Monday's top AFL prospect performers

October 19th, 2021

Here's a look at Monday's top performers in the Arizona Fall League from each team's Top 30 Prospects list.

Tigers: Spencer Torkelson, 1B/3B (MLB No. 4), Salt River Rafters
Though Monday marked the first game Torkelson didn’t record a hit in the AFL, he still drew three walks and scored a run in Salt River’s 7-6 win over Scottsdale. He started his day off with a four-pitch walk in the first, and after striking out in the third, he drew another four-pitch walk in the fifth and came around to score on a fielder’s choice in the Rafters’ four-run frame. His final free pass came in the seventh, this one came on six pitches. Through five games, he’s maintained a .467 batting average.

Cardinals: Nolan Gorman, 2B (MLB No. 24), Glendale River Dogs
Deuces were wild for Gorman in Glendale’s matchup with Mesa. The 21-year-old singled twice, walked twice, stole two bases and scored a pair of runs in the River Dogs' victory. Gorman has hit safely in all four AFL games, going 5-for-13 (.385) with a homer, six runs, four walks and three RBIs. The 19th overall pick in 2018 is coming off a 25-homer, 75-RBI campaign with Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis.

Mets: Brett Baty, 3B/OF (MLB No. 45), Salt River Rafters
At this point, it’s surprising when Baty doesn’t get a hit. The second-ranked Mets prospect is off to a scorching start, going 8-for-18 (.444) in his first five AFL games. Baty doubled and scored a run in Salt River’s come-from-behind win and belted a pair of balls over 102 mph in his 1-for-4 performance (the double and a groundout). His two-bagger came in the sixth to ignite a go-ahead four-run frame for the Rafters. Four of the 21-year-old’s eight hits have been for extra bases -- three doubles and a triple. More »

Yankees: Austin Wells, C (No. 6), Surprise Saguaros
Wells tripled his hits total with four -- three for extra bases -- while driving in his first four runs of the AFL campaign. The 22-year-old is off to a 6-for-14 (.429) start after his big day for the Saguaros. Wells, who tripled five times in 382 at-bats during the regular season, kicked off his club’s offense with a run-scoring three-bagger in the fourth. He evened the score two innings later with an RBI single and finished with a pair of run-producing doubles. Wells established a career high with five hits on Sept. 8, putting an appropriate capper on a strong professional debut in which he batted .264 with an .867 OPS, 44 extra-base hits and 76 RBIs in 103 games.

Phillies: Logan O’Hoppe, C (No. 11), Peoria Javelinas
Hitless across his first 11 AFL at-bats, O’Hoppe decided it was time to get his name into the offensive ledger. The 21-year-old doubled, singled twice and drove in all three runs in the Javelinas’ loss. O’Hoppe also swiped his second bag in four games during the fall campaign. The Phillies' 23rd-round pick in the 2018 Draft amassed the best year of his professional career in 2021. O’Hoppe batted .270/.331/.458 with 17 home runs and 58 RBIs in 104 games across three levels. More »

Twins: Matt Wallner, OF (No. 14), Scottsdale Scorpions
Wallner’s impressive start to the Fall League continued with a three-hit performance, including his second long ball in as many games. The 23-year-old opened the scoring with a solo homer in the second and temporarily evened the score with an RBI single in the seventh. Wallner is tied for the top spot in the AFL with five RBIs and he’s tied for second with two home runs after slugging a career-high 15 in the regular season. Through four AFL contests, the Minnesota native is 6-for-16 (.375) with a 1.194 OPS.

White Sox: Jose Rodriguez, SS (No. 9), Glendale River Dogs
Rodriguez made sure his first fall home run was a big one. The 20-year-old connected on an eighth-inning grand slam, his first as a professional. It was the only hit in five at-bats for Rodriguez, who tallied his first four AFL RBIs with the eighth-inning swing. The Dominican Republic native reached Double-A during the regular season and finished with a .301/.338/.469 slash line, 46 extra-base hits and 30 stolen bases in 111 games across three levels.