AFL Recap: Kyle Higashioka A Success In AFL Debut

The Scottsdale Scorpions, who host the Yankees prospects in this year’s Arizona Fall League, defeated the Surprise Saguaros by the score of 7-6 in ten innings. However, only one Baby Bomber had a noteworthy day, and that was catcher Kyle Higashioka, who went 3-5 with a home run. 

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With two outs in the first inning, Scottsdale’s cleanup hitter, Gregory Bird, opened the Yankees’ day by striking out to end the inning. Though it was an inauspicious start, the second inning would prove to be an improvement, though it wouldn’t start out that way.

Dante Bichette Jr. and Tyler Austin, both top Yankees prospects, grounded out to open the top of the second, but the inning continued when Mets’ prospect Matt Reynolds singled to bring up little known catching prospect Kyle Higashioka.

The 24-year-old Higashioka played in only 17 games in 2014, splitting them between the Yankees’ Gulf Coast League team and Single-A Tampa.

In his first AFL at-bat, he clubbed a two run homer to centerfield and extended the Scottsdale lead to 3-0.

Unfortunately for the Scorpions, Surprise would tie the game in the bottom of the inning.

Yankees minor leaguer Caleb Cotham came on to pitch the fourth inning. He gave up two hits and a run, but with one out and a runner on third, he struck out Pat Cantwell and Rusney Castillo to escape further trouble.

Higashioka led off the fifth inning with a single to right field and would later score on Mets’ prospect Brandon Nimmo‘s groundout.

After Scottsdale took the lead in the tenth, Higashioka would cap off his big day with a single to left field and a stolen base. However, that was as far as he would get as Daniel Carbonell would strike out to end the inning.

Scottsdale would close out the game in the bottom of the inning.

Higashioka would finish 3-for-5 with a home run, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored, and a stolen base.

Bird and Bitchette Jr. each had a hit and a walk, while Austin went 0-4 with a walk. They went a combined 2-for-13.