Almost as quickly as it arrived, the Arizona Fall League will come to an end this weekend.
Split between two divisions, the league has played host to six teams of roughly 180 players from all 30 major-league clubs.
The Peoria Javelinas, consisting of prospects from the Braves, Brewers, Padres, Mariners and Rays have already clinched a place in the championship game slated for Saturday, Nov. 17. The Javelinas lead the league in home runs, RBI, OBP%, SLG% and OPS through 27 games, sitting second overall in runs, hits, triples, and batting average. They’ll be facing the Salt River Rafters, home club to prospects from the Diamondbacks, Rockies, Marlins, Twins and Nationals. Salt River sits atop the league in hits, batting average and stolen bases, and was second only to Peoria in runs scored.
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With this being the final week of the AFL, we’re taking a look at the players who showed some of the most impressive work with their respective clubs. For the players, these last weeks have been an opportunity to polish what skills they already have, and for their parent clubs, it’s been an opportunity to observe their progress in a comfortable climate.
Here are my selections for the standouts from the 2018 Arizona Fall League.
East Division
Salt River Rafters
Teams: Diamondbacks | Rockies | Marlins | Twins | Nationals
Manager: Tommy Watkins (Twins)
Pitcher of the Fall: Jesus Tinoco, RHP, Rockies
15.2 IP, 1.72 ERA, 11 H, 3 ER, 6 BB, 14 K
Runner-up: Jordan Yamamoto, RHP, Marlins
Originally signed out of Venezuela by the Blue Jays, Jesus Tinoco was sent to Colorado in the exchange for Troy Tulowitzki and LaTroy Hawkins in 2015. Tinoco, 23, works two above-average offspeed offerings in his curve and slider, adding a developing changeup and a 93-96 mph fastball with good sink.
Over 10 outings in Arizona, Tinoco held his ERA to 1.72, striking out 14 and walking six. Tinoco is still ironing out some mechanical inconsistencies but showed progress in Arizona that will hopefully carry into 2019.
Player of the Fall: Tyler Nevin, 1B, Rockies
54 AB, .426/.535/.593, 23 H, 9 R, 3 2B, 3 3B, 20 RBI
Runner-up: Sam Hilliard, RF, Rockies
After an up-and-down battle with his health, Tyler Nevin’s performance in Arizona left little doubt that he’s ready to go — and that’s exactly what the Rockies have been hoping for.
At 6-4 and 200 pounds, Nevin already commands attention, and a 1.126 OPS only adds to the appeal. Nevin, 21, also put his contact rate on display this fall. There isn’t the degree of power you’d expect from someone of Nevin’s build, but his five strikeouts over 54 at-bats show plenty of patience and a sharp eye in the making.
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If Nevin can stay healthy, what he showed at full strength could be a real asset for Colorado down the road.
Mesa Solar Sox
Teams: Red Sox | Cubs | Tigers | Angels | Athletics
Manager: Lou Marson (Angels)
Pitcher of the Fall: Eduardo Jimenez, RHP, Tigers
13.2 IP, 1.32 ERA, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 12 K
Runner-up: Erick Leal, RHP, Cubs
Reunited with his former pitching coach, Jorge Cordova, High-A reliever Eduardo Jimenez provided a promising trend with his work out in Arizona.
One of multiple high-heat arms in the Tigers’ farm on a quest for command, Jimenez made some Cordova-directed mechanical tweaks that resulted in some of his strongest work on the year.
For Jimenez to advance, consistency is key and this is the type of outing that Detroit needs to continue to see from him.
Player of the Fall: Nico Hoerner, SS, Cubs
89 AB, .337/.362/.506, 30 H, 10 R, 4 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 11 RBI
Runner-up: Eli White, SS, Athletics
Quickly acknowledged as one of the hardest-working players to arrive in Arizona, Nico Hoerner found a way to set himself apart and did so quickly, specifically at the plate.
Still fresh into his career, the Cubs’ 2018 first-round pick is a sound defender. It’s still being debated on whether Hoerner will stay at shortstop or if a move to second base may occur.
Hoerner, 21, has an innate ability to maneuver the barrel with advanced strike zone control, and as he showed this fall, contact comes naturally. There is a lot of growth ahead for Hoerner, but his progress over such a short period of time has been impossible to ignore.
Scottsdale Scorpions
Teams: Reds | Astros | Mets | Phillies | Giants
Manager: Willie Harris (Giants)
Pitcher of the Fall: Forrest Whitley, RHP, Astros
26 IP, 2.42 ERA, 18 H, 7 ER, 7 BB, 36 K
Runner-up: J.B. Bukauskas, RHP, Astros
Despite a shortened regular season campaign, Forrest Whitley entered the Fall League season as the most seasoned arm to keep an eye on.
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Whitley played as advertised, despite having to shake off a bit of rust early on. Whitley, who just turned 21 in September, has an arsenal that sits an easy above-average to plus across the board. Over 26 innings, Whitley carried a 0.96 WHIP, and lead the league with 36 strikeouts.
Out of all the arms in Arizona this fall, Whitley is poised to move the quickest in 2019.
Player of the Fall: Taylor Trammell, CF, Reds
84 AB, .298/.359/.393, 25 H, 10 R, 4 2B, 2 3B, 6 RBI
Runner-up: Abraham Toro, 3B, Astros
Since his CBA selection in 2016, Taylor Trammell’s ascent through the Reds’ farm system has been steady. Trammell, 21, was among the Scorpions’ hits leaders throughout the entire season.
Trammell is a well-proportioned 6-2, 195 pounds, with an ability to barrel the ball from a fluid compact stroke. He’s able to run the game at his pace, producing good plate patience.
While he isn’t the flashiest hitter, Trammell works equally well on both offense and defense and has shown this fall that his work on both sides of the ball is only getting stronger.
West Division
Peoria Javelinas
Teams: Braves | Brewers | Padres | Mariners | Rays
Manager: Daren Brown (Mariners)
Pitcher of the Fall: Anthony Misiewicz, LHP, Mariners
16.1 IP, 2.76 ERA, 13 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 13 K
Runner-up: Thomas Burrows, LHP, Braves
A 15th-round pick for the Mariners in 2015, Anthony Misiewicz has had to build his identity on deception more than on pure stuff. Misiewicz, 24, leads off with an above-average low-80s curveball, complimenting a low-90s fastball and a below-average changeup.
The Michigan State alum worked five outings this fall, leaning on pitchability and enough consistency to allow him to throw strikes. Misiewicz doesn’t dazzle, but his production in Arizona was enough to stand out of the crowd.
Player of the Fall: Buddy Reed, CF, Padres
66 AB, .333/.397/.485, 22 H, 13 R, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBI
Runner-up: Keston Hiura, 2B, Brewers
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In addition to the value that being a switch-hitter brings, Buddy Reed showed this fall that not only can he handle hitting from either side, but he can do it with some added power.
Reed makes his living off of pure athleticism, plus-plus speed and a fearless ability on the base path. The 23-year-old held a key role in multiple occasions for Peoria this fall, adding his developing skill set to both sides of the ball.
In addition to some adjustments to his swing, Reed is honing in on his identity as a hitter and should show more of the same power in 2019.
Surprise Saguaros
Teams: Royals | Pirates | Cardinals | Rangers | Blue Jays
Manager: Stubby Clapp (Cardinals)
Pitcher of the Fall: Nate Pearson, RHP, Blue Jays
20.1 IP, 6.20 ERA, 23 H, 14 ER, 13 BB, 23 K
Runner-up: Evan Kruczynski, LHP, Cardinals
Nate Pearson’s work out west went far beyond a stat line. Pearson’s dominant fastball (which reached 105 mph at one point) wasn’t without flaw, but the growth and self-correction leading into the final weeks of the league set Pearson apart.
Led by an above-average slider, Pearson’s three-pitch offspeed mix had to work to locate throughout his six starts, but leading into his final two starts, things began to click. To end the year, the 22-year-old elbowed his way through a combined nine scoreless frames for Surprise.
As Pearson’s arsenal continues to take shape, he’s poised to advance quickly.
Player of the Fall: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3B, Blue Jays
77 AB, .351/.409/.442, 27 H, 8 R, 7 2B, 17 RBI
Runner-up: Cole Tucker, SS, Pirates
It was already solidified that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would be the top offensive prospect even before he arrived in Arizona. Much to the dismay of the fans, Guerrero didn’t post a home run, instead putting his bat speed on display, along with solid base running and defensive work at third base.
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The combination of hand/eye coordination and natural raw strength, along with his patience at the plate, make Guerrero more challenging to opposing pitchers as each year passes. With his serviceable play at the infield corner, he’s being propelled to a Major League debut in 2019.
Glendale Desert Dogs
Teams: Orioles | White Sox | Indians | Dodgers | Yankees
Manager: Dave Anderson (Orioles)
Pitcher of the Fall: Chris Lee, LHP, Orioles
20.2 IP, 3.05 ERA, 18 H, 7 ER, 8 BB, 13 K
Runner-up: Ben Holmes, LHP, Dodgers
Although pitching was in short supply across the league this fall, Glendale, in particular, struggled on the mound. But there was a silver lining: Desert Dog Chris Lee sat among the more impressive pitchers able to produce.
The 26-year-old Double-A Baltimore lefty struggled with inconsistency during the regular season, turning his trip to Arizona into a perfect opportunity to polish off his arsenal. Lee, who mixes a hard, above-average slider and a mid-90s fastball is teetering on the line of needing to produce for Baltimore and will hope to carry a solid fall performance into next season.
Player of the Fall: Ryan McKenna, CF, Orioles
61 AB, .344/.474/.590, 21 H, 16 R, 6 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 9 RBI
Runner-up: Yu Chang, SS, Indians
After introducing himself during the regular season with a career-best .315 batting average between High-A and Double-A, Ryan McKenna carried his quiet success story into his work this fall.
The 21-year-old can work corner to corner of the field with enough line-drive power to do some damage. Posting multiple four-hit games, the outfielder proved contact was no issue. McKenna’s ability to barrel the ball, despite below-average natural power, has positioned McKenna to be a top name to watch in Baltimore’s pipeline in 2019.
(Top photo of Trammell: Joe Robbins/Getty Images)