A roster highlighted by an especially strong infield and catching group, Scottsdale boasts four to six Top 200 types, and some stars in every positional corps. One of the better clubs to catch based on the Phillies, Giants, and Mets contingents. There’s power up and down the lineup and plenty of interesting arms. Names like Spencer Howard, Thomas Szapucki, David Peterson, and Jojo Romero give them a strong group of arms with upper minors experience, with a few that could factor into their teams’ second half 2020 aspirations. Names like Alec Bohm, Joey Bart, Heliot Ramos, and even 2019 breakout Trey Harris, give the Scorpions offense enough Category Five bats to rock opposing pitching staffs like a hurricane. As for the new hat, you be the judge, I like the classic black look myself.
Team Affiliations: Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays
Pitching Staff Summary: This staff is led by Spencer Howard, full stop. Few teams in the AFL this autumn can boast an arm with this kind of firepower. Behind Howard are a group of strong performers with varying question marks. The names you know are Tristen Beck, David Peterson, Jojo Romero, and the oft-injured Thomas Szapucki. A handful of arms that could factor into the major league picture for their respective clubs in 2020. There is depth in the ranks in less-heralded names like the Phillies Connor Seabold, the Giants Bryce Tucker, and the Braves duo of Bradley Roney, and Brandon White. A collection of arms who all had strong years in their respective roles. Often pen arms shine in the AFL, with the aforementioned trio of Tucker, Roney, and White providing Scottsdale with some firepower out of the pen. Only one true star within this group, but a handful of arms with big league upside.
Big Name: Spencer Howard, RHP Philadelphia Phillies - A deep arsenal of pitches, a high velocity fastball, and plus secondaries. Howard has developed into one of the best starting pitching prospects in baseball. The Phillies have handled Howard with kid gloves so far. Avoiding a large workload, he’s dealt with shoulder soreness this season, and other aliments throughout his career.
One To Watch: Thomas Szapucki, LHP New York Mets - After dealing with a plethora of injury woes that nearly derailed his once promising career, Szapucki returned strong in 2019. The lefty went 61.2 IP (a career high), accumulating a 2.63/3.05 ERA/FIP, 27.3 K%, and a 9.9 BB% across three levels of full season ball. The command is an issue still, as it comes and goes, but his fastball-curveball combo can be lethal when on.
Infield and Catchers Summary: This group is loaded with talent, with three top 100 prospects and a strong group of under the radar types or players in the Top 200-300 range. It’s one of the stronger infield/catching groups this Fall. Joey Bart and Alec Bohm team up the second and third overall picks in the 2018 draft respectively. Equipping the Scorpions with a fearsome one-two punch in the middle of the order.
Elsewhere, the Mets’ Andres Gimenez will look to work his way back from a disappointing 2019 campaign in Double-A Binghamton. Gimenez is one of the few returning players, and this fall could do a great deal to change the direction his career has taken since April. His Mets comrade Ali Sanchez brings some of the slickest catcher defense to Arizona, and teamed with Joey Bart gives the Scorpions strength behind the plate. The depth is impressive within this group, boasting not only two catchers with major league futures, but infield talent like Kevin Smith, Logan Warmoth, Nick Maton, and Luis Caprio with role 30 or better outcomes.
We will also see the reunion of former Wichita State standouts Alec Bohm and the Braves Greyson Jennista, as they team up once again in the Scottsdale lineup. Jennista, a former Cape Cod League MVP, is coming off a disappointing campaign following a strong showing in Low-A out of the draft last year. An exciting group with firepower and a few talented players looking to bounce back after less than satisfactory 2019s.
Big Name: Joey Bart, C San Francisco Giants - A fractured left hand derailed Bart’s season, but he conquered the treacherous confines of Richmond and the Eastern League, slashing .316/.368/.544 with four home runs and a wRC+ of 163 over 22 games. Despite the missed time, it was a successful campaign for Bart and his AFL appearance may signal a shot at a late 2020 promotion. Plus raw power, average bat to ball, and above-average ability behind the plate makes for an exciting package. Despite some swing and miss concerns due to his bat path, Bart is one of the premium prospects in the AFL.
One To Watch: Jalen Miller, 2B San Francisco Giants - Richmond is one of the tougher hitting environments in all of affiliated baseball, and it certainly took its toll on Miller’s slashline this season. A former 2015 third rounder from the Georgia prep ranks, Miller coming off consecutive seasons in High-A showed improved plate discipline and the best stolen base numbers of his career. He was the victim of his park and an unusually low BABIP of .251, but a deeper look reveals some upside. A sum-of-his-parts type, Miller hits the ball in the air 40 percent of the time while maintaining acceptable strikeout and walk numbers. Factor in the speed and you have a player far more intriguing than his statline. An average defender at second with a below average arm, Miller is a future second baseman.
Outfield Summary: Some big names head off the outfield corps in Scottsdale with the Giants’ talented center fielder Heliot Ramos and 2016 first overall pick Mickey Moniak leading the way. Outside of those two names, the group boasts top 2019 breakout performer Trey Harris from Atlanta, Jason Heyward’s younger toolsy brother Jacob Heyward, and Atlanta’s Justin Dean, a 2018 17th round pick out of Lenoir-Rhyne University. It’s not the most talented group on the circuit, but they offer some depth and plenty of defensive value.
Big Name: Heliot Ramos, OF San Francisco Giants - With a strong season across High-A and Double-A, Ramos continues to showcase some of the most exciting tools in the minors. A plus power bat, with athleticism to spare, Ramos is a plus runner at present with the ability to stick in center for the foreseeable future. He boasts the arm for right, and should he be moved their permanently his bat will certainly fit the demands of the position. Swing and miss concerns still plague Ramos, as his approach is overly aggressive, but there’s optimism he can improve in that area. Arguably the most talented player on the roster.
One To Watch: Trey Harris, OF Atlanta Braves - 32nd round picks aren’t supposed to make the AFL just a year after being drafted but here is Trey Harris. One of the breakouts of the 2019 season’s first half, Harris rose all the way to Double-A this year slashing .323/.389/.498 in 131 games across three levels. A professional hitter type with sneaky athleticism, Harris has a shot to cement his breakout in AFL competing among some of the games brightest young stars.