Arizona Fall League final prospect update

For non championship bound teams (like the last place Scottsdale Scorpions), the Arizona fall season is over.  Time for those players to go get a little rest before heading back to the gym and preparing for an important job in 2017 - proving they aren't flukes.

The Angels prospects play on the Scottsdale Scorpions whose roster also includes prospects from the Mets, Yankees, Phillies, and Giants.  The Angels sent 4 pitchers, a catcher, an infielder, and an outfielder to the AFL, so let's check in how they are doing.  During the season, Victor Alcantara was traded away so he has been dropped from the report.

Adam Hofacket

22, RHP
Hofacket didn't pitch much in the AFL and hasn't pitched at all since October 20th which would lead me to believe there was some type of injury.  Doesn't mean it was a bad one, but you don't take chances with anything when it's just the AFL.  Hofacket only threw 4.2 innings and had a 5.79 ERA with a .364 BAA.  Certainly nothing to write home about.  He should return to 66ers at least to start 2017.  Last year in High A ball he had a 6.03 ERA with a 1.49 WHIP in 43.1 innings.

Grayson Long

22, RHP
Long was far from dominate in his fall season, giving up runs in each of his 6 starts.  He did throw a no hitter through 3.1 innings back on October 27th, but he also walked 6 and gave up 3 runs that game.  His final ERA was 6.75 with a 1.99 WHIP and 18 Ks in 17.1 inning pitched.  With numbers like that and his 5.14 ERA in 3 starts for high A ball this year, it's likely he'll land back on the 66ers in the spring.  Long was pretty great in low a ball during 2016 but has continued to struggled with a very high walk rate.

Eduardo Paredes

21, RHP
A lot of people like this dude and he hasn't really had a horrible season yet, unless of course, you count the AFL.  However, he did only pitch 10.2 innings and had a .318 BAA with a 5.91 ERA.  Paredes walked a batter on average every other inning the AFL  He has a career 2.53 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 237 K along with 50 walks in 203 innings.  Paredes will turn 22 just before the start of the season which he should start back up in AA.

Taylor Ward

23, C
Ward made the Fall Stars team and was one of the best hitting catchers in the fall league.  His 0 for 10 in his last 10 games definitely hurt his stats, but he still hit .283/.321/.377.  As has been the trend lately, his K rate was up and walk rate was done, but those numbers seem to have shifted around the time his average went up so they seem to be a fair trade off.  Ward also hit .381 with runners in scoring posting (8 for 21).  Hopefully he can continue the good numbers he put up in the AFL and the second half of 2016 and we may see him playing for the Mobile Bay Bear (AA) some time in 2017.

David Fletcher

22, INF
The #8 prospect had a decent but not overwhelming season in the AFL.  He hit .250 with a .308 OBP.  More impressive is the fact that in 60 at bats he drew 5 walks and only struck out 4 times.  Fletcher will turn 23 next season and may spend most (or all) of it in AA.  He does have a .292/.345/.377 in his two minor league season so far.  Fletcher has moved up rather quickly from a round 6 pick in 2015.  He spent that year in Rookie ball and was called up to Burlington about half way through the season.  Not too usual.  But in 2016 he started the season in high A ball and moved to AA before the season was over.  Fletcher handled himself well in AA, hitting .300 in 80 at bats and making 0 errors in 80 total chances.

Michael Hermosillo

21, OF
Hermosillo is young and there is no rush to get him to the big leagues (well not too much of a rush).  He is probably one of the best hopes in a thin outfield talent pool for the Angels system, despite not even being on the top 30 prospect list.  Hermosillo hit .267/.353/.400 in the AFL in his limited (30) at bats.  Unfortunately, Hermosillo probably saw some diminished playing time since he shared the left field role with a dude named Tebow (who had twice as many at bats).  Hermosillo had an impressive break-out season in 2016 for the Burlington Bees and Inland Empire 66ers.  He will most likely start back with the 66ers but at 22 (he will turn 22 in January), he could even see some playing time in AA next year if he continues to shine.

New Baseballs

Not related to any prospects, but in case you haven't heard, they have been testing out new baseballs in the Arizona Fall League.  Watch this video to learn more about them: