AFL Update: Nov. 5, 2013
Brian Goodwin went 2-for-4 and drove in three as Mesa edged Salt River, 5-4 in a twice-delayed, rain-shortened contest last night in Arizona.
The Nats top outfield prospect, who turned 23 on Saturday, blasted a two-run shot with two outs in the 3rd to cut into an early Rafters 3-0 lead. He would plate a third run with groundout as part of the three-run 5th that saw the Solar Sox take the eventual 5-4 lead.
In the 8th, Goodwin singled and stole second (pictured) before the rains came for the final time with one out.
Matt Purke got the start but was touched for the first three Salt River runs in the 2nd. He would go four innings with four hits and two walks allowed. He struck out just one with 61 pitches thrown, 37 for strikes.
The win improves Mesa to 13-8-1 for the fall and returns the lead over Salt River to 2½ games. The two teams rematch tonight in Salt River and will be televised (weather permitting) on the MLB Network.
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Purke was the subject of today’s “Scout’s View” column in Baseball America (paid sub) in which he was compared to LHP Cole Hamels by former Philadelphia area scout Therron Brockish, who saw him on October 23rd (5IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 3K). Brockish said Purke was hitting 92-93 on the gun but pointed to his changeup as his “out pitch,” not the curve, which he felt was only his third-best pitch and more of a slurve (though effective against LHBs).
Brockish is bullish on Purke, predicting “[He’s] on the path to be in Double-A or Triple-A next summer and competing for a big league spot in 2015.”
Thanks for the take on Purke. I know Keith Law was less than bullish on him a few months back, but there always was the thought that the road back from his shoulder issues was a long one.
he’d better be ready by 2015, he’ll probably be out of options by then.
I thought because of the injuries and consequent surgeries et al an additional option could be allotted? Similar to Lannan.
Not related, but still about prospects. I was making up potential teams at A, A+, etc., and although, I am quite aware of the dearth of position players in the minors, I was still amazed that, at the single A levels, there will be next to no position players who appear to ever have a hope of getting to the major leagues. Michael Taylor, who should be in Double A next year, and Renda appear to be the only two. All the more amazing that both A teams were in the playoffs this year. Guess the pitching couldn’t have been too bad, eh!
Here’s hoping some of those GCL Nats are for real.
Adrian Nieto? He just might leap frog Leon and Solano?
Pedro Severino could be a backup catcher in the majors.
What do you mean by position players? All non-pitchers?
If so, there’s a few guys with very clear paths to the majors.
1. Matt Skole – We have no 1B for the future. If you are of the persuasion that Zimmerman will move there soon, then, given Rendon’s quick conversion to 2B, we’re left with no 3B for the future. Skole can also play 3B, but he profiles as a more natural 1B than Zimm.
2. Brian Goodwin – He had a down year, but he still has loads of potential, and has a much better shot than Taylor (They’re the same age, put up nearly identical numbers, but Goodwin did it at a higher level). Plus Denard Span only has two more years under contract.
3. Billy Burns – He’s come out of nowhere (the 32nd round to be more specific) to put him into serious prospect status. His patience, speed and defense make him extremely valuable. In his prime, Juan Pierre was a regular 4 WAR player, despite having absolutely no power.
4. Steve Souza – He may not profile as a starter, but he put up a great 2013 season and continues to impress in the AFL. He could profile as a solid utility OF with a bit of all five tools.
5. Zach Walters – I wouldn’t be surprised to see him take Lombardozzi’s utility INF role at some point next season.
6. Eury Perez – He’s still only 23. His prospect status doesn’t shine as bright as it used to but he could still find himself as a utility OF.
7. Drew Ward, Randy Encarnacion, Rafael Bautista, Raudy Read, Marmelejos-Diaz are all a looooong way off, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see one or more of them make it to the majors. They’re all 20 and under, and put up very strong GCL seasons.