AFL Update: Nov. 2, 2022
Just two Nationals were in the starting lineup:
- Drew Millas returned behind the plate and had the third and final Javelinas hit, a one-out double in the top of the 9th.
- Will Frizzell played Raudy Read’s best defensive position (DH) but went 0-for-3 with a whiff.
Peoria (11-12) returns home this afternoon to host Salt River (11-13).
Frizzell’s performance has been pretty disappointing. After demolishing in limited playing time in 2021 and 2022, his bat hasn’t shown up in limited time in the AFL. He’s now 5 for 21, all 5 hits singles, and no walks.
Meanwhile, Drew Millas is now Peoria’s best hitter. His .314 AVG is 25 points higher than the next batter, his .862 OPS is 34 points better than the next player, and his 7 XBH is most of the team.
How has Millas been defensively? Caught stealing rate has been bad. Pitchers’ fault.
As spotty as Frizzell’s playing time has been, it’s not on him that he’s not hitting.
Agree. My fear: could be seeing another Nats player development fail. Take a guy who rakes everywhere when healthy, and drop him in a situation where he plays no more than once, twice a week. Now, his bat cools off, self-doubt starts to creep in, he overcorrects …
Millas certainly has made himself a factor in Rule 5 protection discussion, even though the Nats already have four catchers on the 40-man.
I’m not going to leap to any conclusions about Frizzell based on this very small sample size. With the way he has been jerked around, playing only about once a week against live pitching, it would be difficult for anyone to find a rhythm. Plus he hasn’t played above the A level, and this league is built around A+ and AA personnel. So he’s “playing up.” Yes, I’m disappointed, as I’m a member of his fan club, but under these circumstances, I don’t think he should be judged too much.