Twins Arizona Fall League Report (Week 4): Kyle DeBarge Continues to Lead the Way

Game Results:
Monday, 10/26 | Surprise 4, Salt River 20
Tuesday, 10/27 | Salt River 0, Glendale 1
Wednesday, 10/28 | Salt River 4, Scottsdale 0
Thursday, 10/29 | Mesa 21, Salt River 5
Saturday, 10/31 | Salt River 11, Surprise 2 (6 innings)

The Salt River Rafters went 3-2 in their five games during week four of the Arizona Fall League season, and sit in third place in the overall standings, one game out of first.

During the week they both won and lost a game where a team scored 20 or more runs, as well as being on both sides of shutouts. A weather shortened game resulted in another big win.

The top performers on the week again included multiple players from the Rafters roster, but again did not include any of the Twins prospects, despite one of them continuing to sit near the top of several offensive categories.

OF Yasser Mercedes
Week (1 game): 0-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 SB (4)
Overall (through 11/1): .302/.389/.488 (.877 OPS)
Mercedes played in only one game on the week, with that coming in Monday’s 20-4 blowout against the Surprise Saguaros. He batted third in the lineup and played center field. He did reach base multiple times in the game, but finished 0-for-3 with a run scored, walk, and stolen base, before being substituted in the seventh inning. He did not see action again during the week, but hopefully he’ll be back at some point in week five. 

IF Kyle DeBarge
Week (3 games): 4-for-12, 3 R, HR (3), 1 RBI, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 SB (7)
Overall (through 11/1): .358/.485/.604 (1.089 OPS)
DeBarge continued to be a standout for the Rafters in week four, collecting at least one hit in all three of his games. He played one game each at second base, third base, and in center field, batting second in the lineup twice, and third once.

He was a quiet 1-for-4 with three strikeouts in Tuesday’s shutout loss against Glendale, but was a strong contributor in Wednesday’s 4-0 win over Scottsdale as the only Rafters hitter with multiple knocks. In the top of the fifth inning he led off with a single, reached second base on a wild pitch, and scored a run on a single from teammate Jared Thomas to make the final score. He again led off the ninth with a single and although he ended up stranded, did steal both second and third base.

On Halloween DeBarge got the scoring started for the Rafters by hitting his third home run of the AFL season in the top of the first for the early 1-0 lead. In the third he led off by reaching base on an error, and scored on a triple from the next batter that made it 4-1 Salt River, and they wouldn’t look back.

LHP Cesar Lares
Week (did not pitch):
Overall (through 11/1): 0-0, 13.50 ERA, 10 BB, 6 K, 3.00 WHIP, .345 BAA (6 2/3 IP)
Lares did not make an appearance in week four after having a bit of a rough go his last time out. He’ll look to rebound in week five.

LHP Ross Dunn
Week (1 start): 2 1/3 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Overall (through 11/1): 0-2, 21.00 ERA, 9 BB, 9 K, 3.33 WHIP, .457 BAA (9 IP)
Dunn got the starting nod in Thursday’s blowout loss to the Mesa Solar Sox, but it didn’t begin that badly for the southpaw. He worked around a pair of singles in the top of the first by picking up a strikeout. In the second he set the Solar Sox down one-two-three, ending the frame with another K. With the score 1-0 Rafters he was back out for the third inning, and that’s where things went pear-shaped. He got the first batter on a groundout, but the next reached base on a single before a two-run homer put Mesa out front for good. A walk, single, double, and another walk spelled the end of his outing, and all four of those runners would end up crossing home plate. He finished with six earned runs allowed on six hits and a pair of walks in 2 1/3 innings. 

LHP Cleiber Maldonado
Week (2 appearances): 2 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Overall (through 11/1): 0-0, 10.13 ERA, 3 BB, 8 K, 2.44 WHIP, .385 BAA (5 1/3 IP)
Maldonado made his first appearance of the week in Monday’s win over Surprise, entering the game with two outs in the top of the eighth inning with runners on second and third. He walked the bases loaded and allowed a run to score on a wild pitch, but escaped without any further damage. In the top of the ninth he struck out the leadoff man before allowing a single and an RBI double. He got the next man to ground out before another call to the bullpen.

He next pitched in Thursday’s loss to Mesa, coming into the game in the middle of the fourth inning with the score 8-4 Solar Sox. He inherited a pair of runners, who both scored on a double from the first batter he faced. He then picked up a strikeout and flyout to end the inning. Back out for the fifth he hit a batter, got a grounder, and then allowed four straight singles to end his outing with Mesa up 12-4.

LHP Jake Murray
Week (1 appearance): 2/3 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
Overall (through 11/1): 1-0, 3.00 ERA, 6 BB, 3 K, 2.33 WHIP, .111 BAA (3 IP)
Murray was called upon for relief work on Halloween, entering the game to begin the sixth inning against the Surprise Saguaros. He retired the first two hitters he faced, including one via a strikeout, but then walked the next four hitters in a row to put the opposition's second run on the scoreboard and end his appearance one batter before the game was called.

RHP Brian Zeldin
Week (2 appearances): 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Overall (through 11/1): 1-0, 2.45 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, .278 BAA, 0 BB, 3 K (3 2/3 IP)
Zeldin made a pair of appearances during the week, including Monday’s blowout win, and Thursday's blowout loss.

He relieved his teammate Maldonado with two outs in the ninth against the Saguaros on Monday, ending the game with a strikeout.

He also finished Friday’s game against the Solar Sox with a scoreless ninth inning. He gave up a leadoff double and committed a throwing error, but nonetheless came out unscathed by retiring all three other hitters he faced.

OF Jacob McCombs
Week (did not play):
McCombs has yet to see the field for the Salt River Rafters this season, but the hope is that he will be able to take the field soon with his fellow prospects!

C Enrique Jimenez
Week (3 games): 2-for-8, 1 3B, 4 RBI, 0 BB, 5 K
Overall (through 11/1): .125/.300/.250 (.550 OPS)
The Twins catching prospect made it into three games during the week, though two of those appearances came as a pinch hitter.

His lone start came on Monday, where he served as the designated hitter and batted ninth in the lineup. He finished 2-for-6 to pick up his first hits of the AFL season, including an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh, and bases-clearing triple in the bottom of the eighth to give the Rafters their 20 runs. I hate to have to mention he also struck out four times.

On Thursday with the game well out of hand, he pinch hit in the bottom of the seventh inning, and went down swinging. With Salt River leading by 10 on Halloween, he pinch hit for AFL standout Jack O’Dowd in the top of the sixth, flying out to right field.

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

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