Still time to watch top prospects in Fall League
There are fewer than two weeks left in the Arizona Fall League’s 2019 season, so it’s not too late to see some of the top-performing prospects in this year’s circuit.
Here are five players fans might want to get out and watch, in one of the most casual and personal settings in all of baseball, before the season ends on Oct. 26:
1. Forrest Whitley, RHP, Peoria
One of the most highly touted players heading into the season, Whitley has more than lived up to expectations. The Astros’ former first-rounder leads the Fall League in strikeouts (25 in 16 innings). Whitley has paced Javelinas pitchers, posting a flawless 3-0 record to go along with a 1.13 ERA in four starts.
2. Brandon Marsh, OF, Mesa
A two-homer game from Marsh on Monday has talent evaluators taking notice of his raw power on display this season. Marsh, ranked second among Angels prospects by MLB Pipeline, is hitting .373 to go along with a 1.058 OPS in 13 games. Marsh is becoming a big attraction for the Solar Sox.
3. Shane Baz, RHP, Salt River
Along with Whitley, the other pitcher worth seeing has to be Baz, who has been lighting up radar guns across the Valley this fall. Baz even hit triple digits in the annual Fall Stars game on Saturday. The Rays’ farmhand has already racked up 12 strikeouts in just eight innings.
4. Joey Bart, C, Scottsdale
The former second overall pick entered play Tuesday tied for second in home runs among league-leaders with four. Bart is hitting .333 with a 1.290 OPS through 10 games and continues to rake in every league. It won’t be long until the Giants prospect makes it to the show, so catch a glimpse while you can.
5. Royce Lewis, SS, Salt River
Lewis, the first overall pick in 2017, has been arguably the best hitter in the Fall League. Through 15 games, Lewis was hitting .397 with a .455 on-base percentage. Oh, and he was named MVP of the Fall Stars game after a tworun home run helped the East squad to a 4-2 win over the West.
Honorable mentions: Seth Beer (Salt River), Jo Adell (Mesa), Dakota Chalmers (Salt River), Alec Bohm (Scottsdale), Geraldo Perdomo (Salt River).