The Arizona Fall League, which began on Monday, October 7th, is featuring 8 current prospects from the Washington Nationals. In case you missed my piece talking about it before, you can find that here. But with that being said, let's take a look at how all of the organization's prospects are performing in the MLB's Fall development league, which has been led by the fantastic start by Robert Hassell III.
How fantastic? Well, the one they call "Bobby Barrels" has started out 9/20 with a homer, 8 RBIs, and a 1.300 OPS in just 5 games in the AFL. Truthfully, this is exactly what you want to see from a player like Hassell, who has admittedly struggled at times since coming over to the Nationals in the Juan Soto deal a few years back. The former Top 100 Prospect has all the talent in the world, and it's also worth noting that the one homer he hit was actually pulled, and not an opposite field homer like the majority of the homers he's hit in the minors. Perhaps a new voice from a hitting standpoint was all he needed?
For other hitters that the Nats sent over, Cayden Wallace has gotten off to an okay start, as he is just 3/12 in 3 games so far with a double and an RBI. Wallace is using the AFL to hopefully create some momentum going into next season, as he came over in the Hunter Harvey deal before the deadline this season, but missed a lot of time after the trade due to injury. Catcher Maxwell Romero is off to a 4/15 start with a homer and 4 RBI's to his credit as well.
In terms of pitching, the results have been a mixed bag, but not yet every pitcher that the Nationals sent has made an appearance yet. Out of the 5 pitchers sent by the organization, just 3 have made an appearance, with righty Michael Cuevas and lefty Matt Cronin yet to toe the rubber. Lefty Dustin Saenz and righties Chase Solesky and Luke Young have all pitched, but as I said before, the results have been a mixed bag. Saenz and Solesky have not been great, allowing 4 earned runs and 3 earned runs apiece in just 4.0 innings of work for both of them. Young has been very solid, even converting the only save opportunity for the Salt River Rafters thus far, and has allowed just 1 hit in 3.0 innings of work.
Bobby Barrels has arrived in the desert 🏜️@Nationals No. 13 prospect Robert Hassell III swats a two-run homer to give Salt River the lead in the @MLBazFallLeague. pic.twitter.com/XNqTT2XJt4
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 10, 2024
Who are you most excited to keep track of in the Arizona Fall League? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.