The Arizona Fall League handled some climate early in its second week of play. However as soon as video games resumed, the motion wasn’t far behind.
Listed below are the highest performers from Week 2 of AFL motion:
Esmerlyn Valdez, OF, Salt River (PIT No. 15)Stats: .615 AVG (8-for-13), 9 R, 5 HR, 11 RBIs, 7 BBs, 24 TB
Valdez had one other completely monstrous week on the plate, homering in 4 of his 5 video games performed and capping it off with a two-homer efficiency Sunday. All instructed, Valdez reached base in 15 of his 24 plate appearances and bashed 5 homers to bump his AFL result in seven by two weeks of play — greater than twice the house run whole of anybody else within the Fall League. It hasn’t taken very lengthy for Valdez to determine himself as probably the most feared hitter on the circuit, and with excellent motive. He has eight extra-base hits, 13 RBIs and 13 walks by eight video games — he is reached base 23 instances regardless of solely 20 official at-bats. That already places Valdez in historic firm. Solely 13 gamers have hit extra homers than Valdez in a full season in AFL historical past and he is solely by Week 2.
Walker Janek, C, Scottsdale (HOU No. 4)Stats: .263 AVG (5-for-19), 4 R, 5 H, 2B, 3 HR, 15 RBIs, 3 SB, 15 TB
The Scorpions’ backstop cranked a three-run homer on Thursday and bashed a grand slam amid a seven-RBI recreation on Friday, placing collectively the most effective few days’ stretches from an offensive participant this fall. He drove in 15 runs this week and Janek leads all gamers within the league with 18 RBIs. Of his 10 hits, six have gone for further bases, and he is slashing .333/.375/.733 total.
Seaver King, SS, Scottsdale (WSH No. 7)Stats: .444 AVG (8-for-18), 7 R, 4 2B, HR, 9 RBIs, 15 TB
It was one other huge week for King, who may need put collectively the most effective all-around offensive efficiency in the course of the league’s opening week as properly. This week, King ranked first on the circuit in doubles, tied for first in hits and ranked second in RBIs and runs. The tenth total choose from the 2024 Draft has been one of many Fall League’s prime gamers since Day 1, and is batting .419 with 13 hits, 15 RBIs and a 1.260 OPS in seven video games total.
Max Anderson, 3B, Scottsdale (DET No. 9)Stats: .733 AVG (5-for-9), 6 R, 3 HR, 5 RBIs, 5 BB, HBP, 14 TB
Anderson made his swings depend this week, reaching base in 12 of his 16 plate appearances and homering in back-to-back begins on Tuesday and Friday. The Tigers’ second-round choose from 2023 will get overshadowed a bit of their star-studded system, however the 23-year-old socked 19 homers and 31 doubles this season whereas reaching Triple-A.
One of many prime left-handed pitching prospects in baseball, Smith turned in his second sturdy Fall League efficiency in two begins, logging three scoreless one-hit innings for the Desert Canine on Thursday. He racked up 5 strikeouts in opposition to two walks in these frames, giving him 9 punchouts in six innings thus far this fall. He is but to permit a run. This after racking up 108 strikeouts throughout 75 2/3 innings in his first full professional season.
Anderson Brito, RHP, Scottsdale (HOU No. 7)Stats: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 SO
The 21-year-old righty flashed overpowering stuff in his lone outing of the week, registering eight of his 9 outs through strikeout throughout three scoreless frames for the Scorpions on Friday. Brito’s first outing of the Fall League wasn’t as breezy as his second, however he did strike out 5 in 2 2/3 innings that first outing, giving him a complete of 13 throughout two outings. That is tied for the AFL lead by two weeks of play.
James Hicks, RHP, Scottsdale (HOU No. 26)Stats: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 1 HBP
The 24-year-old Hicks constructed upon his 4 scoreless frames to open the season with three extra zeros on Saturday for Mesa. The 2023 Thirteenth-round choose displays a number of the greatest command within the Astros system when issues are going proper, and thus far, that is the case. He is received eight strikeouts in opposition to just one stroll throughout seven innings this fall.
