Yankees: Gleyber Torres Named to MLB Pipeline’s All-AFL Team

By Mike Calendrillo |

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Following a spectacular six-week showing, Yankees prospect Gleyber Torres was named to MLB Pipeline’s All-Arizona Fall League team.

Not that it’s much of a surprise that a league MVP should headline a list of the most outstanding players in a particular league, but 19-year-old Yankees prospect Gleyber Torres proved that he could succeed against some of Minor League Baseball’s biggest and brightest talents.

The youngest player to take part in the AFL this year, Torres hit an incredible .403 on his way to becoming the youngest player in AFL history to win a batting title.

With plate discipline that well exceeds his teenage years (14 walks as compared to eight strikeouts), Torres showed an innate ability to get on base with regularity as he led the league in both OBP (.513) and OPS (1.158). The Yankees’ No. 2 overall prospect didn’t slack when it came to slugging percentage either, as his .645 saw him finish second in that category.

Most scouts feel Torres is still two years away from making his Major League debut, but if he can carry this type of production over to the impending Minor League season, he could certainly speed up that timeline.

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As for the rest of the prospects that were announced to the All-AFL team:

C. Carson Kelly: The Cardinals’ No. 11 prospect hit .286 with three home runs and 18 RBI — which were good enough for second highest in the league.

1B. Cody Bellinger: The Dodgers’ top overall prospect and No. 31 in all of baseball batted a robust .314 with three long balls in just 20 games. The heir-apparent to Adrian Gonzalez, Bellinger led the league in doubles with eight, finished third in RBI with 17 and an OPS of .981.

2B. Travis Demeritte: The Braves’ No. 9 prospect not only flashed the leather at both second base and third base, he also led the league in triples with four, finished tied for the top spot in total bases with 48, and second in runs scored with 23.

3B. Brian Anderson: The Marlins’ No. 4 prospect continues to evolve into a feared power hitter, smashing a league-leading five home runs — before belting another round tripper in the AFL Championship game.

SS. Gleyber Torres: (See above) Twins’ No. 2 prospect Nick Gordon — son of former Yankees reliever Tom Gordon was the runner-up to Torres for this accolade.

OF. Bradley Zimmer: The Indians’ No. 1 prospect and No. 25 in all of baseball led the AFL in runs scored with 25, tied for the lead in walks with 19 — all the while finishing fifth in OBP (.421) and OPS (.935). Zimmer’ five-tool ability is one of the main reasons the Indians deemed Clint Frazier expendable enough trade to the Yankees for Andrew Miller this past August.

OF. Tyler O’Neill: The Mariners’ No. 2 prospect posted a .292/.395/.485 slash line in 19 games — including 21 hits, eight of which were for extra bases. O’Neill further proved he’s an all-around talent as he earned rave reviews for his athletic performances in right field.

OF. Andrew Stevenson: The Nationals’ No. 9 prospect flat-out raked in Arizona — leading the league with a .353 batting average, 44 total bases, nine stolen bases, 18 runs scored and 30 hits.

DH. Zach Vincej: It’s not every day that an unranked prospect makes the type of impact this 25-year-old shortstop did. But Vincej proved he absolutely belonged with baseball’s youngest and brightest as he put together a .352 BA, 18 RBI, 1.101 OPS and league-leading .676 SLG.

SP: Austin Gomber: The Cardinals’ No. 18 ranked prospect went 5-1 with a 2.14 ERA in seven starts while striking out 33 batters in 33.2 innings pitched.

SP. Michael Kopech: The Red Sox’s No. 5 prospect went 3-0 with a 2.01 ERA in six starts while striking out 26 men in 22.1 innings.

Next: McCann Comes Clean

RP. Jared Miller: The Diamondbacks’ No. 30 prospect set an AFL record with 10 consecutive scoreless appearances while only allowing six hits, four walks, and 30 strikeouts in 18.1 innings pitched.

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