AFL Update: Nov. 3, 2021
The Surprise bullpen coughed up three in the 7th and three more in the 8th as Peoria handed the Sagauros their second straight loss.
Just one National appeared in the game – Donovan Casey (pictured).
Casey led off and played centerfield. He doubled, walked, and scored two runs to improve his Fall line to .258/.385/.516 in nine games. In the field, he had three putouts.
Surprise (12-5) will head to Salt River (6-10) this afternoon.
Casey is making a strong case for getting added to the 40 man. I think this season really captures his profile well. When he’s in the zone, it really works (hitting .347/.353/.612 in AA), but when it’s not, it can get ugly (.179/.245/.291 in AAA). He reminds me a lot of Michael Taylor, but without the great defence. Both have average walk rates (around 7%) with unreasonably high strikeout rates (>30%) which leads to this boom-or-bust outcome.
I hope Casey can find a bit of consistency with his bat, because Taylor could always fall back on his defence when he was slumping at the plate to remain a relevant utility piece on a major league team. Casey doesn’t have that luxury.
There was no way that the Nats were going to trade for Casey and then let him get taken in the Rule V.
He needs some seasoning in AAA but he’ll be a big leaguer.