Here’s a look at Saturday’s top performers from the Arizona Fall League, including four Top 100 prospects.
Blue Jays: Ricky Tiedemann, LHP (MLB No. 31), Surprise Saguaros
The top-ranked Blue Jays prospect put together another strong outing for Surprise, pitching three innings and allowing one run on three hits with five strikeouts. Through three starts, Tiedemann has whiffed an AFL-best 18 in 13 frames. The 21-year-old made 15 starts during the regular season and fanned 82 in 44 innings, a K/9 of 16.77. More »
Angels: Davis Daniel, RHP (Unranked), Scottsdale Scorpions
Daniel opened the 2023 season injured list and he didn’t return to action until August. The former Auburn Tiger appeared in just thirteen games — including three in the Majors — over the course of the year. The 26-year-old put together his strongest start of 2023 and arguably the best on the circuit to date. Davis became the first AFL hurler this year to complete six innings and strike out 10 batters, allowing just one run and two hits. The right-hander has a 0.90 ERA and a 0.60 WHIP in two starts. More »
Mets: Kevin Parada, C (MLB No. 89), Glendale Desert Dogs
Offensive production has been hard to come by for the Desert Dogs, and Parada has been no exception. The 22-year-old entered the game batting .182 with a .444 OPS, but he broke through on Saturday. Parada slugged his first homer and added a single in four plate appearances. The backstop appeared at three levels during the 2023 season, finishing his sophomore campaign with Double-A Binghamton. More »
Braves: David McCabe, 3B (No. 16), Salt River Rafters
McCabe put a slow start to his Fall League in the rearview mirror with a breakout performance on Saturday night. The 23-year-old entered the game with five hits, and he ended the night with three more, including an RBI single that gave the Rafters a lead they would not relinquish. The performance improved his average to .308 and his OBP to .514 thanks in large part to an AFL-best 11 walks.
Cubs: Kevin Alcántara, OF (MLB No. 71), Mesa Solar Sox
The No. 4 Cubs prospect continued to bounce back from a slow start to his Fall League with a pair of hits and an RBI for Mesa. Alcántara has driven in a run in each of his last three games — amassing five in all — after going deep on Wednesday and delivering a sacrifice fly on Friday. The 21-year-old is tied for the team lead with eight RBIs.
D-backs: Caleb Roberts, OF (Unranked), Salt River Rafters
Neither team produced a crooked number until Roberts came to the plate in the fifth inning. With runners at second and third, the 23-year-old sent one beyond the center-field fence for his first Fall League homer. Roberts, who also walked, has driven in multiple runs in consecutive games for the Rafters.
Tigers: Jackson Jobe, RHP (MLB No. 54), Salt River Rafters
Wilmer Flores, RHP (No. 7), Salt River Rafters
Detroit’s pitching prospects were front-and-center for Salt River on Saturday. Jobe turned in four solid innings, surrendering one earned run with four strikeouts to win his third consecutive start. The 21-year-old has limited opposing hitters to a .217 average and is fourth on the circuit with 12 strikeouts in 12 innings in three starts this fall.
While Jobe started, Flores finished up. The 23-year-old has looked sharp in his three relief appearances after taking a step back with Double-A Erie this season. Flores scattered four hits and struck out a pair over three scoreless frames to lower his Fall League ERA to 1.13. The younger brother of Major Leaguer Wilmer Flores has fanned nine in nine innings.
Padres: Jakob Marsee, OF (No. 12), Peoria Javelinas
Marsee has had a fall to remember so far. The reigning AFL Hitter of the Week ranks among the offensive leaders in numerous categories, and he shows no signs of stopping. On Saturday, the 22-year-old collected his seventh multihit game in nine contests. Marsee doubled in the first and drove in the Javelina’s lone run with a single in the third to increase his slash line to .500/.574/.868.
Phillies: Oliver Dunn, 2B (Unranked), Scottsdale Scorpions
You’ve heard of the home run chase, but what about the race for the stolen base crown? There are two speedsters eyeing the Fall League record of 24 thefts and both play for Scottsdale. Co-Minor League stolen base champion Victor Scott II (STL No. 4) currently paces the bunch with nine steals, but right on his tail is Dunn, who racked up three steals against Peoria, raising his total to eight. The 26-year-old stole 16 bases for Double-A Reading this season.