AFL Prospects

[onejayhawk]

It seems weird that the Arizona Fall League is over at the same time as the World Series. That's life.

Who do you see as being ready to step into full time play in the spring? On one hand, AFL MVP Royce Lewis is on a team that has an established SS. He can swing to 2B or 3B, but other players are not as flexible. On the other hand, this was a chance for injured players to regain some momentum, eg Greg Deichmann who led the league in HR.

Who is going to have a real chance at starting time, who will make the big club, and who will be going back to MiLB?

J

[Big Tymer]

Jo Adell is going to be a beast

[onejayhawk]

Jo Adell is going to be a beast

Adell isn't alone on that team. Brandon Marsh is in the same mix. Evidently the two are best buds, which usually means rivals as well. That said, Marsh is about a year older and does not have power that Adell does, but better defense and speed. Excepting SB, perhaps a better real life player than fantasy.

The one that shocked me was Royce Lewis. He is only 20 and did not hit a ton in AA this year, so I was not expecting .353/.411/.565 against this level of pitching. That said, everyone already has him in their top 10 or close to it.

J

[Big Tymer]

Royce is still a little bit of a mess as he changed his swing TY to ill effects. Not a SS but can likely stay on the dirt at 3B or even 2B as they are playing him around the diamond. I suspect you will see him fall on prospect lists to high teens but still a lot of reasons to be excited for him. Great signs of success in the AFL but real test will be in 2020 and whether he can sustain this success.

[onejayhawk]

On the contrary. I suspect he will move up the lists now that he has shown he can hit higher level pitching with authority and has defensive chops for the IF.

J

[Ken]

On the contrary. I suspect he will move up the lists now that he has shown he can hit higher level pitching with authority and has defensive chops for the IF.

It would be odd for anyone to value 95 AB in the AFL over 566 AB in A+ and AA. I think he's a great prospect but don't see any reason he'd move up based on the small sample size.

[onejayhawk]

It would be odd for anyone to value 95 AB in the AFL over 566 AB in A+ and AA. I think he's a great prospect but don't see any reason he'd move up based on the small sample size.

AFL is a finishing school of a sort, so it will bear a disproportional weight. Also, it isn't valuing the AB over the season so much as explaining why he performed below expectations. Adjustments can have a negative impact at first, so the AFL indicates he is still on schedule a year further in. Hence a move up in the rankings as others vacate top spots.

J

[Kevin Seitzer]

If the AFL ever was a finishing school, it's not that now. It's mainly for players who didn't get enough playing time because they were hurt, and occasionally for someone who needs some extra AB to work on something. Teams will sometimes grab Rule 5 guys from their look in the AFL, but it's not regarded as a stepping stone to big-league playing time the following year aside from that.

[onejayhawk]

If the AFL ever was a finishing school, it's not that now. It's mainly for players who didn't get enough playing time because they were hurt, and occasionally for someone who needs some extra AB to work on something. Teams will sometimes grab Rule 5 guys from their look in the AFL, but it's not regarded as a stepping stone to big-league playing time the following year aside from that.

You're an insider, so I won't quibble much, but the last three MVPs are Gleyber Torres, Ronald Acuña and Keston Hiura. There is at least an element of showcasing and prepping top prospects. That said, the above will not apply to 90% of those attending. Players like Deichmann and Kyle Isabel are the rank and file.

J

[Ken]

You're an insider, so I won't quibble much, but the last three MVPs are Gleyber Torres, Ronald Acuña and Keston Hiura. There is at least an element of showcasing and prepping top prospects. That said, the above will not apply to 90% of those attending. Players like Deichmann and Kyle Isabel are the rank and file.

J

Odd to stop the history right before you got to Adam Engel and Greg Bird

[onejayhawk]

Odd to stop the history right before you got to Adam Engel and Greg Bird

Yet, they also fit the pattern. They just didn't impress as major leaguers. You can say similar things about #1 choices.

J

[BuckyBuckner]

The AFL was intended for teams to send their top prospects to play against other top prospects but these days it's mostly just teams sending players that need more ABs/IPs. Pitchers are typically mailing it in so offense should be taken with a grain of salt. Sure, you get good prospects there but that's not norm anymore.

[Judge Jude]

yes, I attended the Fall League last year.

there are a handful of strong pitching prospects - all of whom were coming off injuries so needed more innings.

the hitters are really good, though. saw Vlad Jr and Alonso last year (and Robert, Hoerner, and many others).

[onejayhawk]

The AFL was intended for teams to send their top prospects to play against other top prospects but these days it's mostly just teams sending players that need more ABs/IPs. Pitchers are typically mailing it in so offense should be taken with a grain of salt. Sure, you get good prospects there but that's not norm anymore.

I am not sure it ever was the norm. I said it was a finishing school. Sometimes that seems to mean finishing an interrupted season.

I do find it interesting that KC backed team won the championship.

[Ken]

I do find it interesting that KC backed team won the championship.

They are always a mix of multiple teams right?