Davidson's moonshot secures AFL title for Peoria
Keston Hiura might be the MVP, but Braxton Davidson was the hero Saturday. The Braves prospect demolished a 2-1 fastball from Salt River reliever Taylor Guilbeau deep over the right-center field wall at Scottdale Stadium to hand Peoria a 3-2, 10-inning victory and the Arizona Fall League Championship Game.
The Braves prospect demolished a 2-1 fastball from Salt River reliever
"It was amazing. I don't think we could have wrote it any better," said Hiura, the Brewers top prospect who was named Fall League MVP on Saturday. "Going into the last game of the Fall League, definitely a little tough because you have to say goodbye to some people you've gotten really close to, but Peoria Javelinas, we're a team that's in every game, regardless of the score. That shows today how resilient we are. It starts with our starting pitching and goes all the way through to our relievers and our whole batting lineup."
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Davidson, who hit six homers during the Fall League regular season, knew it as soon as the ball left his barrel. His teammates piled out of the dugout to greet him at home plate and celebrate their crown, but the 2014 first-round Draft choice came up limp and had to be carried into the clubhouse after injuring himself while jumping. Davidson, feared to have fractured his left foot, was taken to a nearby hospital for X-rays. Everyone is hoping for the best and wishing him well, Hiura said.
"He's been huge for us all season," Hiura said. We're very confident with anyone in our lineup to be up at the plate in that spot. He's a great player who has tremendous power. He got on top of that fastball and drove it a long, long way."
One inning prior, Peoria was three outs away from being shut out. The Javelinas utilized a prolific offense this season, leading the fall circuit in homers (27) and OPS (.754). And Rafters reliever
He did just that, sending a Lawrence fastball right back up the middle to tie the game at two. With two outs, Padres No. 23 prospect
"We knew that it was now or never," Hiura said. "We rallied together. We knew that we needed baserunners and get players on base to give us an opportunity to put us in that position. We were able to work the count well and take advantage of some wild pitches and put the ball in play and find those holes. That was huge for us and we're all pumped right now."
Miami 17th-ranked prospect
Marlins No. 2 prospect
Chris Bumbaca is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @BOOMbaca.