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Arizona Fall League Starts Today


NorthSideSox72

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The AFL opens today. There are eight White Sox prospects playing, and there was a recent roster change, so we updated the league preview. As play is just starting, I thought I'd re-post the updated preview.

 

One nice thing about the AFL is, a lot of prospect hounds go, so there are typically lots of local reports to take in. We will pass some along, especially on Twitter @FutureSox.

 

 

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Last minute roster change. Connor Walsh removed, replaced by LHP Louie Lechich. Lechich converted from outfield to pitcher during the 2016 season, which is pretty unusual. His 2016 numbers as a pitcher across AZL (5 games) and Kannapolis (7 games): 15 IP, 12 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 16 K. No idea what his true command is like or even what he throws, but for a converted guy to throw strikes that often (62% in A-ball) and not get knocked around is at least a pretty good start.

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QUOTE (credezcrew24 @ Oct 11, 2016 -> 08:02 PM)
I don't think that I've heard of Danny Hayes before, he's certainty put up sold offensive numbers and if his defense is adequate it seems like he's a guy who should be put on the 40 man roster.

 

This is pretty accurate...

 

QUOTE (winninguglyin83 @ Oct 11, 2016 -> 09:19 PM)
Hayes is a former Oregon State star. Been around a few years. Not enough power to be a big-league first baseman in my opinion.

 

He's got pretty much everything you want in a 1B outside of the power. Gets on base a lot, works long counts, plays above average or better defense at 1B, he's athletic enough to not become a "body problem". He shows the raw power in BP, and some game power but not enough, at least until 2016. In 2015 he skipped High-A to go straight to AA, which is a really big jump - struggled for like 5 weeks then put together a decent rest of the season. in 2016 he opened the year 0-for-24 in AAA, then went on a tear, posting a .927 OPS with 10 HR in his next 50 games. He was at that time probably on the radar for a call-up, but then he got hurt (core muscle injury).

 

Probably he's not a major leaguer, but there are hints that he could maybe be a LHH platoon bat for 1B/DH. Problem is of course, a lot of teams don't have use for that specific role.

 

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QUOTE (ChiliIrishHammock24 @ Oct 12, 2016 -> 02:54 PM)
Will all talk about games be in this thread, or should we still go to the minor league subforum?

I mean, I could move this, or we could just keep it here. I think I'll keep it here for now, maybe move it if it falls off the first page.

 

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QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 13, 2016 -> 08:24 AM)
Danny Hayes (who we were just discussing) hit a home run and added another walk yesterday. Zack Collins had two walks and a K. Trey Michalczewski had an ugly game - 0-4, 3 K. Brian Clark pitched 2 scoreless with 3 K.

 

So Clark probably ends up being the second lefty out of the pen this season I imagine? Seems like he has earned the opportunity.

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QUOTE (Dunt @ Oct 13, 2016 -> 08:39 AM)
So Clark probably ends up being the second lefty out of the pen this season I imagine? Seems like he has earned the opportunity.

Hard to say for sure. He was mostly in AA this year, and his brief AAA stint wasn't fantastic. Also he doesn't profile like a LOOGY (in fact I think he should still be starting, but the Sox seem to feel otherwise). I think he's maybe a long shot for that role on Opening Day, but he's got a good chance to see Chicago sometime during the season.

 

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Louie Lechich made his AFL debut, threw 1.1 scoreless with 2 K's. More impressive: the K's were Yoan Moncada and Nick Gordon.

 

Lechich converted from outfield to lefty pitcher mid-season. Including his AZL, Kanny and now AFL time, his stats so far in 13 games as a pro pitcher: 16.1 IP, 12 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 18 K.

 

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So far, the hitters are doing poorly, but the pitching as done well...

 

Zack Collins: 0-2, 2 BB, K (and a not so great report on his defense)

Trey Michalczewski: 2-9, 4 K

Courtney Hawkins: 3-15, 2B, 5 K (Video I saw makes it look like he's caught in-between at the plate right now)

Danny Hayes: 3-15, HR, 2 BB, 2 K (had a very positive report on his defense FWIW)

 

Brian Clark: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K (saw a report similar to all his others - looks like a MLB mid-inning reliever)

Nolan Sanburn: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K (his was a start)

Louie Lechich: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (scouting reports from 2080 and Fangraphs both showed very positive)

Colton Turner: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

 

Obviously all very, very early going. Pitchers combined: 10.1 IP, 10 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 11 K

 

 

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QUOTE (raBBit @ Oct 18, 2016 -> 02:09 PM)
When/how was Colton Turner added to the roster?

Cooper, Goldberg and Walsh were dropped shortly before the league opened. Turner, Sanburn and Lechich were added in their stead. Not sure the reason for Walsh. But Cooper put in a lot of innings for a reliever, and Goldberg was pitching for Team Israel, so it's probably an innings thing for them. Lechich needed innings, and with Sanburn and Turner I think they just wanted a deeper look.

 

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