Here’s a look at Wednesday’s top performers from the Arizona Fall League, including two Top 100 prospects.
Cubs: Kevin Alcántara, OF (MLB No. 71), Mesa Solar Sox
After starting the Fall League 4-for-23, the Cubs’ No. 4 prospect finally hit his stride. The 21-year-old outfielder clubbed a three-run homer the other way in the third inning and reached base twice for Mesa. In five games with Double-A Tennessee, Alcántara slugged .500, including a home run. More »
Guardians: Kyle Manzardo, 1B (MLB No. 58), Peoria Javelinas
The Guardians’ No. 2 prospect was a threat at the plate. In the third, he sent a solo shot a whopping 460 feet — the longest recorded fall ball home run so far. A single and an RBI double rounded out his night for Peoria. With three dingers in seven games played, the 23-year-old sits atop the AFL home run leaderboard alongside teammates Graham Pauley and Harry Ford. More »
Phillies: Gabriel Rincones Jr., OF (No. 9), Oliver Dunn, INF (Unranked), Scottsdale Scorpions
Rincones belted his first home run of the Fall League — a two-run shot in the second inning — to help the Scorpions to an early lead. Rounding out his night with a double and a walk, the left-handed batter scored a run each time he reached base. Splitting his time between Single-A Clearwater and High-A Jersey Shore, the 22-year-old racked up 81 runs during the regular season, which ranked second among Phillies Minor Leaguers.
After Mesa battled back, Dunn provided the spark Scottsdale needed to walk it off. The middle infielder racked up two extra-base hits on the night, including a two-run homer to bring his team within one in the bottom of the ninth. The 26-year-old led the Eastern League in extra-base hits this year, collecting 52 with Double-A Reading.
Reds: Michael Trautwein, C (Unranked), Surprise Saguaros
Trautwein had the power stroke going on Wednesday as he blasted two home runs, one to left-center and the other to right. The 24-year-old also walked twice as he plated five runs. Trautwein’s second multihit performance of the Fall League raised his slash line to .333/.444/.933 in four games.
Royals: Peyton Wilson, LF (No. 26), Eric Cerantola, RHP, (Unranked), Surprise Saguaros
You never know what you’re going to see in the Arizona Fall League, and in the case of Wilson, you never know when you’re going to have your first two-homer game since high school. Hunting the first pitch of the at-bat on two separate occasions, Wilson walloped a pair of solo homers during Surprise’s 16-1 win over Glendale at Surprise Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. His first of the day kicked off the scoring, while his second helped him build toward what would be a career-high-tying four-RBI performance with 10 total bases. More »
After striking out four and giving up one run over three innings in a start last week, Certantola pitched even better in his second AFL appearance. The 2021 fifth-rounder gave up just a pair of singles in three scoreless innings of relief to earn a hold. The righty again punched out four — the final three swinging — and pumped 24 of his 33 pitches for strikes.
Tigers: Justice Bigbie, OF (No. 21), Mesa Solar Sox
Racking up three singles and three RBIs, Bigbie played a major role in handing Peoria its first loss of the year. A solid player this fall, the outfielder has a .483 on-base percentage through seven games. A .362 average through 63 games for Double-A Erie earned the 24-year-old an Eastern League post-season All-Star nod.