The Arizona Fall League wrapped up their season this week, with Salt River playing its last game on Thursday. The Rafters finished 16-13 and a game and a half back of Scottsdale in the East division, just missing out on a championship game appearance. Adam Engel of the White Sox organization was named AFL MVP and the Scottsdale Scorpions won the AFL Championship, beating the Surprise Saguaros, 6-4.
Kyle Freeland finished his excellent fall campaign with another great start on Thursday in the season finale. He pitched five scoreless innings, allowing four hits. striking out and walking one. He finishes the fall with a 4-1 record, 2.84 ERA in 25
innings pitched across six starts. His first start of the year was disastrous, but in his final five he allowed only two runs and and put a very promising cap on a season that was lost to injury.Carlos Estevez made two more appearances and excelled in both. His first outing was an inning long, where he allowed one hit but didn't surrender any runs and earned a save. His second outing was very similar: an inning long with one baserunner, though this one came as the result of a walk instead of a hit. It didn't hurt him though, as he finished off the inning and got the save, striking out one in the process. He finished the year with a 1-2 record, a 3.97 ERA, recording six saves in 11earned him a spot on the 40-man roster and protection from the Rule 5 Draft.
innings across 11 appearances. Save for his appearance on the ninth when was shelled for six runs, he only allowed one earned run this fall, which was an excellent showing thatMatt Carasiti made only one appearance this week, and he made it count. He pitched a perfect inning in the season finale against Scottsdale. He finished the fall with no decisions and a 4.82 ERA in nine appearances totaling 9Rockies, so his will be a name to keep an eye on when the Rule 5 Draft happens. Sam Moll didn't make another appearance this week, leaving him with six on the year and a final line with no decisions, a 5.14 ERA and no saves.
innings. He was left unprotected by theAs for the bats, Raimel Tapia played twice, going 1-for-4 in both games with one run batted in. He finished an impressive fall campaign hitting .330/.341/.466 with eight RBI and five doubles, earning himself a spot on the 40-man and Rule 5 protection along side Estevez. Tapia continues to impress at every level of the Rockies system and barreled through another test with his performance in the Fall League. To describe him as an exciting prospect would be putting it mildly; be sure to keep an eye on him in the spring.
Jordan Patterson was never quite able to work out his offensive struggles, and he made only one appearance this week, going 0-for-3 at the plate. He finished the year hitting .157/.317/.196 with two RBI in 17 games, which was a disappointing end to what had been a breakout summer for Patterson, but too small of a sample size to warrant much concern for the outfielder who spent the fall playing his secondary position at first base.
Chris Rabago appeared in one game this week, going 0-for-3 with a walk in the season finale. He finished the year hitting .207/.303/.241 in eight appearances.
Across the pond in the Australian Baseball League, Alex Balog continues to pitch well, snagging his third win of the fall against Perth on the 20th. He went six scoreless, allowing four hits and walking out one, he struck out eight. He is 3-1 with a 1.09 ERA through five starts so far. He has already struck out 23 batters while walking just seven.
Correlle Prime had his worst weekend of the fall so far, going 2-for-12. He is hitting .243/.291/.405 through 20 games. His Perth teammate Michael Benjamin was 5-for-18 this weekend with one RBI. The shortstop is hitting .221/.353/.669 in his 20 appearances. With Canberra, Robbie Perkins is slowly putting it together, going 5-for-10 this weekend with four walks and two RBI. He brings his line up to .220/.329/.237 for the year, he has played in 19 games.
Despite the conclusion of the Arizona Fall League, we will continue to bring you weekly updates on the ABL, and will be focusing on some of the Rockies playing in the Caribbean winter leagues in place of the AFL.