Arizona Fall League – All-Star and Rangers Update (Nov 1)

Mar. 27, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; Fans watch the game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Texas Rangers at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Fall League has been underway for almost a month now and will feature the 8th Annual Fall Star game on Saturday, November 2, 2013.  Details are below to watch the game.

The Texas Rangers have their top prospects playing with the Surprise Saguaros team who has a record of 12 and 2 and holding on to first place by a game 2 and half.  Here is an update on how the Texas Rangers prospects are doing in the Arizona Fall League.

First, the Fall Stars (All-Stars)

Jorge Alfaro is the number 1 Texas Rangers 2013 prospect, overall he is ranked 55th. The Texas Rangers catcher has been named on the to play in the 2013 Fall Star game.  He’s continued to play very well in the Arizona Fall League.  Alfaro is currently on a 9 game hitting streak that started on October 15.  After playing in 12 games, he is currently first with a batting average of .422 and tied for second in the league for total runs.  He has had two 3 hit games, one on October 18 and the other October 26, both against Mesa.  He for the season 19 hits, 4 doubles and 1 triple over 45 at-bats.  Alfaro was mentioned in a previous article about the Texas Rangers top 5 catchers.

First baseman Brett Nicholas has played for the Rangers Double A team in Frisco.  The 25 year old has been in the league for awhile and is at the point to either he’ll make it or not.  Nicholas has had a moderate season so far in the Arizona Fall League.  He managed to have a 3 hit night against Salt River on October 24.  Brett Nicholas did make the Fall Star league, but he doesn’t have the best numbers for a first baseman.  He ranks in the middle of the pack against the other first baseman playing in the Arizona Fall League.  After 10 games he is currently batting .244 with 4 runs, 10 hits, 5 doubles, 0 walks and 8 strike outs.  He only has an on base percentage of .262.  Not very good for the hopeful 25 year old.

Watch Alfaro and Nicholas play this Saturday in the Fall Star Game in Surprise, Arizona.

The rest of the Texas Rangers prospects

Pitcher Keone Kela was sent to Arizona on October 21 and since then has appeared in 3 games.   The reliever has managed to get 4 1/3 innings of work so far this season and currently has a 0.00 ERA.  He has only allowed 2 hits, allowed 4 walks and recorded 6 strikeouts. Kela should expect to see plenty more playing time this fall.

Pitcher Will Lamb hasn’t improved much since the last update.  His stats would suggest he’s taken a down turn.  The 23 year old left handed pitcher currently has a 11.25 ERA after 4 games.  Over his 12 innings of work he has allowed 20 hits and 15 earned runs.  He has recorded 7 strikeouts, which is near the bottom for all pitchers.  And he has allowed a league leading 14 walks.  Lamb was picked up by the Rangers in the second round of the 2011 First-Year player draft.

Pitcher Nick McBride last pitched against the Scottsdale Scorpions on October 31.  McBride pitched 1 2/3 innings in which he allowed 3 hits and 2 runs.  This wasn’t McBride’s best game, but this has been his typical results.  Over 7 games he has a 9.31 ERA with 7 walks and 8 strikeouts.  He’s allowed 12 hits and 10 earned runs over 9.2 innings.  McBride was the number 42 top prospect in the Rangers farm system in 2011.

Pitcher Matt West was activated on October 6, 2013 by the Rangers. Since that time West has appeared in 7 games since being activated. Pitching in relief has gotten West 6.2 inning work so far this season.  He’s pitched well off and on so far in the fall league.  Currently Wst has an ERA of 5.40 and has allowed 9 hits and 4 earned runs.  Compared to the rest of the pitchers, he’s in the top quarter of pitchers.  He’s not the best, but he’s doing a lot better than teammate Will Lamb.  West is rebounding from Tommy John surgery he had back in 2012. West will continue to get innings to help him settle in to the role. West was originally a third baseman.

Second baseman Ryan Rua, who has been in slump finally managed to get a couple of hits in his last 2 games.   His the type of player that swings for power.  He had issues with strike outs and plate discipline.  In the October 22 report he had a batting average of .115.  After another slump his average has dropped to .111 for the season.  After 11 games he has 36 at-bats, 4 hits, 2 home runs, 5 walks and 14 strike outs (21 is the most in the league).  Rua was picked up by the Rangers also in 2011 with McBride.

Fall Star Game Details

The Fall Star Game will be played on Saturday, November 2 at 8:00 PM Eastern in Surprise Stadium.

To watch the game: MLB Network and online at MLB.com

View full Fall Star game roster