The Arizona Fall League is not even two weeks into its schedule, but already there are some noteworthy storylines. Though sample sizes are still small, a few players are managing to turn heads, both in good and bad ways.
It's time for our weekly check-in, and while we'll revisit a few of the players we looked at last week, we will mostly touch on some hitters and pitchers that we didn't cover in our initial report.
Note: Players' AFL team affiliations are in parentheses.
Tim Beckham, SS, Rays (Peoria): The No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 amateur draft showed his first real signs of power in his first brief exposure to Triple-A this year. He has continued the trend in Arizona, hitting two homers, two triples and three doubles in his first 32 at-bats. If Beckham maintains his progress into next year, he could work his way into the Rays' lineup in midseason, though fellow shortstop prospect Hak-Ju Lee won't be far behind him.
Bradley Boxberger, RP, Reds (Phoenix): Boxberger's improved control and ground ball tendencies earned him a promotion to Triple-A this year, and he has a shot to make the Reds' bullpen out of spring training. The hard-throwing righty leads the AFL in strikeouts with 11 in 5 2/3 innings, but control is a constant concern, and he has already issued three walks. If Boxberger makes the Reds, works his way into a prominent bullpen role and keeps his control issues at bay, he could be a valuable reliever in Fantasy as soon as next year.
Alex Castellanos, OF, Dodgers (Salt River): The Dodgers acquired Castellanos when they traded Rafael Furcal to the Cardinals just before the July 31 trade deadline. Castellanos had a major spike in his home run hitting this year in Double-A, but prospective Fantasy owners should keep in mind that most of that damage was done at homer-friendly Springfield in the Texas League. The power binge continues in the AFL, as he has three homers in 29 at-bats, and he also has four stolen bases. Skepticism is still merited, but it's a trend worth watching.
Gerrit Cole, SP, Pirates (Mesa): This year's top overall pick made his professional debut on Friday. Hitting 100 mph with his fastball, Cole allowed three earned runs on three hits and a walk in 2 1/3 innings. While the stat line from his debut wasn't exactly tidy, there were some good signs. Cole threw strikes and a Tim Beckham double was the only extra-base hit he allowed.
Sean Gilmartin, SP, Braves (Surprise): The Braves added Gilmartin to their already deep pool of highly touted pitching prospects when they drafted him in the first round in the amateur draft this past June. The lefty isn't punishing hitters the way that he did in the Class A South Atlantic League this year, but remember that lots of good pitchers put up ugly numbers in this hitter-friendly circuit. The flyball-prone hurler has already allowed a pair of homers and five earned runs overall, but he has struck out six batters in his seven innings.
Anthony Gose, OF, Blue Jays (Phoenix): Last week, I had mentioned that Gose needed to add power to his arsenal, and so far this fall, he has delivered. Though the speedy outfielder has yet to steal a base, he already has seven extra-base hits in 40 at-bats, including three homers. It will be interesting to see if the power translates to Triple-A Las Vegas, assuming Gose gets promoted there. It's a good hitter's park, but not as conducive to home runs as its desert location might make you think.
Grant Green, SS, A's (Phoenix): Green has been moved from shortstop to the outfield, and his stay in Arizona has as much to do with his defensive transition as anything else. While he is reportedly struggling with his new position, Fantasy owners are probably even more interested in how his bat is developing, given the higher offensive expectations placed on outfielders as compared to shortstops. It's been a difficult time at the plate, too, for Green, as he has only three extra base hits in 32 at-bats, while he has eight strikeouts as compared to only one walk.
Jedd Gyorko, 3B, Padres (Peoria): Gyorko's flyball-hitting ways probably didn't serve him well at Double-A San Antonio, which is not a good home run park. He is faring well in the AFL so far, with three homers to go along with a .391 average. That may bode well for better things when Gyorko goes to Triple-A, and as a right-handed hitter, he could continue to hit for power should he play his big league home games in PETCO Park.
Bryce Harper, OF, Nationals (Scottsdale): Harper may be the AFL's main attraction, but he has yet to put on a show. The top prospect has only three hits in 27 at-bats, but he does have three steals already.
Danny Hultzen, SP, Mariners (Peoria): Hultzen's 3.60 ERA in five innings looks perfectly respectable, but it masks a difficult start to his professional career. The No. 2 overall pick from the 2011 draft has already allowed nine base hits, and he has struck out only two batters. Fantasy owners should not take any AFL stats too seriously, especially at this early stage in the season, but at least we know Hultzen is not immune to the struggles that most pitchers have in this league.
Junior Lake, SS, Cubs (Scottsdale): Lake has put up an impressive stat line so far, hitting .333 with three home runs and seven stolen bases. Lake's ability to collect steals is legitimate, but he still has a lot of work to do at the plate. He has 10 strikeouts and two walks in 38 plate appearances, and those ratios are consistent with what he has done in the minors. Maybe the 21-year-old can surprise us in the upper minors, but his extended track record of poor plate discipline and middling power numbers should make us very suspicious of his small sample of AFL at-bats.
Kevin Mattison, OF, Marlins (Surprise): Mattison, like Lake, could be a coveted source of steals if only he could nail down a major league job. Even though, at 26 years old, Mattison is “well-aged” for a prospect, he is worth watching for a couple of reasons. The Marlins like his defense, and their center field situation is unclear heading into 2012. Also, he greatly improved his strike zone judgment in Double-A this year, so he may not be much of a liability at the plate. In fact, he hit 16 triples in the Southern League this season, and he has already tacked on four more in his first seven games in the AFL. Mattison is someone to watch as spring training unfolds next March.
Trey McNutt, SP, Cubs (Mesa): As the Cubs' top pitching prospect, McNutt's presence in the AFL is notable, but he has become especially newsworthy, as he has been rumored to be possibly heading to the Red Sox as compensation for the Cubs' signing of Theo Epstein as their general manager. McNutt had an underwhelming season in Double-A this year, but he is off to a very good start in Arizona, allowing only one earned run in five innings, while striking out three batters and walking none. A triple and a single are all that McNutt has yielded so far.
Mike Olt, 3B, Rangers (Surprise): Olt is coming back from a broken collarbone that he sustained in midseason. He's off to a fast start, leading the AFL with four homers, and he is also batting .355. The biggest concern for Olt is his propensity to strike out, and his 11 Ks in 31 at-bats aren't doing much to assuage the worries of owners in long-term keeper leagues.
Matt Purke, SP, Nationals (Scottsdale): Purke pitched in his first game as a professional on Saturday, tossing two innings in relief. The only hit he allowed was a Zelous Wheeler double, and he had both a strikeout and a walk. It wasn't a bad debut for the 2011 draft pick, who profiles to be a starter, but will work out of the bullpen during his time in the AFL.
Neil Ramirez, SP, Rangers (Surprise): After repeating Class A in 2010, Ramirez shot up through the Rangers' system this season, spending most of the year at Triple-A. The Rangers don't lack for young pitching talent, and Ramirez still has work to do on his command, so he may get another year in the minors. Still, with the ability to strike out more than a batter per inning, Ramirez is a viable target for owners in dynasty leagues.
Joseph Terdoslavich, 1B, Braves (Surprise): With a big 2011 season in the Carolina League, Terdoslavich's stock rose substantially this year. He has continued his good hitting into the AFL, as he is second to Jaff Decker in batting average with a .440 mark in 25 at-bats. Much more impressive are Terdoslavich's 20 home runs with Lynchburg, which is not a very hitter-friendly destination. If he continues his torrid pace, you can expect Terdoslavich to get drafted in plenty of long-term keeper leagues next spring.
Johan Yan, RP, Rangers (Surprise): A converted third baseman, Yan has been working his way up the minors as a reliever over the last three seasons. Picking up where he left off in Double-A, Yan has allowed only one run in four AFL innings so far. Fantasy owners could possibly see Yan in the Rangers' bullpen sometime next year.
