Friday's top AFL prospect performers

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

Tigers: Spencer Torkelson, 1B/3B (MLB No. 4), Salt River Rafters
After starting his day with a strikeout, the top Tigers prospect singled in his final three at-bats in Salt River’s 2-1 win over Peoria. Torkelson has collected five knocks through his first three games in Arizona Fall League play, good for a .455 average. He’s also tallied two RBIs, a double and three walks in that stretch. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 Draft had some difficulties adjusting to Triple-A pitching in the regular season, but in limited AFL action thus far, he’s shown improvement against some of the top pitchers in the Minors. More »

Rangers: Justin Foscue, 2B (MLB No. 83), Surprise Saguaros
The fourth-ranked Rangers prospect reached base three times after lacing a pair of doubles and working a walk in the fifth. The 22-year-old lined a two-bagger to left to lead off the fourth and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Jackson Cluff. Foscue led off the ninth with a double the other way to right, and scampered home again on a sacrifice fly -- this time off the bat of Seuly Matias. The No. 14 overall selection in the 2020 Draft is batting .429 through his first two games with the Saguaros.

Dodgers: Landon Knack, RHP (No. 8), Glendale Desert Dogs
Knack made the most of his three innings of relief, fanning three batters while allowing just one hit. The righty retired the first eight batters in order before surrendering a double to Andrew Bechtold, but Knack quickly escaped trouble by striking out the next batter on five pitches to finish off his outing. The 2020 second-rounder (60th overall) racked up 82 strikeouts in 62 1/3 frames across two levels in the regular season, boasting a 7-1 record with a 3.18 ERA.

Marlins: Kameron Misner, OF (No. 22), Mesa Solar Sox
Misner cranked his first homer of the Fall League and a double out of the leadoff spot in a 2-for-5 effort with two runs scored. On the fifth pitch of the game, Misner ripped a double to right and immediately came around to score on Jonah Bride’s double in the next at-bat. The left-hander batter added a solo shot in the top of the ninth, serving as icing on the cake in Mesa’s 9-3 win. It was Misner’s first dinger since Sept. 4 with Double-A Pensacola.

Orioles: Yusniel Diaz, OF (No. 12), Mesa Solar Sox
Diaz played a significant part in Mesa’s win over Surprise. The righty went 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBIs, two runs scored and a walk. Diaz’s two-run homer in the fourth gave the Solar Sox a three-run lead, and he came around to score on a wild pitch after leading off the eighth inning with a walk. In his first two games of AFL action this year, the Cuba native is batting .429 with three hits, three RBIs and four walks.

Rays: Curtis Mead, INF (No. 14), Scottsdale Scorpions
The 20-year-old forced his way through three levels of Tampa Bay’s system during the regular season and showed exactly why on Friday night. Mead connected on a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning that proved to be the difference in the game. The Australia native is now 2-for-7 with a long ball and the free pass through his first two games in of the campaign. Mead posted a .321/.378/.533 slash line with 15 homers, 77 runs scored and 69 RBIs in 2021. More »

Red Sox: Jeter Downs, SS/2B (No. 5), Scottsdale Scorpions
Downs cranked his first homer in the Arizona Fall League, an opposite-field shot in the top of the first. The 23-year-old added a walk to his day, giving him four free passes in two fall league games thus far. Downs has collected two hits, two runs, two RBIs and a stolen base in that span.

Rockies: Michael Toglia, 1B (No. 6), Salt River Rafters
Toglia’s solo blast to open up the scoring in the top of the second inning proved to be key in Salt River’s 2-1 win. Facing fourth-ranked Phillies prospect Hans Crouse, the switch-hitter deposited a 1-1 pitch over the right-field wall to give the Rafters an early lead. The deciding run came in the fourth, when Mets prospect Brett Baty doubled, stole a base and scored on a wild pitch by Crouse. Toglia finished his day 1-for-3 with a walk.