Here’s a look at Friday’s top performers from the Arizona Fall League, including a pair of Top 100 prospects.
Rays: Carson Williams, DH (MLB No. 19), Peoria Javelinas
Williams got a break from playing the field on Friday and it seemed to agree with him. The No. 2 Rays prospect enjoyed a perfect night at the plate, collecting a single, double, two walks and a stolen base for the Javelinas. Williams, who had a brief stay in Triple-A earlier this season, hit a career-high 23 homers to go along with an .818 OPS across three Minor League levels. The 20-year-old spent a majority of 2023 with High-A Bowling Green.
Rangers: Abimelec Ortiz, 1B (No. 14), Surprise Saguaros
It’s a year the 21-year-old doesn’t want to see end. Coming off a career-high 33-homer, 101-RBI Minor League campaign, Ortiz slugged his first Fall League homer, singled and drove in three runs to help power the Saguaros. The 2023 South Atlantic League MVP was a run-producing machine after his promotion to High-A Hickory, where he drove in 81 runs in 80 games. Overall, Ortiz slashed .294/.371/.619 with 57 extra-base hits across two Minor League levels. More »
Cardinals: Victor Scott II, OF (No. 4), Scottsdale Scorpions
Unsurprisngly, the Cardinals speedster is up to his usual tricks in Arizona. After finishing tied for the most stolen bases in the Minors with 94, Scott swiped his third bag in four attempts while adding three singles for Scottsdale. The 22-year-old finished his first full-season campaign batting .303 with a .794 OPS and 95 runs in 131 games with High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield.
Tigers: Jace Jung, DH (MLB No. 67), Salt River Rafters
It was only a matter of time until the No. 4 Tigers prospect got himself going. One night after notching his first Fall League hit, Jung collected two more and walked twice to cap a perfect night at the plate. The younger brother of big leaguer Josh Jung, the 23-year-old is 3-for-9 with two RBIs through his first three contests for the Rafters. Jung was a powerhouse in 2023, posting an .878 OPS and slugging 28 homers and driving in 82 runs across two Minor League levels.
Padres: Jakob Marsee, OF (No. 12), Peoria Javelinas
Jakob Marsee is using the first week of Fall League competition as his own personal showcase. One night after homering twice and driving in three runs, the 22-year-old collected two more hits, including an RBI double, scored twice, walked and stole his fourth base in as many tries. Marsee is 9-for-15 (.600) with four extra-base hits, six runs and five RBIs in his first four games for Peoria.
Reds: Michael Trautwein, C (Unranked), Surprise Saguaros
Along with Ortiz, Trautwein helped fuel the Saguaros’ victory with three RBIs, highlighted by his first Fall League dinger. The solo jack followed Ortiz’s two-run homer in the sixth inning, helping Surprise withstand a late run after watching Salt River cut an early 6-0 lead in half. The 24-year-old backstop went deep six times in 258 at-bats for High-A Dayton and Double-A Chattanooga this season.
Marlins: Nasim Nuñez, SS (No. 17), Peoria Javelinas
Nuñez showed what he brings to an offense when he’s able to put his game together. The 23-year-old singled twice, drove in a run, scored once and swiped his second bag. Although his overall offensive numbers were down across the board in 2023, Nuñez still stole 52 bases and scored 84 runs in 125 games for Double-A Pensacola. More »