Fall League tripleheader: Scottsdale puts first place on the line in Peoria
PHOENIX — The Arizona Fall League has three games across the Valley today, giving prospect-watchers a full afternoon and evening of baseball. All times are MST.
The early game is at 1:30 p.m. at Camelback Ranch, where the Surprise Saguaros (5-3) visit the Glendale Desert Dogs (1-8). Surprise has two of the league's hottest hitters. Guardians shortstop Welbyn Francisca led the league in average, OPS, runs, hits and doubles in Baseball America's Oct. 12 Hot Sheet, where he ranked third after hitting .556 (10-for-18). Phillies third baseman Aidan Miller, who's trying to show he's past a significant back injury, was hitting .500 with seven walks. Glendale needs a turnaround, but White Sox outfielder Caleb Bonemer (.364, three doubles, six RBIs) has been producing while he learns the outfield.
At 6:30 p.m., two games start at the same time. League-leading Scottsdale (6-2-1) visits Peoria (4-5) at Peoria Stadium. The Javelinas have three players from the same Hot Sheet: Orioles outfielder Ike Irish, who has two homers in his first five games after a torn meniscus ended his season in July; Cardinals outfielder Tai Peete (.400, 4-for-6 stealing bases); and Orioles outfielder Vance Honeycutt (two homers and eight walks in 10 at-bats).
Meanwhile, the Mesa Solar Sox (3-4-1) visit the Salt River Rafters (6-3) at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mesa's Antonio Anderson, a Red Sox first baseman, topped Baseball America's list after hitting .368 with two homers and seven RBIs. Salt River has Nationals right-hander Jarlin Susana, whose 103.8 mph fastball in his first start is the hardest pitch in Fall League history, and 19-year-old Yankees shortstop Dax Kilby, who had four extra-base hits among his first five hits.
Pitching matchups weren't confirmed by press time, so any specific pitcher may or may not work today.