Astros' Toro trending up after big day in AFL

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Abraham Toro, a switch-hitter, came to the Arizona Fall League with a few goals in mind from each side of the plate.
From the left side, the Astros' No. 21 prospect went wanted to work on hitting the ball to the opposite field. From the right side, Toro said his goal was to elevate the ball more -- something he accomplished as he went deep and led Scottsdale to a 5-3 win over Glendale on Saturday afternoon.
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Hitting atop the Scorpions' lineup, Toro went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored.
The 21-year-old singled and scored to lead off the game and then hit a two-run blast in the second inning, his second homer of the AFL.
"They were trying to come in and that time he just went off speed, and I saw it good and put a good swing on it," Toro said.
Toro, a fifth-round pick from the 2016 Draft, spent the bulk of the season (83 games) with Class A Advanced Buies Creek, where he hit .257/.361/.473 before he was promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi in early July.
Once in Double-A, Toro's numbers dipped a bit as he hit .230/.317/.371 in 50 games, but the exposure to the advanced pitching helped prepare Toro for the level of competition he's been facing in Arizona.
"Last year I kind of had a little slump, but I still worked hard and I think next year will be a good year for me."
And if Toro's AFL is any indication -- he's hitting .328/.435/.517 through 17 games -- 2019 could be a breakout season.
While Toro's ability to switch-hit gives him some offensive versatility, he's also versatile in the field. After catching a bit at Seminole State College, Toro logged 15 games behind the plate in 2017. He's spent the bulk of his career (207 games) at third, but also appeared at second base in a game.
"I think it's going to be huge," Toro said of his ability to play multiple positions. "I've talked with the Astros and they kind of want me -- maybe some second baseman, some third and you never know, maybe catching again.
"I try to work everywhere in BP."
While Toro did the bulk of the damage, Phillies prospects Austin Listi and Darick Hall also helped the Scorpions snap a three-game losing streak.
The duo, who finished a combined 3-for-7, each collected an RBI single in the first as Scottsdale jumped out to an early 2-0 lead before Toro delivered what ultimately proved to be the decisive blow, a two-run homer to left, in the second.
Yu Chang, the Indians' No. 6 prospect , tried to keep the Desert Dogs in the game, but was unable to do so. Chang hit his fourth homer of the AFL, a solo blast, in the seventh and finished 2-for-4, bringing his average to .346 through 21 games.