Arizona Fall League play wrapped up on Saturday with the championship matchup between the reigning champion Peoria Javelinas and the Salt River Rafters. The Rafters jumped on the Javelinas early, going up 2-0 through four innings, but Justin Lawrence wasn’t able to close out the game. Lawrence entered the game in the bottom of the ninth with the 2-0 lead and left the game tied at 2-2 after giving up a wild pitch followed by a single. In the tenth inning, Braves prospect Braxton Davidson homered off of Nationals prospect Taylor Guilbeau to seal the Javelinas’ repeat.
Before the game, Tyler Nevin was awarded the EyePromise Visual Edge Batting Title for hitting .426/.535/.593 with six extra base hits in 17 games with the Rafters. In fact, the Rockies position prospects led the Rafters in hitting stats — Nevin first, Hilliard second, and Fuentes third. Ryan Castellani finished strong after some struggles throughout the season. In his final start, he pitched five innings of two hit baseball while walking three and fanning seven. Mitch Horacek also finished strong after his struggles during the season. He pitched one perfect inning while fanning three in his final appearance on November 14. Jesus Tinoco finished with the best ERA of the bunch, finishing with a 1.72 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 15 ⅔ innings. That included two innings of one hit baseball in the championship game. The Rockies prospects overall had a very successful Fall League and we will probably see many of them in the major leagues within the next few years, which is what Fall League is all about!
★ ★ ★
Week of November 12-15
Ryan Castellani (no. 7 PuRP): 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K
Tyler Nevin (no. 12 PuRP): 2-for-4, RBI, BB, K
Sam Hilliard (no. 13 PuRP): 1-for-7, BB, 2 K
Jesus Tinoco (no. 21 PuRP): 1.2 IP, BB, 2 K
Josh Fuentes: 2-for-8, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K
Mitch Horacek: 1.0 IP, 3 K
Justin Lawrence: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, BB, 3 K
★ ★ ★
AFL Championship Game — November 17, 2018
Tyler Nevin (no. 12 PuRP): 0-for-4, K
Sam Hilliard (no. 13 PuRP): 2-for-5, 2 K, SB
Jesus Tinoco (no. 21 PuRP): 2.0 IP, 1 H, K
Josh Fuentes: 1-for-3, 2 BB
Justin Lawrence: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, BB
★ ★ ★
AFL Season Total
Ryan Castellani (no. 7 PuRP): 7 GS, 26.1 IP, 24 H, 15 ER, HR, 14 BB, 31 K (5.13 ERA)
Tyler Nevin (no. 12 PuRP): 17 G, 23-for-54, 9 R, 3 2B, 3 3B, 20 RBI, 15 BB, 5 K, SB (.426/.535/.593)
Sam Hilliard (no. 13 PuRP): 16 G, 21-for-64, 13 R, 2 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 7 BB, 15 K, 2 SB (.328/.389/.516)
Jesus Tinoco (no. 21 PuRP): 15.2 IP, 11 H, 3 ER, HR, 6 BB, 14 K (1.72 ERA)
Josh Fuentes: 21 G, 25-for-83, 16 R, 4 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 7 BB, 18 K, SB (.301/.356/.482)
Mitch Horacek: 11.1 IP, 17 H, 11 ER, HR, 6 BB, 12 K (8.74 ERA)
Justin Lawrence: 10.2 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 4 ER, HR, 6 BB, 13 K (3.38 ERA)