Hoese heats up with first two AFL homers

Glendale 9, Mesa 4
What has been an less-than-stellar AFL campaign took a turn for the better for Kody Hoese on Wednesday. The 13th-ranked Dodgers prospect slugged a pair of solo homers, his first two of the season, singled and scored three times to lead the Desert Dogs. Organization mate Jacob Amaya (LAD 14) went deep for the second consecutive game and is now batting .341 with a 1.091 OPS in 15 games.

Juan Yepez remained a run-scoring machine, putting himself back into sole possession of the AFL lead in RBIs with 25 after plating four. The No. 26 Cardinals prospect slugged his sixth and seventh long balls while adding his sixth double. Yepez has driven in at least one run in four consecutive games and eight overall in that span. The 23-year-old is batting .319 with a 1.100 OPS and 13 extra-base hits.

Juan Yepez adds to his Fall-Star caliber season as he smashes this one into orbit. His sixth homer of the season went a longggg way 🚀🚀 @CardsPlayerDev @Cardinals pic.twitter.com/blfJLLNmID

— MLB's Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) November 11, 2021

Despite allowing two runs in three innings, Robinson Pina (LAA 20) struck out six and still sports a 2.51 ERA. Caleb Freeman (CWS 21) was strong in relief for Glendale, striking out three in two perfect frames. The 23-year-old has allowed one run in nine innings this fall.

For Mesa, JJ Bleday (MIA 5) opened the scoring with a two-run shot in the first, his second in as many games and fifth overall. The 71st overall prospect in baseball stands second in the league with 49 total bases, 26 hits, 13 extra-base knocks and eight doubles. More »

JJ Bleday’s fifth AFL homer gives Mesa an early 2-0 lead. #Marlins pic.twitter.com/ecVqwagAB6

— William Boor (@wboor) November 11, 2021

Scottsdale 6, Salt River 1
He may have taken the loss for Salt River, but Garrett Hill continued to impress as the AFL works its way through its penultimate week. Named to the 15th edition of the Fall Stars Game earlier in the day, the Detroit right-hander allowed one run on four hits and a walk while striking out three in three innings. Hill has posted a 1.98 ERA and a 21-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in five appearances (three starts) spanning 13 2/3 innings.

The Petaluma, Calif., native went 6-1 with a 2.47 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP and 99 strikeouts in 75 2/3 frames between Double-A Erie and High-A West Michigan during the regular season.

Carlos Cortes (NYM 10) singled twice for the Rafters while Tigers outfielder Eric De La Rosa plated the club's lone run with a sacrifice fly.

Seth Corry was on point for the Scorpions, twirling three scoreless frames to lower his ERA to 3.72. The No. 11 Giants prospect allowed a second-inning single and struck out five, including four of five batters bridging the first and second innings.

Triston Casas (BOS 2) led the way offensively with three hits for Scottsdale to extend his hitting streak to 14 game. MLB Pipeline's No. 18 overall prospect doubled twice and ignited the Scorpions' three-run fifth with an RBI single then scored later in the frame on a two-run single by Hunter Bishop (SF 6).

Casas, who also will participate in the Fall Stars Game, is batting .357/.471/.471 with 10 RBIs and six extra-base hits. The 21-year-old stands third in the league with 25 hits.

Rays outfielder Jordan Qsar capped the scoring with the game's only homer, a two-run shot in the seventh. More »