Here are the top 10 performers from Thursday, Oct. 24 in the Arizona Fall League.
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Reggie Lawson, RHP, Padres No. 21
Lawson’s final start of the Arizona Fall League was perfect. The 22-year-old right hander threw 33 of his 51 pitches for strikes as he carved his way through four innings against the Glendale lineup. Lawson, who got off to a fast start and struck out the first batter he faced, racked up six strikeouts in his outing, including at least one in each inning. Lawson made three starts in the AFL and pitched to a 0.82 ERA with 14 strikeouts over 11 innings.
Spencer Howard, RHP, Phillies No. 2
Howard wrapped up his Fall League campaign by tossing three hitless frames in his final start for Scottsdale. The Phillies’ No. 2 prospect recorded four of his first six outs via strikeout, fanning the side swinging in the second inning around a one-out walk, and he induced three weakly-hit outs in the third before departing with 46 pitches (32 strikes). Howard recorded three of his strikeouts with his fastball, which topped out at 98.6 mph and averaged 96.4 mph on Thursday, and the other via his curveball. The 23-year-old right-hander was one of the best pitchers in this year’s Fall League, posting a 2.11 ERA with 27 strikeouts and 10 walks in 21 1/3 innings. He kept the opposition from scoring in half of his six starts, and never allowed more than three hits in a single outing. More »
Nick Neidert, RHP, Marlins No. 11
In a league that heavily features pitch-count restrictions, Neidert’s dominance has allowed him to extend his looks. For the third time in a row, the 2015 second-rounder pitched at least five innings -- this time five on the dot without allowing a run. He gave up just two hits and struck out five without permitting a walk. Over his past three starts, Neidert has allowed only one run on 10 hits with 10 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings, helping move his Fall League ERA to 1.25. More »
Gerardo Carrillo, RHP, Dodgers No. 22
Carrillo issued three walks and gave up three hits, but was able to consistently work his way out of trouble to spin four scoreless innings for Glendale. Carrillo, who hasn’t given up a run in three straight AFL appearances, struck out four and induced a pair of ground-ball double plays to keep runs off the board. Carillo pitched to a 2.22 ERA in the AFL after posting a 5.44 mark with Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga during the regular season.
Glenn Otto, RHP, Yankees
Making his final start for Surprise, Otto tied a bow on his impressive AFL campaign by spinning four strong frames against Scottsdale. The 23-year-old right-hander went pitch-for-pitch with Scorpions starter Spencer Howard for the first three innings, with neither hurler allowing a hit, but scuffled in the subsequent frame. After yielding his first hit of the game (a double) with one out in the fourth, Otto issued a two-out walk and then fell behind 2-0 to Patrick Mazeika, who tagged his next pitch to right field for a two-run triple. Otto retired the next batter to complete his outing, finishing with six strikeouts and four walks on 69 pitches (39 strikes). Altogether, the former fifth-round pick (2017) recorded a 1.88 ERA with a .128 opponent average and 26/13 K/BB over 24 innings.
Cole Freeman, 2B/OF, Nationals No. 26; Nick Banks, OF, Nationals
Freeman and Banks combined to drive in five runs in Surprise’s win against Scottsdale. Banks put the Saguaros on the board in the fourth inning when he laced a two-run double (109.6 mph exit velocity) to right field, and Freeman made it a four-run frame with a two-out, two-RBI single. Freeman later pushed across a run via a bases-loaded walk before finishing 1-for-4, while Banks turned in a 1-for-2 performance, walking twice and scoring a pair of runs.
Jarren Duran, OF, Red Sox No. 4
Duran extended his hitting streak to five games and collected a pair of stolen bases in an all-around solid performance for Peoria. Duran, who has swiped seven bags in 23 AFL games, went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles, but also reached twice more via walks. Although he never came around to score, Duran made his presence known on the basepaths, stealing second after a first-inning walk and a sixth-inning single.
Keegan Thompson, RHP, Cubs
Thompson spun a gem in his final start for Mesa, tossing four scoreless frames with four strikeouts and two hits allowed. The 24-year-old right-hander finishes the Fall League with a 4.72 ERA in seven starts, during which he compiled 26 strikeouts against six walks in 25 1/3 innings.
Patrick Mazeika, C, Mets No. 26
Mazeika delivered a two-run triple to right field that ultimately accounted for all of Scottsdale’s scoring against Surprise on Thursday.