Bleday lighting up the Arizona Fall League

Peoria 15, Mesa 15
In a score more reminiscent of those found on the gridiron, the Javelinas and Solar Sox turned up the heat by combining for 30 runs and 28 hits on Monday afternoon. JJ Bleday led the charge with a homer and a double among his five hits producing four runs. The No. 5 Marlins prospect has hit safely in eight of his last nine games and in nine of 12 overall to raise his batting line to .400/.500/.680 with eight extra-base hits and an AFL-high 18 RBIs. Bleday, MLB Pipeline's No. 71 overall prospect, has fanned just eight times in 50 at-bats after whiffing in all four plate appearances in his Fall League opener.

Toronto's top prospect and MLB's 32nd overall, Gabriel Moreno, chipped in a pair of singles and scored twice for the Solar Sox. Logan Davidson (OAK 12) added two hits, two runs and an RBI while fellow Oakland farmhand Jonah Bride blasted a two-run homer and walked twice. Orioles prospect Greg Cullen's homer and double produced four RBIs for Mesa.

The offense was no less impactful for Peoria, which produced 11 hits and 17 walks. Pirates fourth-ranked prospect Nick Gonzales (MLB 62) reached base three times, scored twice and drove in a run. Organization mate Ji-Hwan Bae (PIT 22) didn't collect a hit but walked three times, stole three bases and scored three runs. Logan O'Hoppe reached base four times and drove in a run. The No. 11 Phillies prospect stroked a pair of doubles and scored twice while Zach DeLoach (SEA 6) contributed a pair of RBI singles. More »

Glendale 8, Salt River 5
Zack Thompson is doing everything he can to put a nightmare 2021 regular season behind him. Through six appearances this fall, the No. 8 Cardinals prospect has a 1.50 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 12 innings after adding three scoreless frames on Monday. Although he did not register a strikeout, Thompson allowed just two baserunners -- a hit and a walk -- while tossing 17 of his 33 pitches for strikes in the victory.

Offensively, the River Dogs were led by Cardinals farmhand Lars Nootbaar who doubled, singled, drove in two and scored twice. Jose Rodriguez (CWS 9) had a key two-run single and a stolen base for Glendale, which scored eight unanswered runs.

Noot can not be stopped, the @Cardinals promising big leaguer now leads the Arizona Fall League in extra base hits after this booming double! @CardsPlayerDev pic.twitter.com/EwTUPGAvMB

— MLB's Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) November 1, 2021

Michael Toglia collected just a single but drove in three runs for Salt River, which opened up a 5-0 lead after two innings. The sixth-ranked Rockies prospect has tallied six of his seven AFL RBIs in the past three games. Willie MacIver (COL 25) went 3-for-4 and scored once. The 25-year-old catcher also picked off a runner at first base. More »

#Rockies Michael Toglia goes the other way for a run scoring single. pic.twitter.com/2qiTqAzU3i

— William Boor (@wboor) November 1, 2021

Scottsdale 8, Surprise 3
Although it came in a losing effort, Ivan Johnson continued an impressive power display for Surprise. The Reds' No. 16 prospect clubbed his fourth home run and walked, boosting his OPS to .975 in 42 plate appearances. Johnson's average sits at .235, but his four long balls are tied for second in the league.

Nationals prospects Donovan Casey (18) and Jackson Cluff (19) combined for five hits and an RBI for the Saguaros.

For the Scorpions, Triston Casas plated two runs, walked twice and scored once. Pipeline's No. 18 overall prospect, No. 2 for the Red Sox, is batting .313 with a .848 OPS. Curtis Mead doubled, singled and scored twice for Scottsdale. Tampa Bay's No. 14 prospect also swiped his first base of the Fall League. More »