Arizona Fall League Top MLB Prospects Hot Sheet (10/21/19)

Image credit: Greg Deichmann (Photo by Bill Mitchell)

Welcome back to the Arizona Fall League Hot Sheet, which ranks the 10 hottest prospects in the AFL each week. This installment of the Prospect Hot Sheet considers what players did during the period covering Oct. 14-20. This week’s list is curated by J.J. Cooper.

Remember, this simply recognizes what the hottest prospects in the minors did in the past week—it’s not a re-ranking of the Baseball America Top 100 Prospects.

1. Greg Deichmann, OF, Athletics
Team: Mesa Solar Sox
Age: 24
Why He’s Here: .357/.441/.821 (10-for-28), 6 R, 1 2B, 4 HRs, 12 RBIs, 4 BB, 12 SO, 1 SB, 1 CS.

The Scoop: When the A’s drafted Deichmann, they were drafting a slugger. Deichmann had showed at Louisiana State that he had significant power, but the tradeoff would be low batting averages. The batting average has been below-average as expected in pro ball, but so far the power has not been there. That’s what makes this week, and this Arizona Fall League season, encouraging for Deichmann. Deichmann’s four home runs this week is as many as any one else has hit in the AFL season and he now leads the league by four homers.

2. Vidal Brujan, SS/2B, Rays
Team: Salt River Rafters
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .324/.361/.676 (11-for-34), 4 R, 2 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBIs, 2 BB, 6 SO, 3 CS.

The Scoop: Brujan has gotten to play more shortstop this fall and has shown that it’s at least a plausible secondary position. Combine his defensive versatility with his athleticism and high average/high-OBP potential at the plate and Brujan has established himself as one of the Rays best prospects.

3. Luis Garcia, SS, Nationals
Team: Surprise Saguaros
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: .394/.459/.545 (13-for-33), 5 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 4 BB, 5 SO, 2 SB, 2 CS

The Scoop: There are a lot of redemption stories in the AFL. Garcia was pushed aggressively to Double-A Harrisburg as a teenager and he struggled to keep his head above water. Garcia has looked better in the AFL and this week’s impressive pushed his overall average over .300 (.308). It’s 17 games, so Garcia will need to show next spring that he can handle the Eastern League better in a second try, but he will head into that return with a confidence boost from the AFL.

4. Penn Murfee, RHP, Mariners
Team: Peoria Javelinas
Age: 25
Why He’s Here: 0-1, 1.13, 2 GS, 8 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 15 SO.

The Scoop: Murfee is a funky look for a righthanded hitter. He uses his very low three-quarters arm slot to full effect. Murfee is a smart pitcher who hides the ball well, giving righthanded hitters a poor look at the ball. He struck out 15 of the 31 batters he saw this past week.

5. Kyle Isbel, OF, Royals
Team: Surprise Saguaros
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .333/.458/.529 (8-for-24), 5 R, 3 2B, 5 RBIs, 9 BB, 6 SO, 2 SB.

The Scoop: Isbel was one of the many hitters swallowed up and eaten by Wilmington’s ballpark this season (with an assist for the ball that hit him in the face, causing him to miss two months). Life has been easier since arriving in Arizona. Isbel is hitting .354/.457/.492 over the AFL season and has impressed with his bat and athleticism.