Padres' Rosario shows off tools in AFL
PEORIA, Ariz. -- It may have taken Eguy Rosario a couple of games to adjust to the Arizona Fall League, but he put it all together Tuesday and gave Padres fans a glimpse of his well-rounded skill set.
Rosario, who has impressed defensively in the early stages of the Fall League, made a few more highlight-worthy plays at third base and also turned in his first multihit effort as Peoria posted its first win of the season, 4-2, over Salt River.
The Padres’ No. 15 prospect began the day in a 1-for-12 (.083) rut, but he got off to a fast start with a run-scoring double off the left-field wall in the second inning and beat out a single to third base in the fourth.
“I think the first few games, he was a little jumpy,” Peoria manager Anthony Contreras said. “You’ve got quality pitching all over this league, and sometimes it takes guys a little bit of an adjusting period. Today, he did a good job of staying in his legs. He had an approach to stay on the breaking ball, and that was his first hit -- off a breaking ball.”
Rosario has been working on fine-tuning his approach for a while, making strides throughout his career with the biggest ones coming over the past year.
The 22-year-old hit .327 over 27 games in the Venezuelan Winter League last year and carried that momentum into the 2021 season. Rosario slugged a career-high 12 homers while posting a slash line of .281/.360/.455 over 114 games in his first extended stint at the Double-A level.
“He’s come a long way since I [coached] him as a 17-year-old,” Contreras said. “He’s older now. He’s playing with some really good talent and seeing what level he has to step his game up to. The talent is there. It’s squeezing it out of him that has been the process, and he’s starting to show what he can do on an everyday basis.”
The two hits were a sign of Rosario adjusting to the advanced pitching in the Fall League, but the most impressive part of his performance against the Rafters may have been his defense.
Rosario put his plus arm on display several times and also showed off his range and athleticism -- moving well to both his right and left to take hits away from Salt River hitters.
“When his feet are moving -- he has an elite arm -- he can show off the strength he has,” Contreras said. “He can be an elite third baseman. It’s about staying engaged for him. When things are going good early, his head is going to be in the game and you’re going to get a good [performance].”
Rosario’s RBI double got the scoring started for Peoria, but it was a pair of Phillies prospects who helped seal the victory. Simon Muzziotti (No. 16) gave the Javelinas a 2-1 lead with a double in the fourth, and Bryson Stott, the No. 97 overall prospect, singled in an insurance run in the seventh.
No. 1 Tigers prospect Spencer Torkelson was the lone Salt River player to collect multiple hits. Torkelson, who finished 2-for-4, singled and doubled in his first two at-bats.