Kelly, Bader spark West in AFL Fall Stars Game
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SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Carson Kelly and Harrison Bader helped jump-start the West's offense in the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game as the duo of Cardinals' prospects each got off to hot starts offensively.
Kelly and Bader combined to go 3-for-7 with three runs scored and two RBIs in the West's 12-4 win over the East on Saturday night at Surprise Stadium.
:: 2016 Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game ::
"It was a blast," said Bader, the Cardinals' No. 3 prospect, according to MLBPipeline.com. "Obviously you meet a lot of good guys around the league, to come out here and play with them, it was a great experience. It was a blast."
After hitting .276 in 131 games with Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis, Bader has swung the bat well in Arizona. The No. 82 overall prospect is hitting .306 through 13 AFL games.
That hot bat showed up once against Saturday night as Bader's second-inning double marked the first hit of the game.
Two batters later, Kelly, the Cardinals' No. 11 prospect, brought Bader home with an RBI single for the first run of the game. The duo sparked a four-run second and the West was off to victory.
"Anytime you get the chance to step on a baseball field in front of fans, scouts, players, whoever it may be, it's about proving yourself," Bader said. "This is another opportunity to do just that, I'm going to do what I can and roll into Spring Training with it."
Bader and Kelly were in the thick of things once again in the third as West put another four runs on the board. Bader, who finished 2-for-5, singled and scored, while Kelly collected his second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly.
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"It's a great feeling," Kelly said. "We always try to pull for each other, try to help each other. We're trying to build a team and that's what we're doing."
Kelly hit .289 in 96 games with Springfield and Memphis and was called up Sept. 5 to make his Major League debut. He appeared in 10 games with the Major League club.
The catching prospect is hitting .260 with two homers in 14 AFL games.