Thursday's top AFL prospect performers

Here's a look at Thursday's top performers in the Arizona Fall League from each team's Top 30 Prospects list.

Mets: Brett Baty, 3B/OF (MLB No. 45), Salt River Rafters
Although Salt River dropped its game, 1-0, to Surprise, Baty was the highlight of the day. After going a perfect 3-for-3 with a walk on Opening Day, the Mets’ No. 2 prospect singled, walked and doubled in his first three plate appearances on Thursday to give him the distinction of reaching base in his first eight Arizona Fall League plate appearances. He grounded out and flied out to finish his night, but Baty still boasts a .714 batting average through two games.

Marlins: JJ Bleday, OF (MLB No. 71), Mesa Solar Sox
Bleday got off to a rip-roaring start in his second game of Arizona Fall League action. The fifth-ranked Marlins prospect collected all four of his RBIs through the first three innings of Mesa’s win, finishing 2-for-4 with two walks and a run scored. Bleday’s two-run double evened up the score in the second after the Solar Sox fell behind 4-0 and his two-run single in the next inning put Mesa up 9-4 as part of a nine-run frame. More »

Astros: Grae Kessinger, INF (No. 23), Glendale Desert Dogs
Kessinger was one of the driving forces for Glendale in its 11-9 win over Peoria -- his solo homer in the top of the fourth put the Desert Dogs within one run, and his RBI single the following frame tied the game. The 24-year-old finished his day with three hits and three runs scored in addition to his two RBIs. Kessinger only had one three-hit game in the regular season.

Cardinals: Juan Yepez, OF/1B (No. 27), Glendale Desert Dogs
After going hitless in three at-bats on Wednesday, Yepez finally got on the board in Glendale’s big win. The 23-year-old cranked a homer and a double while driving in two and walking once in a 2-for-4 performance. Yepez ended his strong regular season by batting .323 with a .944 OPS in September and tallied 56 extra-base hits in 111 games across two Minor League levels.

Dodgers: Jacob Amaya, SS (No. 14), Glendale Desert Dogs
Amaya rounds out a trio of Glendale batters that put on a show. The shortstop had one of the biggest hits of the game, a three-run homer in the fifth inning that put the Desert Dogs up 7-4. Amaya added a second hit, two walks and three runs scored to his day. The 23-year-old struggled in 113 games in Double-A this year, hitting just .216, but his performance on Thursday was an encouraging sign.

Pirates: Ji-hwan Bae, 2B/SS (No. 22), Peoria Javelinas
Bae was all over the basepaths in Peoria’s nine-run effort. The 22-year-old walked three times, scored four runs and drove in two on his first home run since Sept. 18. Bae is no stranger to making things happen for his team as he scored 63 runs and tallied 31 RBIs in 83 contests for Double-A Altoona in the regular season.

Rangers: Owen White, RHP (No. 29), Surprise Saguaros
White turned in a stellar start in his first taste of the Arizona Fall League, earning the win after tossing five scoreless innings of two-hit, five-strikeout ball in Surprise’s 1-0 victory over Salt Lake. The right-hander issued back-to-back walks with two outs in the third, but he was able to escape the jam with some help from Reds prospect Michael Siani, who made a spectacular diving catch in center to rob Rockies prospect Michael Toglia of a hit. White retired the final six batters in order to cap his strong performance. More »

A’s: Logan Davidson, SS (No. 12), Mesa Solar Sox
Davidson doubled twice, scored twice and walked three times as part of Mesa’s 13-5 rout of Scottsdale. His leadoff double in the third set the table for a nine-run inning -- he scored the go-ahead run in the frame -- and the Solar Sox never looked back. A 2019 first-round Draft pick (No. 29 overall), Davidson ripped 22 doubles and drew 65 walks in 119 games with Double-A Midland in the regular season.