Arizona Fall League Prospect Report — November 8, 2021

Image credit: Drew Lugbauer (Photo by Bill Mitchell)

Drew Lugbauer, C/1B, Braves — Power, especially from the left side, is one of the most valued commodities in the game. Lugbauer has it in spades. That much was clear on Friday, when he put together a superlative effort against Scottsdale. In that game, Lugbauer, who was called away from vacation in Hawaii to replace Shea Langeliers on the Peoria roster, collected four hits in five trips, including two impressive home runs. The first went to the opposite field, was hit slightly off the end of the bat and served as a perfect showcase of the massive Lugbauer’s brute strength. The second home run was pulled into the gap in right-center field and was gone the moment it was hit. Both of Lugbauer’s other hits on the day were struck soundly. All in all, the day provided a glimpse into the kind of power Lugbauer can provide and why he’ll get plenty of chances to succeed. 

Kameron Misner, OF, Marlins — Speaking of impressive power from the left side, Kam Misner also collected a pair of home runs over the weekend. The second, against Surprise, left little doubt. The blast came against Royals prospect Alec Marsh and found its way to the right field bullpen in a flash. Misner showed plenty of juice as an amateur at Mizzou. As a pro, he’s working to get to it more often. Specifically, the Marlins are working with Misner on finding swing mechanics which will allow him to keep the barrel of the bat in the zone as long as possible. If he can do that, then he’ll fit right in as a middle-of-the-order masher in a corner-outfield spot. 

Nelson Velazquez, OF, Cubs — There’s no two ways about it: Nelson Velazquez has been one of the most impressive players in this year’s Arizona Fall League. The Cubs outfielder has showcased a swing that is shorter than in previous years and allows him to be on time to the ball while allowing the barrel to explode through the zone with plenty of authority. His seven home runs are the most in the league, the latest a rocket to left field off of Surprise righthander Alec Marsh. Perhaps even more impressive than his power, however, is the way Velazquez seems to command at-bats. Earlier in the week against Dodgers top pitching prospect Bobby Miller, Velazquez confidently took offspeed pitch after offspeed pitch without so much as flinching. Velazquez is commanding at-bats. Now, he also commands your attention. 

Gabriel Moreno, C, Blue Jays — Before he broke his thumb in the regular season, Moreno had emerged as one of the best prospects in the game. In Arizona, he’s reinforced that reputation and stands as the clear-cut best prospect in the league. Despite a swing with loud movements at the top, Moreno has consistently shown the ability to be on time and manipulate the barrel to not only get to pitches in all sectors of the strike zone, but to hit them with authority as well. He’s lashed balls from line to line against both velocity and spin, and enters the fifth week of the AFL hitting .373/.469/.588 with eight doubles, a home run and more walks (11) than strikeouts (eight). Lest you think his output was a fluke fueled by pitching that can mostly be described as highly flammable, Moreno hit .373/.471/.508 in 2020 in the Venezuelan Winter League. Perhaps even more interesting than his offense is where Moreno played defensively on Saturday. Against Surprise, the top Blue Jays prospect stepped out from behind the plate and continued dabbling at third base. He only got one chance—a slow roller that would have been a 50-50 ball for many players more experienced at the position—but the fact that Toronto is giving Moreno experience at the hot corner will help open another avenue toward big league time on a club flush with young catching like Alejandro Kirk and Danny Jansen

HITTERS

ORG CLASS RANK PLAYER AB R H RBI AVG NOTES
ARI AFL   Dominic Canzone, RF 4 1 2 0 .324  
ARI AFL   Buddy Kennedy, 3B 5 0 0 0 .152  
ATL AFL   Jesse Franklin, OF 2 1 0 0 .077 BB (7),
ATL AFL   Drew Lugbauer, C 3 0 1 0 .433 BB (8),
ATL AFL   Luke Waddell, SS 4 1 2 1 .216 2B (3),
BOS AFL   Triston Casas, 3B 3 2 2 0 .322 2 BB (12),
CHC AFL   Luis Vazquez, SS 5 2 2 1 .167 3B (1),
CHC AFL   Nelson Velazquez, LF 4 2 3 2 .392 HR (7), BB (13),
CHC AFL   Andy Weber, SS 4 1 2 3 .328 BB (15),
CLE AFL   Jose Tena, SS 4 2 3 2 .442 2B (5), BB (9),
COL AFL   Michael Toglia, 1B 4 0 1 0 .274 BB (7),
CWS AFL   Yoelkis Cespedes, OF 3 1 0 0 .200 BB (2),
CWS AFL   Yolbert Sanchez, SS 3 1 1 2 .400 2 BB (7),
DET AFL   Eric De La Rosa, OF 4 0 1 0 .225  
HOU AFL   Korey Lee, C 5 0 0 0 .268  
HOU AFL   Grae Kessinger, SS 4 1 2 2 .283 3B (1), E (1),
KC AFL   Nathan Eaton, 2B 4 0 0 0 .345 BB (4),
KC AFL   Seuly Matias, OF 3 1 0 1 .222 2 BB (11),
LAA AFL   Orlando Martinez, RF 4 1 2 1 .232 BB (2),
LAD AFL   James Outman, CF 4 3 3 1 .333 2 2B (7), BB (8),
LAD AFL   Kody Hoese, 3B 2 1 0 1 .162 E (2),
LAD AFL   Jacob Amaya, SS 4 1 2 0 .294  
LAD AFL   Carson Taylor, C 5 2 2 3 .409 HR (2),
MIA AFL   JJ Bleday, OF 4 0 0 0 .338 BB (13),
MIA AFL   Troy Johnston, OF 4 2 2 1 .298 BB (9),
MIA AFL   Kameron Misner, OF 3 3 1 2 .200
HR (5), 2 BB (13),
MIL AFL   Mario Feliciano, C 4 0 3 0 .308 BB (1),
MIL AFL   David Hamilton, SS 4 0 1 0 .333  
MIL AFL   Joe Gray, OF 4 0 1 0 .093  
MIN AFL   Andrew Bechtold, 3B 4 2 2 2 .234 2B (4), BB (8),
MIN AFL   Matt Wallner, RF 5 0 1 2 .244 2B (1),
NYM AFL   Brett Baty, 3B 5 0 1 1 .258 2B (4),
NYM AFL   Wilmer Reyes, SS 3 1 1 0 .226 BB (9),
NYY AFL   Austin Wells, C 3 2 0 0 .277
2 BB (12), SB (1),
NYY AFL   Andres Chaparro, 3B 5 2 2 2 .224 HR (2),
NYY AFL   Elijah Dunham, OF 5 1 2 0 .362 SB (9),
OAK AFL   Jonah Bride, 3B 4 1 1 0 .220  
OAK AFL   Austin Beck, OF 5 0 0 0 .214  
PHI AFL   Simon Muzziotti, CF 4 0 0 1 .250 SB (3),
PHI AFL   Bryson Stott, SS 4 1 1 1 .333  
SD AFL   Chandler Seagle, C 3 1 1 1 .300 2B (2),
SD AFL   Eguy Rosario, 2B 3 0 1 2 .255 BB (7), CS (2),
SEA AFL   Zach DeLoach, CF 5 1 1 0 .192  
SEA AFL   Cade Marlowe, LF 3 2 1 1 .218 2B (5), BB (13),
SF AFL   Marco Luciano, SS 4 1 1 0 .204 BB (10),
SF AFL   Will Wilson, SS 4 2 1 3 .140 HR (2),
SF AFL   Patrick Bailey, C 4 0 1 0 .308 2B (3), BB (5),
TB AFL   Matthew Dyer, C 4 2 1 1 .211  
TB AFL   Jordan Qsar, OF 5 0 1 0 .154  
TEX AFL   Justin Foscue, 2B 2 2 1 2 .220
2 BB (11), SB (2),
TOR AFL   Gabriel Moreno, C 4 1 2 1 .373 2B (8), BB (11),
WAS AFL   Jackson Cluff, SS 5 1 1 0 .358 BB (10), SB (6),
WAS AFL   Donovan Casey, RF 5 0 2 2 .273 BB (8),
WAS AFL   Israel Pineda, C 4 0 1 1 .333 BB (1),

PITCHERS

ORG CLASS RANK PLAYER IP H R ER BB K ERA NOTES
ARI AFL   Mitchell Stumpo, RHP 1 1 1 1 1 0 2.25  
ATL AFL   Indigo Diaz, RHP 1 0 0 0 1 2 15.19  
ATL AFL   Jake Higginbotham, LHP 1 1 0 0 0 0 15.43  
BAL AFL   Cameron Bishop, LHP 4 2 1 1 0 3 9.64 W (1-0)
BAL AFL   Nick Vespi, LHP 1.2 1 0 0 2 2 2.19  
BOS AFL   Brendan Cellucci, LHP 1.1 0 0 0 1 1 9.72  
BOS AFL   Andrew Politi, RHP 0.1 2 2 2 2 0 7.71  
BOS AFL   Josh Winckowski, RHP 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 6.55  
CIN AFL   Eddy Demurias, RHP 1 2 3 3 2 1 11.37  
CIN AFL   Jacques Pucheu, LHP 2.2 3 3 3 1 2 2.45  
COL AFL   Jake Bird, RHP 1 1 0 0 0 2 1.17  
CWS AFL   Johan Dominguez, RHP 3 6 0 0 0 3 11.00  
CWS AFL   Caleb Freeman, RHP 1 1 0 0 1 1 1.29  
CWS AFL   McKinley Moore, RHP 1.1 1 0 0 0 1 4.50  
DET AFL   Zack Hess, RHP 1 0 0 0 0 0 8.53  
KC AFL   Alec Marsh, RHP 1.1 3 4 4 1 3 27.00 L (0-1)
KC AFL   Stephen Woods, RHP 2 5 2 2 1 2 5.40  
LAA AFL   Nathan Burns, RHP 1 1 2 0 0 0 1.29  
LAA AFL   Zach Linginfelter, RHP 1.1 2 0 0 1 0 2.61 W (2-1)
LAD AFL   Jeff Belge, LHP 1.1 0 0 0 1 3 14.85  
MIA AFL   Zach King, LHP 1.1 3 4 4 3 2 10.80  
MIA AFL   Josh Simpson, LHP 0.2 1 0 0 0 2 6.75 Sv (1)
MIL AFL   Taylor Floyd, RHP 1 4 2 2 0 2 8.22  
MIL AFL   Justin Jarvis, RHP 3.2 4 5 5 3 3 6.39 L (1-1)
MIL AFL   Lun Zhao, RHP 0.1 2 3 3 1 1 8.31  
MIN AFL   Kody Funderburk, LHP 4 4 2 2 0 6 7.36 W (2-2)
MIN AFL   Evan Sisk, LHP 1 0 0 0 0 1 9.82  
PIT AFL   Carmen Mlodzinski, RHP 0.2 3 3 3 1 2 6.75  
SD AFL   Tom Cosgrove, LHP 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 7.20  
SEA AFL   Luis Curvelo, RHP 2.2 3 1 1 0 1 9.72  
SEA AFL   Juan Then, RHP 2.1 6 7 7 4 4 12.46 L (1-3)
SF AFL   Gregory Santos, RHP 1 0 0 0 0 1 3.38  
TB AFL   Carlos Garcia, RHP 0.2 2 3 3 1 0 3.97  
TEX AFL   Tim Brennan, RHP 1 0 0 0 1 1 7.36  
TEX AFL   Spencer Mraz, RHP 1 0 0 0 1 1 5.40  
TOR AFL   Cre Finfrock, RHP 1 1 2 2 3 1 9.35  
TOR AFL   Brody Rodning, LHP 0.1 1 2 2 2 0 9.39  

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