MLB.com's No. 8 Rockies' prospect and No. 99 overall prospect. Mac Williamson, Scottsdale Scorpions (Giants) Key cog in Scottsdale's Fall League championship ... league MVP candidate ... contended for AFL batting title until the final two days of the season, finishing third in the league at .370 ... also third in on-base percentage (.442) ... three-run homer on October 30 ... MLB.com's No. 13 Giants' prospect. Clint Frazier, Scottsdale Scorpions (Indians) Another top contributor to Scottsdale's Fall League championship ... Fall Stars Game participant ... three-run homer on October 20 ... MLB.com's No. 2 Indians prospect, No. 10 overall outfield prospect, and No. 35 overall prospect. Jacob Scavuzzo, Glendale Desert Dogs (Dodgers) Teammate Adam Engel's primary competition for the AFL batting title, finishing second in the league at .377 ... ranked third in slugging percentage (.623) and homer/at-bat ratio (1/17.25) ... AFL Fall Stars Game participant ... winner of the National League portion of the October 17 Bowman Hitting Challenge ... MLB.com's No. 23 Dodgers' prospect. Daniel Palka, Salt River Rafters (Twins) Traded from Arizona to Minnesota during the AFL s eason (November 10) ... first homer as a Twins prospect three days later ... 2-for-4 with a double and RBI on November 10, his last appearance as an Arizona prospect ... hit .278 with 17 RBI and 40 total bases ... third in the AFL in at-bats (90).
Third Basemen Jeimer Candelario, Mesa Solar Sox (Cubs) One of the AFL's most consistent offensive performers, the switch-hitter finished second in the AFL in home runs (5-tie), extra-base hits (13-tie), and total bases (50), third in hits (27-tie), doubles (8-tie), lowest strikeout ratio per plate appearance (8.90), and home-run/at-bat ratio (1/16.40), fifth in slugging percentage (.610), and seventh in batting (.329) ... league MVP candidate ... home runs on back-to-back days November 9-10 ... RBI double in the November 7 Fall Stars Game ... game-winning two-run double on October 26 in a six-run, ninth-inning comeback ... 5-for-5, including two homers and four RBI, on October 16 ... MLB.com's No. 20 Cubs' prospect. Patrick Wisdom, Surprise Saguaros ( Cardinals) Helped lead Surprise to the AFL championship game ... led league in RBI (21-tie), games played (24) and at-bats (93-tie) ... Fall Stars Game selection ... MLB.com's No. 12 Cardinals' prospect.
Shortstops Yadiel Rivera, Surprise Saguaros (Brewers) Recipient of the AFL's Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award ... key player in Surprise's West Division title and appearance in the league championship game ... ranked fourth in the AFL in stolen bases (7-tie) and fifth in on-base percentage (.405) ... hit .315 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 11 RBI, 31 total bases, 10 walks, and 7 stolen bases ... starting West Division shortstop in the November 7 Fall Stars Game ... inside-the-park homer on October 23 ... MLB.com's No. 18 Brewers' prospect. Christian Arroyo, Scottsdale Scorpions (Giants) One of top players on league champion Scottsdale roster ... two hits and two runs scored in the league championship game ... Fall Stars Game participant ... week three player of the week ... 4-for-5 with four runs scored and a three-run homer on October 30 ... first AFL home run on October 15 ... MLB.com's No. 2 Giants' prospect.
Second Basemen Carlos Asuaje, Scottsdale Scorpions Padres) Important presence as Scottsdale drove to the AFL title ... traded from Boston to San Diego along with three prospects for closer Craig Kimbrel (2009 Peoria Saguaros) during the AFL season on November 13 ... league's eighth-ranked hitter (.329) ... MLB.com's No. 19 Padres' prospect. Chad Pinder, Mesa Solar Sox (Athletics) Fall Stars Game participant ... four homers tied for fourth in the AFL with seven other players ... two home runs with four RBI on October 13 ... six appearances at shortstop, five at second base ... MLB.com's No. 7 Athletics' prospect.
First Basemen Sam Travis, Scottsdale Scorpions (Red Sox) Big bat in Scottsdale's march to the AFL title and one of the league's top offensive performers ... 2015 Fall Stars Game participant ... AFL hits leader (32) ... also led the loop in at-bats (93-tie), doubles (10) and runs scored (19) ... ranked third in total bases (47), fourth in extra-base hits (12-tie), fifth (.344) in AFL batting ... walk-off three-run, 11th-inning homer on November 9 ... MLB.com's No. 9 Red Sox prospect and No. 10 overall first-base prospect. Dominic Smith, Salt River Rafters Mets) Hit .362 with .483 on-base percentage, .511 slugging percentage, and .994 OPS ... MLB.com's No. 5 Mets' prospect, No. 3 overall first-base prospect, and No. 92 overall prospect.
Catchers Gary Sanchez, Surprise Saguaros Yankees) Top bat in potent Surprise lineup that won the West Division and reached AFL championship game ... home run and two RBI in November 7 Fall Stars Game to earn Bowman Star of the Game Award ... paced AFL in homers (7), RBI (21-tie), extra-base hits (14) and total bases (55) ... hit .295 with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 7 home runs, 21 RBI, 16 runs scored, 4 stolen bases and 8 walks ... week two AFL player of the week ... MLB.com's No. 5 Yankees' prospect and No. 8 overall catching prospect. Willson Contreras, Mesa Solar Sox (Cubs) Selected to Fall Stars Game but did not participate due to injury ... 3-for-4 with 2 doubles, 1 homer and 2 RBI on October 21 ... MLB.com's No. 10 Cubs' prospect and No. 5 overall catching prospect.
Designated Hitters Rowdy Tellez, Salt River Rafters (Blue Jays) Fall Stars Game participant ... four homers tied seven other players for fourth in the league ... hit .293 ... 17 RBI in 21 games tied for fifth in the AFL ... four RBI, including a two-run home run, on October 15 ... four RBI on Opening Day ... MLB.com's No. 7 Blue Jays prospect. Jurickson Profar, Surprise Saguaros (Rangers) Strong bat in Surprise offense that reached league title game ... switch-hitter batted .267 in 20 games, all as a designated hitter ... 20 RBI equalled games played ... 2 hits, 2 walks and 2 stolen bases in November 7 Fall Stars Game ... ranked second in the league in strikeout ratio per plate appearances (9.10) and third in RBI (20) ... MLB.com's former No. 1 overall prospect (2012) who has been hampered by injuries.
Starting Pitchers Sean Manaea, Mesa Solar Sox (Athletics) AFL strikeout leader (33) and strikeout ratio/nine innings (11.57) ... 33 strikeouts over 25 2/3 innings pitched ... also ranked third in fewest baserunners/nine innings (10.17) ... six appearances (all starts) ... East Division starting pitcher in the November 7 Fall Stars Game, tossing two scoreless innings with four strikouts against no runs, no hits, and one walk ... MLB.com's No. 3 Athletics' prospect and No. 10 overall left-handed pitching prospect. Josh Hader, Surprise Saguaros (Brewers) Part of strong Surprise pitching staff that reached AFL championship game ... seven appearances (two starts) ... AFL ERA leader (0.56) ... ranked fourth in WHIP (0.94) and opponent batting average (.154) ... as a reliever, ranked fourth in opponent batting average (.118) and strikeout ratio/nine innings (13.50) ... pitched the ninth inning in the league title game ... week four pitcher of the week ... MLB.com's No. 14 Brewers' prospect.
Relief Pitchers Tanner Scott, Peoria Javelinas (Orioles) Opening Day addition to Peoria roster ... 2.00 ERA over nine inings with 10 strikeouts ... MLB.com's No. 21 Orioles' prospect. Nick Burdi, Scottsdale Scorpions (Twins) Among relievers, led the league in lowest oppoonent batting average (.080) and fewest baserunners/nine innings pitched (3.38) ... Fall Stars Game selection ... struck out 11 in eight appearances covering eight innings ... 0.38 WHIP ... hit 100 m.p.h. on scouts' radar guns on numerous occasions ... recorded a save in the AFL championship game ... MLB.com's No. 12 Twins' prospect.
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Arizona Fall League Stories from December 7, 2015
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