Since I cannot be in Arizona this Fall to see all of these prospects play in person, I wanted to take a look at which players have been leading the way for the AFL teams.\u00a0 Any minor league follower or dynasty leaguer who keeps tabs on prospects likely wants to know who’s been performing well.\u00a0 If any of these players are available in your deep dynasty leagues and you have an upcoming Minors draft, add them to your Watch List!<\/p>\n
Surprise Saguaros:<\/strong> Nicky Lopez<\/a>, SS – KC Zach Lovvorn<\/a>, RHP – KC Ryan Eades<\/a>, RHP – MIN Will Smith<\/a>, C – LAD Seby Zavala<\/a>, C –\u00a0 CWS Other names to keep an eye on in prospect circles who are also playing well to start the AFL season are Kevin Kramer (PIT), Bobby Bradley (CLE) and Yusniel Diaz (LAD).<\/p>\n Mitch Keller<\/a>, RHP – PIT Mesa Solar Sox:<\/strong> Sheldon Neuse<\/a>, 3B – OAK Daniel Johnson (WAS) and Kyle Tucker (HOU) are a couple other big time prospects playing for the Solar Sox this Fall.<\/p>\n Adbert Alzolay<\/a>, RHP – CHC Jimmy Cordero<\/a>, RHP – WAS Zac Houston<\/a>, RHP – DET Peoria Javelinas:<\/strong> Eric Filia<\/a>, 3B – SEA Jackson and Filia have outshined a who’s who of other top prospects on the Peoria squad.\u00a0 Ronald Acuna, Prospect1500’s overall #2 prospect and in some cases baseball’s #1 prospect, is hitting .281 with 1 HR and a SB.\u00a0 Other notable names include #1 Mariners prospect Kyle Lewis, Michael Chavis (BOS), Lourdes Gurriel (TOR), and Luis Urias (SD).<\/p>\n Max Fried<\/a>, RHP – ATL T.J. Zeuch<\/a>, RHP – TOR Salt River Rafters:<\/strong> Lucas Erceg<\/a>, 3B – MIL Zach Jemiola<\/a>, RHP – COL Scottsdale Scorpions:<\/strong> Billy McKinney<\/a>, OF – NYY Other big offensive prospect names we’ll keep an eye on from Scottsdale are: Estevan Florial (NYY), Kyle Holder (NYY – hitting .450 in his first 5 games), Matt Thaiss (LAA), Taylor Ward (LAA), Thairo Estrada (NYY), Tomas Nido (NYM), and Chris Shaw (SF).<\/p>\n Albert Abreu<\/a>, RHP – NYY Justus Sheffield<\/a>, LHP – NYY Article featured image of David Bote – courtesy of MLB Pipeline on Twitter<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\nAndrew Knizner<\/a>, C – STL
\nIn his first 7 games Knizner was slashing .393\/.433\/.643 (OBP 1.076) with 2 HR and 7 RBI.\u00a0 He’s currently #27 on MLB Pipeline’s Cardinals Top 30 and will certainly be ranked somewhere in our Prospects1500 Cards Top 50 in January.<\/p>\n
\nLopez was leading Surprise with 13 hits in his first 8 games, including 4 doubles and a stolen base.\u00a0 With a .406 AVG and .972 OPS his bat has enjoyed Arizona so far.\u00a0 Lopez is #11 on MLB Pipeline’s Royals Top 30 and #9 on K.C. Shankland’s midseason Royals Top 30<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nNot ranked in our Royals top propsects or in MLB Pipeline’s Royals Top 30, 23-year-old Lovvorn looks great in his first 2 AFL games this fall.\u00a0 Through 8 IP he’s given up only 7 hits with no walks and 7 K, picking up 1 W.\u00a0 His 2017 was spent at Double-A Northwest Arkansas where he struggled to a 4-9 record, 4.83 ERA and 1.50 WHIP.<\/p>\n
\nThe Twins<\/a>‘ 2nd round pick in 2013, Eades spent most of 2017 with Double-A Chattanooga but got into a couple games for Triple-A Rochester and picked up 2 wins in 8 IP, giving up only 1 ER.\u00a0 So far in Arizona he’s pitching out of the bullpen, having tossed in 4 games.\u00a0 Through 4.1 IP he hasn’t given up any ER, has 1 BB, 2 K, a Win and a Hold.
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\nGlendale Desert Dogs:<\/strong>
\nThere are a lot of big prospect names and solid performances so far on this Glendale squad.
\nFrancisco Mejia<\/a>, C – CLE
\nMejia, the Indians top offensive prospect, has picked up in the AFL right where he left off in the 2017 season, which saw him play at 3 levels – Double-A Akron, Triple-A Columbus and in the majors with Cleveland.\u00a0 Through the Desert Dogs first 8 games Mejia leads the team with 15 total bases, slashing .387\/.406\/.484.\u00a0 His natural position is Catcher but he’s been playing 3B in Arizona with Will Smith getting most of the catching duties.<\/p>\n
\nSmith was LA’s 1st round pick in 2016.\u00a0 He’s on fire to start this Fall hitting .400 (10-25 in his first 7 games) with a 1.024 OPS.<\/p>\n
\nZavala hasn’t had as many at bats as Smith but he’s taking advantage of the playing time he does get.\u00a0 He’s hitting .500 (7-14) with 2 doubles, 2 runs and 3 RBI, with an OPS of 1.198 in 5 games.\u00a0 Zavala was one of our 2017 Catcher Prospects of the Year nominees.<\/p>\n
\nKeller, Pittsburgh’s 2nd round pick in 2014, is arguably the Pirates<\/a> #1 pitching prospect.\u00a0 After 3 starts so far he holds a 2.53 ERA with 1 W.\u00a0 Only 3 ER in 10.1 IP with 4 BB, 8 K and 1.03 WHIP.\u00a0 As of press time on this article Tuesday night October 24th he tossed 4 more innings, giving up 2 hits and 2 ER.<\/p>\n
\nDavid Bote<\/a>, 2B – CHC
\nBote is en fuego to start this Fall’s action in Arizona and it’s very likely you’ve seen Twitter updates on his Fall prowess so far.\u00a0 The Chicago Cubs<\/a>‘ 18th round pick in 2012 Bote leads the AFL world with 27 total bases in 9 games.\u00a0 He’s logged 14 hits through his first 9 games, with 4 HR, 8 RBI and 1 SB.\u00a0 The slash line so far reads .438\/.514\/.844\/1.357.\u00a0 Our Prospects1500 Cubs<\/a> rep Dan Hogan had Bote ranked #50 on last January’s Cubs Top 50 list.\u00a0 Most likely we’ll be seeing him move up in those rankings this year.<\/p>\n
\nNeuse is leading the Solar Sox with 10 RBI in his first 9 games.\u00a0 Washington’s 2nd round pick in 2016, Neuse was traded to Oakland in the Ryan Madson\/Sean Doolittle trade this season.\u00a0 MLB Pipeline ranks Neuse 14th in the A’s organization while Robert Hill had him at #16 in Prospects1500’s A’s Top 50 Prospects<\/a> from September 1st.<\/p>\n
\nThe Cubs<\/a>‘ 22-year-old righthander is one of the Chicago’s top pitching prospects.\u00a0 Coming out of the bullpen this Fall he’s pitched in 4 games so far, going 8 IP giving up only 1 ER with 8 K.\u00a0 A 1.13 ERA and 0.50 WHIP are dominating numbers and I’m excited to see how the rest of the Fall goes for Adbert and am very high on him for 2018.<\/p>\n
\nPhiladelphia traded Cordero to Washington last November for a player to be named later.\u00a0 Seems like not much of a return for the now 26-year-old former Phillies<\/a> top prospect.\u00a0 So far so good in Arizona for Cordero as he’s pitched in 4 games so far, going 5 innings, giving up only 3 hits, striking out 3 and hasn’t given up a run.<\/p>\n
\nProspects1500’s Relief Pitcher Prospect of the Year in 2017, Houston is a force in the Solar Sox bullpen just as he was in A ball this past season in Detroit’s MiLB system.\u00a0 He hasn’t given up a run through 3 appearances this Fall, striking out 6 in 4 innings.\u00a0 I look for Houston to make the Double-A Erie Seawolves roster in 2018.<\/p>\n
\nAlex Jackson<\/a>, C – ATL
\nSimilar to Bote, Jackson has been one of the hottest hitters to date in the 2017 AFL.\u00a0 Jackson, who was Seattle’s 1st round pick in 2014 and traded to Atlanta last November, has 26 total bases in 8 games.\u00a0 He’s swatted 4 HR to go along with 9 RBI, 12 runs scored and a line of .364\/.417\/.788\/1.205.\u00a0 Currently Prospect1500’s Drew Bonner’s 10th ranked Braves<\/a> prospect and 16th on MLB Pipeline.<\/p>\n
\nHe’s been as hot as Jackson, just without the power.\u00a0 Unranked by Prospects1500 and MLB Pipeline in the Mariners organization, Filia leads the Javelinas with 14 hits (in 30 AB) with 5 runs scored and 6 RBI so far.\u00a0 His other numbers are eye popping with .467 BA, .514 OBP, .700 SLG and 1.214 OPS.\u00a0 The 25-year-old was a 20th round pick by Seattle in 2016 and spent the entire 2017 season, a very solid season, with A-Advanced Modesto Nuts.<\/p>\n
\nDominant so far this Fall, Fried is 2-0 after 3 games started.\u00a0 He’s only given up 1 ER in 13 IP with 4 BB and 18 K.\u00a0 Fried is a former 1st round pick (San Diego, 2012) and a solid AFL performance could catapult him into Atlanta’s 2018 rotation plans.\u00a0 His 2017 saw him in 19 games in Double-A, 2 in Triple-A and 9 games (26 IP) in Atlanta.<\/p>\n
\nToronto’s 1st round pick in 2016, Zeuch has looked very good after 2 starts for Peoria.\u00a0 1 win in 8 IP, having only given up 3 hits with 8 K (0.00 ERA and 0.38 WHIP).\u00a0 Greg Bracken ranked Zeuch #9 on his Prospects1500\u00a0midseason Blue Jays Top 50 Prospects<\/a>, while MLB Pipeline has him at #5.<\/p>\n
\nRyan Mountcastle<\/a>, SS – BAL
\nMountcastle was our Prospects1500 Orioles<\/a> #4 prospect heading into 2017 and he’s currently #3 on MLB Pipeline’s O’s list.\u00a0 He leads the Rafters with 20 TB but also leads the team with 12 strikeouts.\u00a0 His 2 HR and 8 RBI also lead the squad, tied with Milwaukee’s Monte Harrison.<\/p>\n
\nErceg is hitting .350, slugging .650, and has a 1.031 OPS through 6 games and his first 20 at bats, including 3 doubles.\u00a0 Prospect1500’s Steve Hammerling ranks Erceg #14 on his 2017 midseason Brewers Top 50 Prospects list.<\/a>\u00a0 He was Milwaukee’s 2nd round pick in 2016 and spent most of 2017 with High-A Carolina and got into 3 games with Triple-A Colorado Springs.<\/p>\n
\nJemiola, a 23-year-old 9th round pick by Colorado in 2012, is showing promise against tough AFL competition.\u00a0 In 2 starts he’s 2-0 with 9 K in 8 IP, with 0.00 ERA and 1.13 WHIP.\u00a0 He wasn’t ranked by Robert Hill in Prospects1500’s Rockies<\/a> Top 50 prior to the 2017 season (just missed the cut) and hasn’t cracked MLB’s Rockies<\/a> Top 30 yet.\u00a0 Jemiola spent most of 2017 with Triple-A Albuquerque and most likely will be back there in 2018.<\/p>\n
\nDavid Thompson<\/a>, 3B – NYM
\nThompson was with Double-A Binghamton all season.\u00a0 He leads Scottsdale with 18 total bases in only 6 games.\u00a0 His slash line is a nice .391\/.440\/.783\/1.223 which includes 1 HR, 3 RBI, 6 R and 1 SB.\u00a0 The Mets’ 4th round pick in 2015 is currently ranked #24 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 Mets prospects.\u00a0 Prospects1500’s Michael Hivry had him #29 on his Mets Top 50 going into 2017.<\/p>\n
\nMcKinney leads the AFL with 11 RBI.\u00a0 He’s hitting .292 (7-24) with 1 HR.\u00a0 The former 1st round pick (2013, Oakland), spent a few season in the Cubs organization (went to the Cubs with Addison Russell in the Samardzija trade) and then was moved to the Yankees<\/a> last July in the Aroldis Chapman deal.\u00a0 Ryan Ortiz had him ranked #10 on his midseason Yankees Top 50 Prospects list <\/a>and it will be interesting to see if he rises or falls on the upcoming 2018 Yankees Top 50.<\/p>\n
\nAbreu made it up to A-Advanced Tampa Yankees<\/a> in 2017, getting into 14 games, throwing 53.1 innings with a 3.38 ERA.\u00a0 So far in Arizona this Fall he’s been very good in 3 games started.\u00a0 Through 15 IP he’s given up 9 hits, only 2 ER, 3 BB and 15 K.\u00a0 That’s a 1.20 ERA and 0.80 WHIP, dominant numbers for the 22-year-old Dominican.<\/p>\n
\nAbreu’s Yankee teammate Sheffield has similarly dominated at times through his 3 starts.\u00a0 The lefty has thrown 14 IP and only walked 2 while striking out 15.\u00a0 The ERA (3.21) is higher because of 5 earned runs but still solid, but the WHIP is right there with Abreu’s at 0.86.<\/p>\n