Thursday's top prospect Fall League performers
Here’s a look at Thursday’s top performers from the Arizona Fall League, including eight Top 30 organizational prospects.
Padres: Jakob Marsee, OF (No. 12), Peoria Javelinas
Marsee is going to remember this game for a long time. The 22-year-old outfielder put together the first multihomer game of his professional career, going deep to right field in the first and eighth innings against Mesa. He now has a 1.940 OPS -- an AFL high -- after his nine-base night. Marsee ended the regular season with a five-game hitting streak for Double-A San Antonio. More »
Angels: Adrian Placencia, 2B (No. 10), Scottsdale Scorpions
The 21-year-old infielder really made his first Fall League homer count. Not only did it give Scottsdale the lead for good in the eighth inning, but he crushed it an estimated 440 feet at 104 mph. While his bat ultimately proved the difference in a one-run contest, it was first Placencia's glove that made a mark. With Scottsdale holding a two-run lead in the sixth, the 20-year-old ranged up the middle and laid out for a diving stop, shoveling the ball to second for an inning-ending forceout, keeping a run off the board. More »
Braves: Keshawn Ogans, 2B (Unranked), Salt River Rafters
After an 0-for-4 Fall League debut, Ogans has begun to bring some serious heat to the desert. With a three-hit performance Thursday night, the righty is 5-for-8 the past two games. The 22-year-old started the night with an RBI infield single in the bottom of the first, followed by a two-run knock in the second. Ogans concluded his performance with another single in the fourth.
Blue Jays: Dasan Brown, CF (No. 29), Surprise Saguaros
Brown led Surprise with a two-hit night in a 8-5 losing effort to Salt River. The 22-year-old got his night started with a bases-loaded two-RBI single in the top of the first inning. Carrying the momentum from the first frame, Brown swatted an inside heater 403 feet to center field and raced around the diamond, reaching third base before the ball had even reached the infield. The 2019 third-rounder scored one at-bat later on Austin Callahan's sac fly.
Mariners: Ryan Bliss, INF (No. 14), Peoria Javelinas
Bliss' swing came early and often for the Javelinas. The team batted around in the bottom of the first, allowing Bliss to single twice in the frame. He got a couple more knocks in the third and fifth innings, as well. The 23-year-old infielder has only had one other four-hit night this year. Bliss hit .329 for Triple-A Tacoma in September with a 1.115 OPS which raised his season-ending slash line to .304/.378/.524.
Padres: Graham Pauley, 3B (No. 11), Peoria Javelinas
Pauley wasted no time getting runs on the board against Mesa. He sent the second pitch he saw over the right-field fence to plate three in the bottom of the first. With a home run on Wednesday as well, the 23-year-old put himself atop the Fall League long-ball leaders. Pauley hit home runs in consecutive games five times this season with High-A Fort Wayne.
Phillies: Christian McGowan, RHP (No. 14), Scottsdale Scorpions
McGowan did not allow a run in any of his final four starts of the regular season (over 14 2/3 innings) with High-A Jersey Shore and Triple-A Lehigh Valley, and he continued his strong play in his Fall League debut. The 6-foot right-hander mowed through four scoreless innings as he struck out two while giving up three singles and a walk. McGowan limited damage by keeping the ball out of the air -- 10 of the 11 batted balls against him came on the ground.
Tigers: Jace Jung, 3B (MLB No. 67), Salt River Rafters
The day after his 23rd birthday, Jung notched his first hit of the Fall League season to keep the confetti falling. The No. 4 Tigers prospect put the capper on a five-hit first inning for Salt River with a two-run single to give the Rafters an early 6-3 lead. However, the bat wasn’t all he had in his repertoire. Jung flashed the leather at third with a nifty stop before unleashing a throw to first to end the top of the second. More »
Rays: Dominic Keegan, C (No. 9), Peoria Javelinas
Keegan has been making consistent contact through the first week of Fall League play, leading all backstops in total bases, with seven. Racking up five of those against Mesa, the 23-year-old had a multihit night that featured a two-run homer the other way in the first inning. In 48 games with High-A Bowling Green, the Vanderbilt product racked up 79 total bases, including 19 extra-base hits.