CarL1 Winston-Salem Dash

Collins, Six Alumni to Play in Arizona Fall League

September 1, 2016 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release


WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.- The Winston-Salem Dash will be well represented in this year's edition of the Arizona Fall League (AFL), a prospect showcase that takes place in October and November. Not only is current Dash catcher and first-round selection Zack Collins heading to the AFL, but six former Dash players will also compete for the Glendale Desert Dogs.

Four former Dash pitchers-southpaw Brian Clark and right-handers Matt Cooper, Brad Goldberg and Connor Walsh-will compete in the AFL, along with Collins, outfielder Courtney Hawkins and infielders Danny Hayes and Trey Michalczewski. Hayes is the only AFL selection who has not donned the Dash purple during his professional career.

The AFL is a six-team circuit that features some of the top Minor Leaguers throughout baseball. In addition to the eight players from the White Sox system, the Desert Dogs will feature prospects from the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals systems.

The 10th pick in this year's draft, Collins has hit six homers and driven home 17 runs in his first 30 games with the Dash. The former University of Miami star was this season's Johnny Bench Award winner as the top catcher in college baseball, and he helped the Hurricanes reach the College World Series this June.

A key cog on Winston-Salem's playoff team a year ago, Clark boasts a 2.26 earned run average in 36 relief appearances between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte in 2016.

One of three Desert Dogs who suited up in Winston-Salem this year, Cooper was a midseason Carolina League All-Star after posting a 3.36 ERA in 13 starts with the Dash. At the time of his last CL start, he led the Minors with 95 strikeouts. Since his promotion to Birmingham in late June, Cooper owns a 3.32 ERA in 18 outings.

Goldberg has shined throughout the 2016 season, largely with Charlotte. He is 3-5 with a 2.96 ERA and nine saves with the Knights. The former Ohio State star spent all of 2014 and 2015 with the Dash, including a lengthy stint as the club's closer last year.

Walsh was a key cog in the Dash's bullpen before jumping to Double-A Birmingham last month. Still Winston-Salem's leader in saves, Walsh posted a 3.40 ERA over 25 relief efforts in the CL.

A first-round pick back in 2012, Hawkins has spent the last two years in Double-A. This season, Hawkins is hitting .208 with 11 homers and 55 RBIs in 101 games. He was a member of the Dash from late in 2012 through the 2014 campaign, hitting 39 home runs during this span.

Hayes skipped Winston-Salem and went from Low-A Kannapolis to Birmingham for the 2015 season. This year in Charlotte, the Oregon State product is hitting .250 with 10 home runs and 42 RBIs in 55 games.

Michalczewski was a Year-End All-Star for Winston-Salem a season ago, when he hit .259 with seven homers and 75 RBIs in 127 games. This season, the Oklahoma native has gone deep 10 times and knocked home 56 runs in 129 games with the Barons.

Last season, former Dash outfielder Adam Engel took home the AFL's Most Valuable Player award after leading the league in batting average (.403).

The Dash are in the midst of a season-ending road trip to Salem and Carolina. Follow all of the action on wsdash.com/broadcast and the TuneIn Radio App.

Check out the Winston-Salem Dash Statistics



Carolina League Stories from September 1, 2016


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