The Arizona Fall League came to an end last night as the Glendale Desert Dogs lost to the Surprise Saguaros in 11 innings in the Championship game. After a big game on Friday, Noelvi Marte was back in the lineup but he went 0-5 in the game. Matt McLain got the start at shortstop and played a part in sending the game into extra-innings. The infielder went 2-5 with a home run.
ONE SWING IS ALL HE NEEDED ?
Matt McLain smashes one deep into the Arizona night to give the Desert Dogs the lead! #AFL22 pic.twitter.com/yWXCBTtpsP
— MLB's Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) November 13, 2022
If we include the two playoff games, Matt McLain finished the AFL season with a .193 average and three home runs in 106 plate appearances. Overall it wasn’t a good fall ball season out in Arizona for the Reds prospects.
Edwin Arroyo, on-base machine
On November 4th Edwin Arroyo got a pinch hitting appearance as the designated hitter for Mayaguez in the Puerto Rican winter league. He remained in the game and went 0-2. The 19-year-old didn’t play again until the 9th (several games were postponed by rain), but he’s played in five games over the last four days and he’s been racking up the walks like he’s prime Joey Votto. While Arroyo has gone 1-12 in that span he’s walked six times with just three strikeouts along the way.
Elly De La Cruz taking free bases
Much like Edwin Arroyo, Elly De La Cruz is picking up plenty of walks this winter. Last night the 20-year-old shortstop walked three times for Licey. While he’s cooled off a little bit in terms of hitting (he’s at .294/.417/.456), he’s been getting on base plenty to counterbalance the hitting. De La Cruz has played in 20 games this Dominican Winter League season and he’s already walked 15 times (to go along with 22 strikeouts). He’s turned a lot of those times on base into run-scoring opportunities and with eight steals on top of it he’s scored 18 runs (and with only one home run, it has been with the help of his teammates).