Top Fall League Opening Day prospect performers

Here's a look at Monday's top performers, including two Top 100 prospects, from the Arizona Fall League.

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A's: Max Muncy, SS (No. 7), Mesa Solar Sox
On the first pitch he saw, Muncy took a mighty swing at a ball down the middle thrown by right-hander Zak Kent (Rangers). The crack of the bat echoed throughout Surprise Stadium, and the ball sailed 403 feet into the left-field bullpen to give the Solar Sox an early one-run lead. Muncy's homer, which registered an exit velocity speed of 103 mph, set the tone for his performance, although Mesa ultimately lost 13-8 to the Saguaros. The 21-year-old finished 4-for-5 with two RBIs, a stolen base and a pair of runs. He was just a triple shy of the cycle. More »

Giants: Jack Choate, LHP (Unranked), Scottsdale Scorpions
You wouldn't believe it from the final score, but the 10-10 tie between Peoria and Scottsdale started out as quite the pitchers' duel. Choate's four K's across two scoreless innings were impressive enough -- but the batters he faced raised the difficulty even further. The 2022 ninth-rounder struck out three Top 100 prospects in the first inning: Chase DeLauter (No. 85), Kyle Manzardo (No. 58) and Carson Williams (No. 19). The southpaw came back to fire a 1-2-3 second inning and was one of two Scorpions pitchers to pitch a scoreless outing.

Guardians: Chase DeLauter, OF (No. 4), Peoria Javelinas
While DeLauter was minutes late from holding the badge of launching first homer on the premier prospect circuit this season, he wound up with arguably the most complete night of any hitter in the desert, going 2-for-4 with a career-high five RBIs, a stolen base and a walk. MLB's No. 85 prospect kicked off his stint in baseball's finishing school with a multihit, pack-the-box-score showing, a continuation of his successful 57-game foray into pro ball from this season. More »

Padres: Braden Nett, RHP (Unranked), Peoria Javelinas
Nett was the other half of the pitchers' duel in Scottsdale and more than held up his end of the bargain. He tied his career high with six strikeouts across four scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and two walks. Better yet, he only needed 45 pitches despite having to get deep into counts to rack up K's. Nett has struck out six batters in a professional game twice before, but they came in starts at Single-A and the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League, so it's exciting to see perhaps his best strikeout performance against his toughest competition yet.

Rockies: Juan Mejia, RHP (Unranked), Salt River Rafters
Top Tigers pitching prospect Jackson Jobe was the star of Salt River's win, but Mejia was the game's most dominant pitcher. He recorded all four outs via strikeout, with the lone baserunner reaching via walk. Mejia was lifted in the eighth inning when lefty Colson Montgomery came up to bat at the top of the order. The righty struck out 86 across 58 2/3 regular-season innings, although this was just his second outing of the year in which all of his outs came via K's.

Tigers: Jackson Jobe, RHP (No. 3), Salt River Rafters
The third overall pick in the 2021 Draft, Jobe shut out Glendale during the first four innings of a 3-1 victory for Salt River. Baseball's No. 54 overall prospect gave up two hits and two walks while striking out four and tossing 31 of 55 pitches for strikes. Jobe got three swings-and-misses each with his four-seam fastball, which sat at 96-97 mph, and his 83-85 mph slider, which is considered his best pitch. He fought his control at times with both offerings and had more success landing his 89-92 mph cutter and 85-86 mph changeup for strikes. Two of his four whiffs came on his changeup, which features both fade and sink. More »