If you like offense, Tuesday in the Arizona Fall League was the day for you. A combined 45 runs were scored across the two games, with many of the fireworks coming from the league’s most intriguing prospect.
The day kicked off with the Glendale Desert Dogs defeating the Peoria Javelinas 15-13. The Desert Dogs were powered by a pair of Reds infielders, with Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand combined for four hits and five RBI. McLain’s performance was especially encouraging, as his sophomore season was wiped out after shoulder surgery, meaning that his fifth-inning blast on Tuesday was his first of 2024.
Matt McLain is in the @MLBazFallLeague to get some at-bats after missing the entire regular season.
The @Reds infielder did that and then some in his first game of the campaign: pic.twitter.com/AmzG4sN3dW
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 8, 2024
Another encouraging performance was that of Colson Montgomery. The White Sox’s top-ranked prospect took a step back offensively at Triple-A Charlotte but got his AFL season off to a hot start by going 2-for-2 with a double and three runs scored.
However, the best performance of the day came from Javelinas shortstop Colt Emerson. The top prospect in a stacked Mariners system and number 27 in all of baseball, Emerson put on a show with five hits, four doubles, and five RBI.
Colt Emerson was awesome in his Arizona Fall League debut.
5 for 6, 4 doubles, 2 runs scored, 5 RBI, stolen base & played great defense at shortstop. pic.twitter.com/uig9MT1iIZ— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) October 9, 2024
The Javelinas offense also hit a trio of longballs, including one from top Padres prospect Ethan Salas. The 18-year-old catcher experienced growing pains in High-A Fort Wayne but showed why both scouts and the Padres think so highly of him with a seventh-inning round-tripper.
Ethan Salas' first hit of the @MLBazFallLeague season is a big one!
The @Padres' top prospect ropes a two-run homer 402 ft to center field: pic.twitter.com/RnqxQkFX3P
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 8, 2024
The offenses would remain hot into the second game of the day, where the Scottsdale Scorpions defeated the Salt Water Rafters 9-8. The offensive star of the game was Temmar Johnson, as the former fourth overall pick led off the game with a solo home run as part of a 2-for-4 day.
Termarr Johnson is out to prove he's "the best hitter in the world," and he isn't backing down.
To that end, the @Pirates' No. 3 prospect kicked off his @MLBazFallLeague season with a leadoff homer and an RBI single, then turned an injury scare into another positive:… pic.twitter.com/TbapwLjSFK
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 9, 2024
On the Rafters side, Nationals prospect Robert Hassell III collected two hits, stole a base, and drove in two, while 5th-ranked Diamondbacks prospect Tommy Troy went 1-for-5 at the top of the order.
AFL action will continue on Wednesday, with all six teams taking the field. The day will begin at 4:30 EST with matchups between the Rafters and the Desert Dogs and the Javelinas and the Suprise Saguaros before concluding at 9:30 with a showdown between the Mesa Solar Sox and the Scorpions.
Fans can stream the Arizona Fall League all season here.
Photo Credit: Grant Taylor #46 of the Glendale Desert Dogs pitches during the game between the Peoria Javelinas and the Glendale Desert Dogs at Camelback Ranch on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
