October 17, 2022 at 7:00 AM
Fall/Winter League Roundup: Casas debuts in Dominican, Ward suffers oblique strain
The second week of the 2022 Arizona Fall League season is in the books. At an even 6-6, the Scottsdale Scorpions will kick off Week 3 of AFL play by traveling to Peoria to take on the 7-5 Javelinas later Monday afternoon. Elsewhere, the Dominican Professional Baseball League got underway on Saturday.
-----
Arizona Fall League
Stephen Scott has remained locked in at the plate for Scottsdale. Through six games, the left-handed hitter has slashed .417/.440/.750 with one triple, two home runs, eight RBIs, nine runs scored, one stolen base, one walk, and four strikeouts over 25 trips to the plate. He currently owns the sixth-highest OPS (1.190) among qualified AFL hitters. Defensively, Scott has seen all his playing time with the Scorpions come at catcher. The 25-year-old backstop has logged 49 innings behind the plate thus far and has thrown out three of 15 base runners.
Nick Yorke is tied with Giants prospect Luis Matos for the team lead in games played (10). In those 10 games, the right-handed hitting second baseman has batted .306/.413/.417 with four doubles, seven runs driven in, a league-leading 11 runs scored, seven walks, and just six strikeouts over 46 trips to the plate.
Niko Kavadas has picked things up at the plate as of late. After starting the season with just one hit in his first five at-bats, the right-handed hitting first baseman is now slashing .308/.609/.385 with one double, one RBI, three runs scored, nine walks, and six strikeouts across six games (23 plate appearances). He has drawn the third-most walks in the AFL thus far and owns the sixth-highest on-base percentage among all hitters in the league.
It has been somewhat of a struggle for Wilyer Abreu in terms of offensive production. The left-handed hitting outfielder has gone just 3 for 22 (.136) at the plate with one double, six RBIs, two runs scored, four walks, and five strikeouts over eight games.
On the mound, Thad Ward made headlines last Monday when he was forced to leave his second start for the Scorpions with what was later diagnosed as a left oblique strain. It remains to be seen if the right-hander will pitch again this fall. He currently owns a 4.70 ERA with nine strikeouts to four walks over 7 2/3 innings of work.
Ward is the only member of the Red Sox' AFL contingent who has made at least one start for Scottsdale. Aaron Perry has gotten into four games and has allowed five earned runs in four innings of relief. Jacob Webb has yielded two runs in three innings. Ryan Zeferjahn, tied for the team-lead in appearances with four, has given up three earned runs on three walks and two strikeouts over five innings pitched.
-----
Dominican Professional Baseball League
Fresh off making his MLB debut last month, Triston Casas (pictured) made his LIDOM debut for the Licey Tigers over the weekend. "El Coloso" appeared in two games and went 1 for 8 with three walks and three strikeouts.
Victor Santos made his first appearance of the winter for the Escogido Lions on Saturday. The 22-year-old righty struck out three and retired six of the seven batters he faced (including Casas) over two scoreless innings of relief.
While Casas and Santos got into games over the last two days, the same cannot be said for Franklin German, Chase Shugart, Jonathan Diaz, Gilberto Jimenez, Eddinson Paulino, and Enmanuel Valdez.
-----
Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
The 2022-2023 Venezuelan Professional Baseball League season gets underway on Saturday. Eduard Bazardo, who was designated for assignment last Thursday, is slated to pitch for Magallanes. Darwinzon Hernandez and Jose Mendez are expected to suit up for Lara. Oddanier Mosqueda will pitch for Anzoátegui. Brainer Bonaci and Naysbel Marcano will both play for the Caracas Lions.
-----
Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (Puerto Rico)
The 2022-2023 LBPRC season does not begin until next month. While we already know Jeter Downs, Christian Koss, and Ceddanee Rafaela will be playing, it has since been revealed that right-hander Nate Tellier will be pitching for the Ponce Lions.
Photo Credit: Triston Casas by Kelly O'Connor