Arizona Fall League Update...October 22nd

In what has been a change (Twins prospects formerly played with Grand Canyon), the Twins have seven players playing for the Mesa Solar Sox in this year's Arizona Fall League.  The Sox got off to a terrible start their first week, losing three of four with another game suspended (was lost yesterday in 17 innings).  This past week, they got it together and won four of six and are now in second place in their division and back in the race.

One of the Twins top prospects, Matt Moses, is playing regularly at third base with only one error in his first 9 games.  Moses, who hit his first home run in yesterday's 7-2 win, is hitting .270Ave/.289OBP with 5 runs scored, 3 doubles and 6 rbi in 37 at bats.  Moses has walked only once while striking out 8 times.

Former Player of the Year, David Winfree, who is playing more first base than third, has seen limited duty with only 20 at bats.  Winfree is hitting .150Ave/.182OBP with 2 runs scored, 2 doubles and 3 rbi.

The Twins top player so far this fall has been infielder Matt Tolbert, who is playing both second and short.  Tolbert, who has the second highest average on the Sox, is batting .343Ave/.415OBP with 7 runs scored, 2 doubles, 1 home run and 4 rbi in 35 at bats.  Tolbert also has been successful in all three of his stolen base attempts while picking up 5 walks compared with only 2 strikeouts.  As many of you speculate where Alexi Casilla will play next year and who the top middle infield prospects are, don't disregard Matt Tolbert who had a legitimate break-out year this season and is doing everything possible to make the Twins take notice of him for the future.

The AFL increased their rosters this year with each team providing seven players (35 total), including 4 pitchers.  Having a 20 man pitching staff means that pitchers won't be pitching all that many innings which is important because many of these guys have thrown lots of innings during their seasons.  Adam Harben was designated to this team by the Twins, then remained after being traded to the Cubs.  Harben has started three games, pitching 7.0 innings with a 6.43era.  Mets super prospect Mike Pelfrey is also on the team, pitching 4.0 innings with a 0.00era.

Twins super prospect Kevin Slowey is pitching in relief following his season which included a trip to Havana with Team USA between promotions from Ft. Myers to New Britain and finally Rochester for the playoffs.  Kevin has appeared in 4 games, pitching 8.0 innings with a 2.25era and 4K/1BB.

Errol Simonitsch, who is on the 40-man roster, started 2 games, pitching 4.1 innings with a 6.23era and 4K/1BB.  

Kevin Cameron was added to the Sox roster after the Twins sent Harben to the Cubs.  Cameron has done an excellent job in three of his four relief appearances with a 5.40era and 8K/3BB in 5.0 innings pitched.

Lefty Jay Sawatski has struggled following an excellent season for the Twins.  Sawatski has appeared 4.1 innings in 4 relief appearances.  Jay has a 12.46era with 2K/2BB, however, one terrible outing caused much of the damage to his numbers.

The league will run for another three weeks providing these young Twins an opportunity to play with and against the top prospects in the game.