Arizona Fall League announces Week 5 Hitter and Pitcher of the Week
Nov. 7, 2023 — The Arizona Fall League has announced its NFP Hitter and Pitcher of the Week for games from Oct. 30-Nov. 5.
Hitter of the Week: Glendale Desert Dogs INF Bryan Ramos (CWS)
Bryan Ramos blasted a walk-off grand slam with two outs in bottom of the ninth inning for Glendale on Thursday, sealing a 9-5 win over the Peoria Javelinas. Ramos hit .333, leading the league with seven runs scored and tying for the top spot with two home runs. He was second in the AFL with six RBIs and 11 total bases last week. Ramos said, “I was just trying to simplify my movement, just tried to put the ball in play. If you put the ball in play, anything can happen… I just wanted to make good contact and hit a good pitch… I’m a strong man, so if I get the right point to the ball, the ball is going to fly.”
Pitcher of the Week: Glendale Desert Dogs RHP Ben Casparius (LAD)
Ben Casparius threw three shutout innings for Glendale in its 11-2 victory over Surprise on Wednesday. He struck out six and allowed just one hit and one walk. Casparius had a 0.67 WHIP and he was the only pitcher that struck out at least six batters without allowing a run. His one walk tied for the least walks by any pitcher who threw over three innings last week. Casparius said, “The AFL has been one of the best and most important experiences throughout my professional journey to this point. Being able to compete with the best of the best this late into the year has been a blessing. My biggest goal during this period was to work more on my arsenal and how it works best in specific situations. The competition level here has taken my mindset on the mound and my preparation to the next level. Last week’s outing was sharp and the ability for me to locate my fastball in correct spots and counts sets up success for me throughout outings.”
Regarded as the premier development league for baseball’s top prospects, the Arizona Fall League continues to feature top-caliber talent across all 30 MLB Clubs. AFL games can be seen at six Cactus League ballparks throughout the 2023 season – Camelback Ranch-Glendale, Peoria Sports Complex, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Sloan Park, Scottsdale Stadium and Surprise Stadium. The second-annual AFL Play-In Semifinal is this Friday at 6 p.m. at Camelback Ranch. The AFL Championship Game (Saturday, Nov. 11) will return to Scottsdale Stadium, with both contests being televised on MLB Network. The full 2023 Arizona Fall League schedule and online tickets can be found at the Arizona Fall League website, MLBFallBall.com.