Yankees Prospects in the AFL: Week One

The Arizona Fall League is under way and the Scottsdale Scorpions are already struggling. The Scorpions, the squad that seven Yankees prospects are playing for, finished with the worst record in last year’s AFL at 10-21. This season they are already off to a 1- 2 start. The Yankees’ future stars in the desert, however, are certainly doing their part.

Game 1: October 7
Scottsdale Scorpions defeated the Salt River Rafters 7-4.

This game featured some big time prospects. The Scorpions got to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ elite pitching prospect, Archie Bradley, early, tagging him for three runs in two innings. The charge was lead by two Yankees prospects. First baseman Greg Bird had a monster game. Bird hit his first of two doubles on the night in the top of the first inning, driving in his first two runs of the season. He would later score on fellow Yankees’ prospect, right fielder Tyler Austin’s RBI single. Bird would finish his AFL debut 3-for-5 with two doubles, a late home run to ice it and four RBI. Austin would finish 2-for-4 with two RBI of his owns and a stolen base.

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The Scorpions used six pitchers to earn the victory, none of which were from the Yankees system. They held former number one overall prospect Byron Buxton to an 0-for-4 day. Former Yankees top prospect, Peter O’Brien, who was sent to Arizona for Martin Prado had a huge night. He finished 2-for-3 with one home run and two RBI.

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Game 2: October 8
Scorpions lose to Rafters 6-3.

It wasn’t pretty for the Scorpions as they were drilled for runs in four consecutive innings. Unfortunately this came at the hands of a couple of Yankees’ prospects. Caleb Cotham came in to the game in the fifth inning with a 3-1 lead and promptly blew it. He allowed two solo home runs to tie the game over his two innings pitched. He did strike out three while only walking one, however. Fellow Baby Bomber Alex Smith came in with the game tied and allowed the game-winning run. Smith could make it out of the seventh inning, lasting just two thirds of an inning allowing the tie-breaking run to cross and picking up his first loss of the season.

The Yankees’ bats were quiet in this one as well. Greg Bird went 1-for-4 but was able to score one of the Scorpions runs. Tyler Austin, back in right field, also went 1-for-4. He drove in and scored a run on the night.

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Game 3: October 9
Scorpios lose to the Peoria Javelinas 11-2.

There was nothing pretty about this one as the Javelinas teed off against the Scorpions Thursday night. Luckily, no Yankees’ pitching prospects were at fault for the offensive onslaught. Surprisingly, Dario Alvarez, the Mets pitching prospect who went 10-1 with a 1.10 ERA and 114 strikeouts in 73.1 innings while taking home two Pitcher of the Week Awards in 2014, was dinged up for the second time this season. Alvarez allowed two more runs in his two innings of work.

Greg Bird continued his hot start. Bird went 2-for-4 with his third double of the young season. He scored yet another run and is batting .462 through three games. Tyler Austin extended his hitting streak to three games as well, going 1-for-3 on the night. Dante Bichette, Jr. made his AFL debut. He couldn’t muster a hit, but collected his first RBI on a sacrifice fly.

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