Article: AFL Recap Week 4: Fall Stars Fizzle

[Eric R Pleiss]

The Scottsdale Scorpions, who host Twins prospects this season in the Arizona Fall League, had a strong week, going 4-1 before Saturday's Fall Stars Game, which featured Twins Adam Brett Walker and Mitch Garver for the East Fall Stars. The East Fall Stars fell 8-3 against the West despite an early 2-0 lead.

 

Read on to check out how each prospect did in week four of the 2015 Arizona Fall League season!Adam Brett Walker - 3 games, 4/11, 3R, 2B, 3B, HR, 6 RBI, BB, 5K, SB (Fall Stars Game - 0/2, 2K)

 

Walker struggled on Monday night, 0-3 with a pair of strike outs, his worst performance of the week. On Wednesday, after a day off, Walker made up for his dreadful Monday performance by going 2-5 with a pair of RBIs on a triple and a home run, as part of an 8-2 Scottsdale drubbing of Peoria. He also collected another pair of strikeouts. Walker led the Scorpions to victory on Friday night with four RBI on a 2-3 night that included a three-run double in the bottom of the sixth.

 

Stuart Turner - 2 games, 1/5, 2R, RBI, 3 BB, 2K, 1 CS

 

Turner was 0-3 on Monday night, with a pair of strike outs, but did work a walk and eventually came around to score as part of a five run fourth for the Scorpions. On Thursday evening, Turner was 1-2 with a pair of walks, a run scored, and an RBI.

 

Mitch Garver - 3 games, 2/7, 1R, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 5 BB, 2K, 2SB (Fall Stars Game - 0/1, K)

 

Garver was 1-2 with a double and two walks on Tuesday evening, but it wasn't enough as the Saguaros held the Scorpions scoreless. Garver backed up his Tuesday performances with another strong game on Wednesday, 1-2 with THREE walks, a double, and an RBI. Garver also picked up a stolen base. Garver came back down to earth on Friday evening, with a non-eventful 0-3.

 

Nick Burdi - 2 games, 2.0 IP, 1H, 3K, 0BB, 0R

 

In his first game of the week, Burdi entered in the bottom of the eighth looking to preserve a shutout of the Scorpions. Burdi failed to strike anyone out, but a couple of grounders and a fly ball into fall territory made quick work for Burdi, who needed just 14 pitches, eight strikes, to get out of the inning, despite a ground ball single. Back on the mound on Thursday night, Burdi had another strong performance, striking out the side in the eighth on just twelve pitches. Burdi has yet to give up a run in the Fall League.

 

Trevor Hildenberger - 1 game, 1.0 IP, 2H, 1R (earned), 0K, 0BB, HR

 

On Tuesday, Hildenberger struggled in an inning of relief. He entered the game in the fourth with the Scorpions already down 3-0, and gave up a solo home run to left field before retiring the side.

 

Jake Reed - 2 games, 2.0 IP, 1 SV, 2K, 0H, 0R, 0BB

 

Jake Reed needed just six pitches to deal with the Saguaros in the top of the eighth, sending the 2-3-4 hitters down in order. On Thursday night, Jake Reed picked up his second save of the Fall League with a 1-2-3 ninth that included two strike outs and 10 of his 11 pitches went for strikes. Like Burdi, Reed has yet to allow a run this fall.

 

Taylor Rogers - 1 game, W, 4.0 IP, 1H, 1 BB, 2K

 

Rogers pitched four scoreless innings as the starter for the Scorpions this past Monday, sending down the opponents in order in three of his four innings. Rogers got into a little trouble in the third inning, with runners on first and second with just one out, but a strike out and a groundball to short, kept runs off the board. The Scottsdale bullpen preserved the lead and Rogers picked up his second win of the fall.

 

 

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss the performances during the week!

 

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[TNLooky2015]

Rough night for Walker (0 /2 - 2 Ks), but in terms of what everyone wants with Plate Discipline - Seeing 14 pitches in 2 ABs ain't bad.  Not a bad week though.  Garver is a very good hitter.

 

 ABW is Top 2 in the AFL in HRs; RBI; & K;s  -  But Top 4 in SLG; Runs Scored; Total Bases; & OPS; while ranking Top 7 in OBP with a  .414 mark.

[stringer bell]

It looks like all of the Twins farmhands are doing pretty well. I'm especially pulling for two who I think could help the club in 2016--no not ABW, but Rogers and Turner. Rogers has pitched pretty well as a starter, but I hope the Twins consider him for the bullpen. Turner is getting on base, with a really high percentage of walks and earlier reports have highlighted his throwing. It would be nice to have a catcher (even a backup) who can get on base more than 30% of the time and can throw out more than 20% of attempted base stealers.

[TNLooky2015]

 

It looks like all of the Twins farmhands are doing pretty well. I'm especially pulling for two who I think could help the club in 2016--no not ABW, but Rogers and Turner. Rogers has pitched pretty well as a starter, but I hope the Twins consider him for the bullpen. Turner is getting on base, with a really high percentage of walks and earlier reports have highlighted his throwing. It would be nice to have a catcher (even a backup) who can get on base more than 30% of the time and can throw out more than 20% of attempted base stealers.

I agree with Turner and Rogers helping this year.  Awesome lefty reliever out of the pen and a shut down defensive catcher to help with the run game.

[mikelink45]

I still love Walker and the power and potential he has.  Sometimes I feel like a negative momentum has developed among fans and then it just keeps going forward despite the growth of the player.  I think he will replace Vargas by the end of the year.

[Trov]

People's biggest knock on Turner is his hitting.  His average is not high, nor does he have a ton of power, but he takes a good amount of walks.  If he can play great defense, and get on-base at .300 or above, I would take that.  He would hit 8th most likely, and just asked to not be an easy out, work the count and move runners over when need be.  Now if he cannot take walks in the majors like he has in the minors, that is a different story.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Honeslty, I'm most hopeful for Burdi, Reed and Hildenberger.  That could be our version of the KC bullpen right there and could do it for 6 years, and they will be in AA/AAA next year.