Twins 2017 AFL Week One: Tyler Jay cruising, Chris Paul mashing

Seven Twins prospects just wrapped up their first week playing for the Surprise Saguaros in the 2017 Arizona Fall League. If you’re not familiar with the seven players the Twins sent down south this year, check out our 2017 AFL preview to learn more about how they did during the 2017 season and what they hope to accomplish this fall.

The Saguaros are 4-3 so far as a team, which is fine. Here’s what each of the individual prospects has been up to.

Tyler Jay - LHP

As the Twins’ first round pick in the 2015 draft, Tyler Jay is perhaps the biggest name the Twins sent to the AFL this year, and he’s gotten off to a great start. Over the first week of action, Jay threw 3.0 scoreless innings with only three hits and no walks. He’s had great control of the strike zone, and ESPN’s Kieth Law even noted that the Twins might want to consider moving Jay back to a starting role. As you may recall, the Twins gave up on trying to transform Jay into a starter earlier this year (he had been a reliever in college).

Though I’m still skeptical Jay will return to starting, his early success in the AFL is good news for a kid who missed most of the regular season due to surgery to repair thoracic outlet syndrome.

LaMonte Wade - CF

It’s been a slow start for LaMonte Wade, who is 3-for-18 (.167) so far in the AFL. The good news is that his first hit of the fall was a double, and he has a couple RBI singles under his belt too. Known for getting on base in general, Wade has stayed true to form in that area, walking (three times) more than he’s struck out (twice).

Chris Paul - 3B

So far this year Chris Paul has been one of the best hitters for the Saguaros, going 7-for-17 (.412) with a double and one walk. The most exciting of his seven hits was in the game on October 16th, when he hat a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Scottsdale Scorpions.

Sean Miller - SS

Sean Miller hasn’t seen a whole lot of action yet, as he’s only 1-for-10 with one walk. He made that one hit count, though, driving in a run as part of a seven-run inning by Surprise in the game on October 14th.

Andrew Vasquez - LHP

The Miracle’s strikeout machine has been chugging right, pitching 3.2 scoreless innings so far in the AFL. Andrew Vasquez has surrendered only one hit and zero walks while striking out four in that time, although he’s also been a little wild.

Ryan Eades - RHP

Ryan Eades has almost been keeping pace with Tyler Jay, having also thrown 3.0 scoreless innings while surrendering three hits. Eades, however, has also walked a guy and has fewer strikeouts, but so far so good.

Tom Hackimer - RHP

Poor Tom Hackimer is the only Twins pitcher who hasn’t remained scoreless, having surrendered two doubles in a row in the game on October 15th. Hackimer was able to compose himself at least, and struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Over his total 2.0 innings, Hackimer has given up just that one run on four hits and a walk. He’s struck out two.