AFL Update: Nov. 6, 2025
The Scorpions broke open a one-run game with a three-spot in the 7th and added one in the 8th as they took this one, 7-3.
Three Nationals appeared in the game:
- Seaver King walked three times, scored three times, and went 1-for-2 with a single and a stolen base. In the field he had an assist and executed a 6B double play.
- Sam Petersen was 0-for-5 with but scored a run after reaching on an error and stealing second. He was busy in left field, snagging four flyballs and fielding six hits.
- Jared Simpson closed out the game with two scoreless innings to preserve his 0.00 ERA for the Fall. He gave up a hit, walked two, and struck out three.
Scottsdale (17-7) heads to Mesa (12-12) tonight and now leads the league by two games with five games left.
Jared Simpson was so bad in the 2025 regular season that it’s sorta surprising that he wasn’t released instead of sent to a postseason showcase. At age 25 and repeating A+, he had a 6.23 ERA and walked an astounding 9.9 per nine innings, 57 walks in 52 IP, resulting in a 1.77 WHIP. He did have 11.1 K9 and a low 6.1 H9 when he actually got it across the plate.
In AZ, his WHIP is only 0.87, ERA 0.00, only four walks (two of them yesterday) in 12.1 IP, and just seven hits. As with hitters who do well in the AFL, one never knows what tweak is working well for him. But for a league that has been widely reported as pitching-poor, he’s standing out.
Seaver King and Jake Bennett selected to play in the AZ League “Fall Star” game this Sunday (MLB Network 8 pm).
Craig Stammen (Stammenator!!!) named San Diego manager!
Craig Stammen (Stammenator!!!) named San Diego manager!
Unfortunately, San Diego’s hitting coach was scooped up by Houston, Victor Rodriguez. Could’ve used him – Pads had one of the highest Bat Avg and lowest K % under him.
Nationals transactions:
* Trey Lipscomb cleared waivers, outrighted to AAA Rochester
* Ryan Loutos claimed off waivers by Mariners
* Josiah Gray, DJ Herz, Drew Millas, Trevor Williams activated off 60-day IL
* Zach Brzykcy was claimed off waivers by the Marlins. So that leaves 34 players on the 40-man roster.
https://x.com/MarkZuckerman/status/1986530654368960936
Interesting. This is the best time to try to get guys through waivers because most teams are clearing space for free agents and Rule 5.
Glad that Lipscomb is still with us. Even if his ceiling is AAAA, he’s got valuable flexibility. Plus he has a reputation as a worker, leader, and mentor, including in college. Vitello gave him a lot of credit for mentoring Christian Moore.
I thought Brzykcy had enough stuff to be an interesting candidate to potentially be “fixed” by a new coaching staff, but there will be a hundred free agents with as good or better numbers than he has right now, so no great loss. His MLB ERA is 10.05 and AAA 6.89. He was an undrafted FA out of college although undoubtedly would have been drafted in any other year besides the five rounds in 2020.