Red-hot Moreno keeps on hitting in AFL

Mesa 15, Salt River 10
With each passing day, Gabriel Moreno backs up his status as MLB Pipeline's No. 32 overall prospect. The 21-year-old tallied three more hits and drove in three runs to pace Mesa's offensive onslaught on Thursday night. Toronto's top prospect helped his club jump out to an early lead, knocking in two runs with his AFL-leading 10th double. Moreno added an RBI single and another hit later in the game.

The Venezuela-born backstop's name is all over the league leaderboard on the strength of a .348/.427/.536 slash line, 17 RBIs and 11 extra-base hits.

Moreno was far from the only offensive catalyst for the Solar Sox. Logan Davidson (OAK 12) filled up the box score with three hits, including his first home run. The 23-year-old scored four times, drove in three and walked twice during his perfect night at the dish. Nelson Velazquez (CHC 29) also went deep for Mesa, slugging his AFL-best ninth home run, while Marlins prospect Troy Johnston doubled, singled and plated two runs.

Nelson Velazquez remains red-hot in the desert.

The @Cubs’ No. 29 prospect blasts his AFL-leading ninth home run. pic.twitter.com/xtKsre4CH4

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) November 12, 2021

Despite the loss, Salt River enjoyed a strong night with the bats too. David Hamilton (MIL 16), who entered the game with one RBI, drove in four runs and reached safely in all five plate appearances. The 24-year-old fell a homer shy of the cycle and also swiped his third base in four attempts this fall.

Brett Baty reached base four times and scored three runs. The second-ranked Mets prospect collected three singles and drove in a run while D-backs outfielder Dominic Canzone launched his first home run on a two-RBI night. More »

Peoria 4, Scottsdale 0
For the second time in two starts, William Woods tossed nothing but goose eggs. The No. 28 Braves prospect retired the first seven batters he faced and struck out seven in four scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 4.24. Woods entered the game with nine walks in 10 innings this fall, but he issued only one free pass and threw 46 of 66 pitches for strikes en route to the victory.

The 22-year-old, who did not debut until August this season, only made five starts after missing more than three months with an undisclosed injury.

Bryson Stott (PHI 2) snapped a 2-for-23 skid with three hits, including his first home run of the campaign. Baseball's 97th overall prospect swatted a solo homer to open the scoring in the fifth. It produced his 22nd RBI, tied for third-best in the AFL. Logan O'Hoppe (PHI 11) and Luke Waddell (ATL 29) each chipped in two hits and an RBI. Nick Gonzales (PIT 4) singled twice and is batting .382, tops on the circuit.

Connor Seabold (BOS 13) turned in his best performance of the fall, twirling three shutout frames while striking out six. The 25-year-old worked around trouble in the first and third innings to complete his first scoreless outing in six starts. More »

Logan O’Hoppe cashes in Peoria’s fourth run of the night. Javelinas looking to cap off the shutout in the bottom of the 9th 🔥 @Phillies pic.twitter.com/0Nc8fWvko6

— MLB's Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) November 12, 2021

Surprise 11, Glendale 7
A player's impact on a game can be more far-reaching than just hits, runs or stolen bases. Brendan Donovan proved that on Thursday. The No. 17 Cardinals prospect homered for the second consecutive game, drove in two runs and walked three times for the Desert Dogs. Donovan's two-run blast in the sixth rocketed off his bat at 107 mph and went an estimated 416 feet.

The 24-year-old has proven very adept at getting on base this fall, reaching safely in all but one of his 12 games. Donovan, who is batting .350/.471/.625 in 51 plate appearances, has walked in each of his previous five contests, earning eight free passes in that span. He walked once in his first seven AFL outings.

The 2018 Draft pick set career highs across the board in 2021, batting .304 with a .854 OPS, 12 homers, 73 runs and 66 RBIs in 108 games across three Minor League levels. Donovan finished the year with Triple-A Memphis. Pedro Leon (HOU 2) doubled in a pair of runs and swiped his second bag for Glendale. Juan Yepez (STL 26) went hitless but drove in his league-best 26th run with a bases-loaded walk.

Reds prospect Drew Mount went 3-for-4 with a double, three runs scored and an RBI. Drew Millas (WAS 20) hit his first Fall League homer and singled while Andres Chaparro (Yankees) blasted a two-run jack. Nathan Eaton (Royals) tallied two RBIs on a pair of base knocks. More »