Lee slugs first Arizona Fall League homer

Glendale 3, Mesa 2
Sometimes all it takes is one swing. For Korey Lee, Wednesday's sixth-inning at-bat might have been the one.

Mired in a 2-for-25 slump entering his third plate appearance of the afternoon, the top Astros prospect evened the score with a two-run homer. The clout was Lee's first Fall League tater and just his second extra-base hit in nine games.

The 23-year-old backstop hit the ground running last month, putting together a .344/.447/.375 slash line in October. Lee did not play between Oct. 30 and Nov. 4 and had struggled since. His 1-for-4 performance for the Desert Dogs nudged his average up to .237 and his OPS to .660.

His recent AFL slump notwithstanding, Lee put together an All-Star worthy season in 2021. The California native batted .277 with a .770 OPS and 30 extra-base hits in 88 games across three Minor League levels. Lee finished the year with Triple-A Sugar Land.

RBI single from #Cubs OF/AFL MVP candidate Nelson Velazquez gives Mesa a 1-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/lz8YC7fwiB

— Jonathan Mayo (@JonathanMayo) November 17, 2021

Carson Taylor (LAD 30) drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the sixth to help make a winner of Zack Thompson. The eighth-ranked Cardinals prospect yielded one hit and three walks while striking out four in two scoreless frames. Thompson has been one of the more impressive hurlers this fall, not allowing a run in seven of his nine appearances while posting a 1.56 ERA with 22 punchouts in 17 1/3 innings.

Nelson Velazquez continued to build his case for AFL MVP, singling twice and driving in a run for Mesa. The No. 29 Cubs prospect is pacing the circuit with nine home runs while batting .366/.467/.693 with 15 extra-base hits and 21 RBIs. JJ Bleday (MIA 5) stroked his second triple and walked. MLB Pipeline's No. 71 overall prospect has hits in five of his last six games and is hitting .315 with a 1.019 OPS for the Solar Sox.

That’s a triple to center for #Marlins OF JJ Bleday pic.twitter.com/na540GD72x

— Jonathan Mayo (@JonathanMayo) November 17, 2021

A's southpaw Hogan Harris produced his finest outing of the fall, allowing one hit, walking two and striking out two over three scoreless innings. More »

Peoria 5, Surprise 2
With an injury-plagued, albeit extremely successful 2021 season behind him, Michael Burrows made sure he ended his AFL stint on the highest of notes. Pittsburgh's No. 14 prospect fanned six over three scoreless innings en route to his second win.

Burrows allowed one hit and a walk while tossing 35 of his 55 pitches for strikes. The outing put a capper on the 22-year-old's fall, which featured a 3.52 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP and 16 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings.

An 11th-round pick in 2018, Burrows sported a 2.20 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP and limited opponents to a .143 average while whiffing 66 in 49 innings. An oblique strain cost the Connecticut native nearly two months on the IL. He made just two starts after July 13.

Canaan Smith-Njigba kicks off Peoria’s afternoon with a no doubt homer to right 🔥. The Javelinas cling to an early 3-0 lead here in this critical West Division game against Surprise! @Pirates pic.twitter.com/nlkR5Mr4kJ

— MLB's Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) November 17, 2021

Offensively, Peoria was led by Canaan Smith-Njigba (PIT 27) who launched his first Fall League homer, singled and walked. The 22-year-old's two-run shot left his bat at 105 mph. Luke Waddell (ATL 29) chipped in two hits and an RBI while Bryson Stott (PHI 2) and Zach DeLoach (SEA 6) drove in a run apiece.

Royals prospect Jake Means supplied all the offense for Mesa with a two-run homer, his first of the season. Justin Foscue (TEX 4) singled twice for his second multihit effort in three games. More »

Down, but not out! Jake Means slams a two run jack to bring the Saguaros within three! This West Division race is coming down to the wire 😯 @Royals @RoyalsPD pic.twitter.com/Gc8VPB6fBw

— MLB's Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) November 17, 2021

Scottsdale 4, Salt River 3
The meat of the Scorpions' order did its job, accounting for three of the club's four runs in a come-from-behind win. Triston Casas (BOS 2) extended his hitting streak to 17 games with an RBI single in the fifth. It was the only hit in three at-bats for baseball's No. 18 overall prospect, who is batting .372/.495/.487 with seven extra-base hits and 11 RBIs.

Hunter Bishop (SF 6) drove in the game-tying run in the fifth and walked.

Rafters SS David Hamilton (MIL, no. 16) leads off the game with a triple against the Scorpions in Scottsdale. @MLBPipeline @MLBazFallLeague @AdamMcCalvy pic.twitter.com/GtMhGBX27v

— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) November 17, 2021

David Hamilton (MIL 16) legged out his second triple, singled and scored for the Rafters.