Here are the top 10 performers from the third night of games in the Arizona Fall League:
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J.J. Matijevic, 1B/OF, Astros No. 18
Matijevic, whom the Astros grabbed from the University of Arizona in the 2017 Draft, appears to be comfortable now that he’s back in Arizona. The 23-year-old came through with an RBI double in the fifth and a solo homer, his first in the Fall League, in the seventh. Matijevic has already driven in six runs and is batting .462. The first baseman spent the 2019 season with Double-A Corpus Christi, his first experience at the Double-A level, and hit .246 over 73 games. More »
Keegan Thompson, RHP, Cubs
Thompson tossed three no-hit innings as the starter for Mesa on Friday night, striking out five while issuing only one walk. The 2017 third-round MLB Draft pick out of Auburn made an incredible debut with Double-A Tennessee back in April, but was then placed on the injured list and would only make a brief rehab appearance in the Arizona League at the end of the season.
Spencer Howard, RHP; Nick Maton SS/2B, Phillies Nos. 2 and 14
Howard started for Scottsdale on Friday night and looked strong over three scoreless innings, striking out two while allowing one hit and issuing one walk. His fastball touched 98 mph and was consistently around 96 mph. Howard missed two months of the regular season with shoulder issues, but pitched well during his time with Class A Advanced Clearwater and Double-A Reading, making 15 starts (including rehab starts at the Rookie level) with 94 strikeouts in 71 innings pitched and finishing with a 2.03 ERA. More »
Maton started at second and led off the game. He picked up three hits, the biggest of which was a walk-off homer to give Scottsdale a 3-2 win. He’s now 4-for-9 with a double, home run and two RBIs.
Dean Kremer, RHP; Alex Wells, LHP, Orioles Nos. 8 and 20
Kremer got the start for Surprise and tossed two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out three. He pitched across three levels in the Orioles’ system this season, but thrived during his time for Double-A Bowie, posting a 2.98 ERA with 87 strikeouts in 84 2/3 innings pitched. The 2016 MLB Draft pick out of UNLV was originally selected by the Dodgers, but he was traded to Baltimore as a part of the Manny Machado deal.Wells followed Kremer on the mound and was equally effective. Wells, whom the Orioles signed in 2015, struck out the side in the third, and although he gave up two hits to open the fourth, he escaped the inning unscathed. Wells threw 23 of his 32 pitches for strikes and struck out four over two innings.
Donny Sands, C, Yankees
Sands, who hit two homers over 68 games in the regular season, hit his first homer of the AFL and finished 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Sands, an eighth-round pick from the 2015 Draft, hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning and singled in the sixth. He also drew a walk in the eighth and reached base in three of his four plate appearances.
Elliot Ashbeck, LHP, Padres
Ashbeck picked up the win for Peoria with four solid innings on the mound. The 25-year-old right hander, a 16th-round pick from the 2015 Draft, allowed no hits and struck out four in his outing. Ashbeck did issue a pair of walks and hit a batter, but he finished strong, retiring the final seven batters he faced.
Dakota Chalmers, RHP, Twins
Chalmers impressed in his Fall League debut. The 22-year-old cruised through three scoreless innings, notching four strikeouts and yielding just a single hit. Chalmers threw 30 of his 43 pitches for strikes and a couple of errors loaded the bases in the second inning, but he induced a ground-ball double play to easily escape the jam.
Jakson Reetz, C, Nationals
Reetz drove in a pair of runs via an RBI single in the seventh that helped put the game away for Surprise. He finished 2-for-4 with a double.