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2002 season October 6, 2002
The 2002 Arizona Fall League season kicked off this week with a slate of 15 games. The weather turned unseasonably cooler (which, of course, is still warmer than the temperatures in most parts of the country), so it was a great week to watch baseball. First Impressions: We reported Mark Teixeira's (Rangers - 3B) outstanding opening day performance, when the Peoria Javelina switch-hitter went five for five with two homeruns. Teixeira added two more blasts this afternoon. After the first five days of a seven-week season, he's nearly halfway to the league record of 11 homeruns! ... Scottsdale's Ken Harvey (Royals - 1B) showed that he's still one of the best pure hitters in the minor leagues. The former University of Nebraska first baseman collected five hits in a Saturday afternoon game at Mesa, then came back today with three more hits to finish the week at .563 ... Rocco Baldelli (Devil Rays - OF) demonstrated why he's rated one of the top prospects in baseball with a strong opening week, hitting .333 with a pair of doubles in 15 at bats. He also has good range in centerfield ... Chase Utley (Phillies - 3B) should be considered a serious contender for the open third base job in Philadelphia next year. The left-handed hitter possesses a nice line drove stroke with good power. He smacked one of the longest homeruns of the week ...
Heralded outfielder Wily Mo Pena (Reds - OF) is consistently ranked as a prospect with as much raw potential as anyone in the game. The right-handed hitting Dominican has incredible strength and bat speed, but has problems making consistent contact. Pena's first homerun came on Friday night as he muscled a ball to the opposite field ... It's hard to judge pitchers this early in the year because appearances are generally limited to three innings or less. But it's obvious that Jerome Williams (Giants - P) has started strongly. Mixing a mid-90s fastball with a slider in the low-90s and a sharp breaking curve ball, the Grand Canyon Rafters' right-hander pitched three scoreless innings on opening night, then followed with four no-hit innings this afternoon. Williams fanned nine in his seven innings, while walking only two ...
The pitching-rich Padres may have another keeper in Brad Baker, who struck out seven hitters in his three-inning stint ... Scottsdale southpaw John Koronka (Reds - P) and reliever Dusty Wrightsman (Royals - P) combined for five perfect innings on Friday night against the Grand Canyon team ... Francisco Rosario (Blue Jays - P) is making the jump to the AFL from Class A ball. His first game showed why the right-hander is one of the top-ranked prospects in the league. He pitched three scoreless innings, striking our four batters while yielding two hits and one hit batter.
Big Blasts: Craig Brazell (Mets - 1B) hit a pair of homeruns this week, but it was today's first inning grand slam that drew oohs and ahs, easily clearing the double level of signs at Phoenix Municipal Stadium ... AFL returnee Gabe Gross (Blue Jays - OF) is hoping to make up for lost time after a rough 2002 regular season; he showed his emerging power last evening with a long shot over the right field fence at Scottsdale Stadium ... Termel Sledge's (Expos - OF) second big fly of the week was a three-run pinch homerun at Phoenix this afternoon on a day when the ball was traveling very well. In addition to the four homers in the Maryvale - Phoenix game, Scottsdale and Peoria combined for seven dingers.
Surprises: Phoenix infielder Johnny Peralta (Indians - 3B) might be the most underrated player in the league this year. The Dominican native has a solid line drive stroke and turned in several dandy defensive plays at third base. Peralta played shortstop exclusively during the regular season, so the Indians may be grooming him for their open third base job ... David DeJesus (Royals - OF) spent most of the 2002 season in Class A, but he hasn't shown any signs of being overmatched in the AFL. The left-handed hitter went six for 10 with a triple and homerun, as well as making a pretty sliding catch of a sinking line drive ... The best defensive gem of the week came from Scottsdale centerfielder Nathan Haynes (Angels - OF), who traveled a long way on a tough line drive to his left, diving and catching the ball just above the ground ... Matt Kata (Diamondbacks - 2B) looks to be a hard-nosed player with a level stroke and a bit of pop in his bat. Ouch!: Mesa pitcher Jon Leicester (Cubs - P) must have had the jitters in his first start at Scottsdale Friday night, as he hit three opposing batters in the second inning. He also walked three batters and gave up a couple of doubles before leaving with two outs in the inning, and the Scorpions scored five runs en route to a 14-2 trouncing of the Solar Sox. The entire league takes the day off on Monday before returning to action for another six days of exciting AFL action. The game to catch will be the Tuesday night encounter at Scottsdale Stadium, with Peoria facing Scottsdale. The Javelinas are coming off a big offensive day, while fireballing right-hander Bobby Jenks (Angels - P) is due to start for the Scorpions after hurling three scoreless innings in his debut. --- Bill Mitchell All photos on the Arizona Fall League Report are credited to Bill Mitchell, unless noted otherwise, and are not to be used for any other purpose without express permission.
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