Arizona Diamondbacks: Three Players Standing Out in the AFL
![Nov 5, 2016; Surprise, AZ, USA; Overall view of Surprise Stadium during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Nov 5, 2016; Surprise, AZ, USA; Overall view of Surprise Stadium during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/d5122a1894468bd37cae61017ccbda2401b3dc1b638cf8020d740d9d740f848c.jpg)
The Arizona Diamondbacks have seven players on the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League. Three players, however, are making quite the impression.
Three players in the Arizona Diamondbacks minor league system were selected to play in the Arizona Fall League “Fall Stars Game” after their first month of play in the winter league.
Pitcher Jared Miller and infielders Kevin Cron and Dawel Lugo represented the Diamondbacks on the AFL East roster in the Fall Stars game on November 5.
The D-Backs trio all played in the Fall Stars game in their team’s 12-4 loss. Miller pitched one inning, allowing one hit and two earned runs while striking out three batters. Lugo was hitless in his only two at-bats while striking out once, and Cron went 1-2.
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Despite being named to the Fall Stars team, Cron has struggled in his first 17 games of play. He is only batting .194 to go along with a poor .247 OBP. The 6’5″ first baseman has flashes of power, and has shown it in the Fall League. Six of his totaled thirteen hits have gone for extra bases, and he’s driven in 10 RBI.
Lugo, the 21-year old shortstop from the Dominican Republic, is enjoying a nice stint in the AFL through his 17 played games. He is batting .297 with 12 RBI and a .695 OPS. Lugo has only struck out six times in 74 at-bats. Playing at two different levels in the minors in the 2016 regular season, Lugo compiled an impressive slash line of .311/.339/.492 over 127 games. Lugo also launched 17 homers and drove in 62 runs.
Despite allowing a two-run homer in the Fall Stars game, Miller has been dominant in the AFL. With the exception of his one inning pitched in the Fall Stars game, he has logged 14.0 innings pitched without allowing a single run on just four hits. He’s walked just two batters, and has punched out 25. While spending a majority of his ’16 campaign at the Double-A level, the 6’7″ lefty averaged 12.15 K/9 and help opposing hitters to just a .186 ERA.
The future of the Diamondbacks looks bright, especially if it can be lead by these three.
The Diamondbacks have four other players on the Diamondbacks’ Salt River Rafters Fall League roster. Cron, Lugo, and Miller are joined by pitchers Joey Krehbiel, Gabe Speier, Josh Taylor, and infielder Jamie Westbrook. These seven D-Backs’ youngsters have lead the Rafters to a 12-12 record.
Next: https://heatwaved.com/2016/11/04/arizona-diamondbacks-know-new-manager-lovullo/
The Arizona Fall League concludes next week, with the championship game set for Saturday, November 19 at 1:08 P.M. at Scottsdale Stadium.