Twins AFL Report (Week 1): Kala'i Rosario, Ben Ross Power Salt River Rafters

[Steve Lein]

The Arizona Fall League kicked off their 2024 campaign this week out in the desert, with Minnesota Twins prospects playing on the roster of the Salt River Rafters. The scores were big across the circuit in the opening week, and two Twins hitters had plenty to do with that.

 

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (photo of Kala'i Rosario)

Game Results:
Tuesday, 10/8 | Scottsdale 9, Salt River 7
Wednesday, 10/9 | Salt River 4, Glendale 2
Thursday, 10/10 | Salt River 6, Mesa 4
Friday, 10/11 | Salt river 10, Surprise 11 (10 innings)
Saturday, 10/12 | Surprise 1, Salt River 14

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Before getting into how each Minnesota Twins prospect performed in Week 1 of this showcase season, be sure to get to know ‘em by reading Seth’s roster preview. Along with the Twins, the Rafters roster is made up of prospects from the Arizona Diamondbacks, Washington Nationals, Colorado Rockies, and New York Yankees.

Salt River went 3-2 in the season’s opening week, powered by a prolific offense that outscored their opponents 41-27 in their five games. That being said, you’re likely going to see a bunch of big numbers on the scoreboards of AFL parks this year, as with all those runs, the Rafters didn’t even lead the circuit as a team in any major hitting categories. So buckle up and keep reading to find out how all the Twins prospects fared to open up the 2024 AFL season.

OF Kala’i Rosario
Week: 3-for-12, 3 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, SB (3 games)
Overall: .250/.333/.750 (1.083 OPS)
Rosario got the start in three games on the week, spending the first two in right field and closing out his week with one in left. He batted in the middle of the Rafters lineup and made loud contact worthy of those spots.

In Tuesday’s season opener, Rosario wasn’t able to get a hit, but he did drive in one of the Rafters seven runs with a sac fly--and that spare description undersells him. The ball shrieked off Rosario's bat at 112 miles per hour, on a line, but right at the outfielder.

On Wednesday, it was Rosario who got the scoring started. Leading off the fifth inning, he launched his first home run of the campaign, giving the Rafters a 1-0 lead; they’d go on to get their first win against Glendale. This one was thumped to the tune of 113 miles per hour, and while it had enough loft to sail 441 feet through the thin Arizona air, it, too, was as much line drive as fly ball. He also drew a walk among his four plate appearances.

Moving up to third in the lineup on Friday against Surprise, Rosario flew out and drew a walk in his first two plate appearances as the Rafters fell behind 9-1 early. Once again leading off the fifth inning, Rosario hit his second home run of the season and kicked off the comeback for the Rafters. This was a measly 105 miles per hour off the bat, placing it fifth in the pecking order among the seven balls he hit at least 101 MPH in his first week.

The Rafters would score three in that fifth inning, one in the seventh, and five more in the eighth to send the game to extras. In that game-tying eighth frame, Rosario delivered a bases-loaded single to score the first run of the inning (identical in exit velocity to the homer, just on a lower line), and a bunch of walks later, they had it tied at 10. 

IF Ben Ross
Week: 4-for-15, 5 R, 2B, 2 3B, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 7 K, SB (4 games)
Overall: .267/.429/.600 (1.029 OPS)
While Rosario was hitting bombs, Ross was doing everything except hitting balls over the wall. He played shortstop in three of his games, and served as the DH in the other.

In the season opener against Scottsdale, Ross finished 1-for-3 with an RBI batting second in the lineup. He was hit by a pitch in the third inning, singled in the seventh, and delivered a sac fly in the ninth for the Rafters seventh and final run of the game.

Serving as the DH on Wednesday against the Desert Dogs, Ross had his only quiet game of the week, finishing 0-for-5 with three strikeouts. If I were him, I’m blaming that strictly on not being in the field, as this was the first time Ross has served as a designated hitter in his entire professional career, while he has played every other position except pitcher and catcher.

Ross then went off in his final two games of the week, back to playing shortstop and batting fifth in the order. He went 3-for-7 with a double, two triples, three RBI, and a stolen base in the last two games of the week. In Friday’s extra-inning loss to Surprise, Ross led off the second inning with a triple, and scored their first run of the game. On Saturday, his triple in the bottom of the first scored the first two runs of a game they would go on to win 14-1. He also drew two walks, added a double, and scored two runs in that one.

IF Danny De Andrade
Week: Did not play.
The Venezuelan infielder has not yet seen the field in AFL play. If Twins Daily is made aware of any information on why or why not this may be, we will be sure to share!

De Andrade is a prospect with plenty of upside, and is thought to be able to stick at shortstop long-term. He injured his ankle back in May, and spent the rest of the season on the injured list, so making up some at-bats in the AFL will be plenty useful when he is able to get back on the field.

RHP Devin Kirby
Week: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K (1 appearance)
Overall: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, .000 BAA, 2 BB, 2 K (2 IP)
Kirby made one appearance on the week, and it came in a less-than-ideal situation as part of Friday’s extra-inning loss. After four walks and a pair of singles had pushed the Saguaros lead to 8-1 in the third, the knuckleballer was summoned with the bases loaded and nobody out. He only allowed an additional sacrifice fly, getting out of the inning with an important effort that played a big part in the Rafters being able to come back and send it to extras. He added a scoreless fourth inning, finishing with two walks and two strikeouts. Two other Twins relievers would follow him after his exit.

Though all 41 of his pitches were coarsely classified as knuckleballs in the Statcast readouts of the game, Kirby actually threw nine fastballs and one pitch that appeared to be a light experiment in the cutter. Obviously, for Kirby, the headliner is the knuckler. Six of them danced in with spin rates south of 100 RPM during the outing, which is nuts even for a knuckleball. Overall, he got three in-play outs, four whiffs, and two called strikes with the knuckleball--but if you're noticing that that leaves a lot of pitches that had to be either foul balls or balls, you're right. That's in the nature of the knuckler, too.

RHP Jack Noble
Week: W, 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, BB, 2 K (1 appearance)
Overall: 1-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, .333 BAA, BB, 2 K (2 IP)
Noble was credited with the win in the only game he pitched during the week, getting the fifth and sixth inning of the Rafters' 6-4 win over the Solar Sox on Thursday. He allowed one run after a walk, steal, and a wild pitch that allowed the leadoff man to score in the sixth, but surrendered just one other hit and struck out two to finish his outing. He also induced a double-play ball.

LHP Kade Bragg
Week: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, K (1 appearance)
Overall: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, .000 BAA, BB, K (1 IP)
Bragg was part of a middle-inning run of Twins relievers in Friday’s extra-inning clash with Surprise.

He pitched the seventh inning with the score 10-5 Saguaros. He walked the first man he faced in the inning, but got a double-play grounder before closing his outing with a strikeout of Alejandro Osuna, the 16th-ranked prospect in the Texas Rangers organization and younger brother of former MLB closer Roberto Osuna.

RHP Jacob King
Week: 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R (1 appearance)
Overall: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, .000 BAA, 0 BB, 0 K (2/3 IP)
King’s lone appearance of the week came in the Rafters' season opener against Scottsdale. He recorded the final two outs of the game for Salt River after entering with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the ninth. It was 9-6 Scorpions at that point, but he got a pop-out and a lineout to end the inning without any further damage to the scoreboard.

RHP Liam Rocha
Week: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, BB, 3 K (1 appearance)
Overall: 0-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, .250 BAA, 1 BB, 3 K (2 IP)
Rocha was the middle man between Kirby and Bragg in Friday’s extra-inning affair with Surprise.

He pitched the fifth and sixth innings, allowing one earned run on two hits and a walk, while striking out three. He bookended a scoreless fifth with a pair of strikeouts, but was greeted with a leadoff double in the sixth that led to his one earned run allowed. He left the game with the score 10-4 in favor of the Saguaros.

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Please feel free to ask questions and discuss the prospects playing in the AFL this week

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[Blyleven2011]

Glad to see the AFL is under way ...

Will continue to follow the performances of the  prospects  ....

Go rafters ....

[jmlease1]

I'm still a fan of Rosario, and he could be a solid RH bat if he can keep the Ks manageable. Think it was smart to get him back in the AFL to get some ABs considering he missed 2 months in the heart of the season, and the competition level in the AFL is good enough for him to work on some things. He's certainly got the power, and seems like a solid, if unspectacular corner OF.

Ben Ross needs to impress here; he's useful defensively, but has very much struggled with the bat in AA. I think the Twins are looking for him to show them something, or his career is going to be hitting the ceiling. Good start in the AFL for him, needs to keep it up.

[roger]

Enjoy following the AFL, Steve, and really appreciate your reports.

Didn't Rosario lead the AFL last fall in home runs?  Or was second or something?  Have always liked this kid who seems to be on track to making the big leagues over the next year or two.  What type of big leaguer he will become remains unknown.

After seeing how many runs the team gave up in their first five games I was shocked at seeing how few were allowed by the Twins five pitchers.  

[Steve Lein]

1 minute ago, roger said:

Enjoy following the AFL, Steve, and really appreciate your reports.

Didn't Rosario lead the AFL last fall in home runs?  Or was second or something?  Have always liked this kid who seems to be on track to making the big leagues over the next year or two.  What type of big leaguer he will become remains unknown.

After seeing how many runs the team gave up in their first five games I was shocked at seeing how few were allowed by the Twins five pitchers.  

He and Aaron Sabato tied for the league lead in HR's last year, with 7. But Rosario also took home the Home Run Derby title on the AFL Stars weekend.

Twins pitchers were certainly very successful in comparison to the league overall!

[LambchoP]

Rosario could turn into a legit RH HR threat in our outfield if he can make enough contact and limit the strikeouts. I would have liked to see guys like Jenkins or Rodriguez making up all the at bats they lost this year by playing in the AFL,but I guess the plan is to rest them for the off-season and try to get them healthy for spring ball. It should be fun to watch with all these young guys coming up ready to make their debuts and try to find a role in the big leagues.

[roger]

3 hours ago, Steve Lein said:

He and Aaron Sabato tied for the league lead in HR's last year, with 7. But Rosario also took home the Home Run Derby title on the AFL Stars weekend.

Twins pitchers were certainly very successful in comparison to the league overall!

Do Rosario and Raya need to be added to the 40-man this year? 

[nclahammer]

Love the write up, best AFL information comes from TD!

[Doctor Wu]

Almost all of the pitchers listed are new names to me, so I'm happy to read more about them. I know it's early to be making predictions, but do any of them seem like they could be legit prospects?

[DJL44]

2 hours ago, Doctor Wu said:

Almost all of the pitchers listed are new names to me, so I'm happy to read more about them. I know it's early to be making predictions, but do any of them seem like they could be legit prospects?

Unlikely. Teams don't send legit pitching prospects to the Arizona Fall League.

[Steve Lein]

On 10/15/2024 at 8:58 AM, DJL44 said:

Unlikely. Teams don't send legit pitching prospects to the Arizona Fall League.

While the pitching certainly lags behind the hitting in quality (I have stated that in general hitters are Double-A quality, while pitching is Single-A), this statement isn't completely true...

Andrew Painter is there this season. Jackson Jobe and Ricky Tiedemann were there last year. Griffin Jax pitched there in 2018. Plenty of "MLB" pitchers still go through there, but you are right, that top end starting prospects really only go there if they need to make up innings. 

[Josh Rahman]

Glad to see the reigning AFL Home Run Derby champ coming back for seconds, hope he can cut down the K's bc he defo has the rough outline of a big league guy

[DocBauer]

I'm excited to have anything to watch in regard to MILB players now that the season is done.

Rosario needs the extra work with so much time missed. While not a TOP prospect, with somewhat questionable defense and contact ability, he has a good arm I've heard, and really took a step forward in 2023. Not sure the Twins will need to protect him even with a good 2nd showing in the AFL though. Still young enough and with enough questions to be answered he'd be a tough stash.

Ross seemed like a small school still when drafted. But he really struggled in 2024. While most of the pitching in the AFL is about A+ level, more AB and adjustments will hopefully get him ready for a rebounded as a prospect in 2025.

Honestly, I think the arms the Twins have sent are primarily older, questionable prospects who are there to make adjustments, get IP in, but mostly to prove they should be kept, in addition to where they might be placed in 2025.

The EXCEPTION is Kyle Bragg, IMO. I had almost forgotten about him. The lefty was a late, 17th round, pick in 2023 and didn't throw after being selected. He only appeared in 6 games in 2024 for 8.1 IP. I don't recall any news about an injury, but I'd have to believe there had to be one to have him so limited at this point.

I think his appearance here is about IP, prove he's healthy, and see if he can be counted on in 2025 for a spot at Cedar Rapids if he does well.

[DocBauer]

On 10/14/2024 at 12:42 PM, roger said:

Do Rosario and Raya need to be added to the 40-man this year? 

Roger, it's my understanding that both Raya and Rosario are available for the rule 5 draft this season.

FWIW, fellow 2020 draft choices Sabato and Alerick Soularie are also both available. I don't believe anyone believes Sabato is going to be selected, or the athletic, oft injured and unproven Soularie.

Raya is an easy 40 man add and protect. Rosario is more of an unknown. While he had a great 2023 at Cedar Rapids...MVP of the league IIRC...and had a wonderful stint in the AFL last year...he had an OK but not great 2024 at AA before injury wrecked his season. If he does well in the AFL again this turn, he might force the Twins to protect him. Still, he'd be awfully hard for a drafting team to hide on their roster jumping from a partial season of AA to MLB with K and defensive question marks. I'm betting he's a safe non add to the 40 man.

 

[jmlease1]

On 10/18/2024 at 9:51 PM, DocBauer said:

Roger, it's my understanding that both Raya and Rosario are available for the rule 5 draft this season.

FWIW, fellow 2020 draft choices Sabato and Alerick Soularie are also both available. I don't believe anyone believes Sabato is going to be selected, or the athletic, oft injured and unproven Soularie.

Raya is an easy 40 man add and protect. Rosario is more of an unknown. While he had a great 2023 at Cedar Rapids...MVP of the league IIRC...and had a wonderful stint in the AFL last year...he had an OK but not great 2024 at AA before injury wrecked his season. If he does well in the AFL again this turn, he might force the Twins to protect him. Still, he'd be awfully hard for a drafting team to hide on their roster jumping from a partial season of AA to MLB with K and defensive question marks. I'm betting he's a safe non add to the 40 man.

 

I think that's right. I'm a fan of Rosario, but he's not ready to face MLB pitching, doesn't play a premium defensive position, and unless he's made a leap from a hitting perspective that we're all missing then there's no way he'll stick on an MLB roster for the season. It's tough to stash position players on the MLB roster when you can't forecast any kind of real role for them.

Raya, on the other hand, would be someone that a team could slot in to be the last man in the bullpen, do some long relief, etc and see what he's got. Much easier for a bad team to carry him as a reliever for a season while trying to refine his pitches. He must be protected.