AFL gets started today

[Bob Sacamento]

The Glendale Desert Dogs (MIN, LAD, CWS, CIN, MIA) are taking on the Mesa Solar Sox (CHC, LAA, OAK, WSH, DET) today in the first AFL game.

 

 

Byron Buxton is leading off and playing CF, Max Kepler is playing 1B and hitting seventh. And my main man Meyer is starting the game.

 

Meyer is not getting it light that is for sure as the Solar Sox feature Cubs' 3B Kris Bryant, OF Jorge Soler, A's SS Addison Russell and big thumpers in Matt Skole and CJ Cron.

 

 

Also on the Buxton front:

host of future Major League stars will compete in the AFL inaugural Bowman Hitting Challenge at 6:35 p.m. MT on Oct. 12 at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in a home run-derby environment. Seven of MLB.com's Top 100 will take part in the event, including No. 1 overall prospect Byron Buxton of the Twins.

 

 

Oakland's Addison Russell (No. 17), the Cubs' Albert Almora (No. 21), the Dodgers' Corey Seager (No. 47), Miami's Colin Moran (No. 71), Boston's Garin Cecchini (No. 82) and Kansas City's Jorge Bonifacio (No. 89) also will participate.

 

 

Hitters taking part in the event will receive two minutes to hit against live pitching and be rewarded for points between 100-500. Hitters also can earn points by hitting a wide array of targets on the field and their final swing will come off a tee and be worth double points.

 

 

Oversized trading cards, an outfielder on a trampoline and a moving human sphere will be among the targets.

[Physics Guy]

Not a pretty start for the Twins. Buxton and Kepler both 1/6, Meyer gives up 3 in 3 IP and Zach Jones gives up 5 in 2/3 IP.

[Oldgoat_MN]

Not a pretty start for the Twins. Buxton and Kepler both 1/6, Meyer gives up 3 in 3 IP and Zach Jones gives up 5 in 2/3 IP.

 

Hmmm... that sucks.

[Bob Sacamento]

Hey at least May went an inning giving up nothing while striking one out

[Oxtung]

After a few more games things aren't much better.

 

Buxton now 3/15, 0BB and 5K's. Kepler 2/10 0BB, 3K's. Rosario 2/10 with 0BB and 2K's. Both Buxton and Kepler have a double while Rosario has no XBH's but he does have 1SB.

 

May and Meyer have not pitched again yet but Jones and Achter have. Achter: 1IP 1K 0BB gave up a double. Zach Jones gave up a leadoff triple. His next pitch was a passed ball allowing the runner to score after which he struck out the side. So good to see that he got mad and decided, "Screw this, my fielders have gotten enough work in today!"

 

So overall not a particularly good start for the Twins prospects but there have been some silver linings. Glendale is 2-1 at this point.