RESULTS:
The rising stars game was expected to be a pitcher’s duel with the two starting pitchers as the top two picks in the 2011 draft. Unfortunately, No. 1 pick Gerrit Cole only made it through two-thirds of an inning and the AFL East (team with Harper and Norris) fell to the AFL West 11-2.
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The Arizona Fall League (“AFL”) was created by Major League Baseball in 1992 to act as an offseason “graduate school” for top prospects and teams play a thirty-eight game season. Nationals Bryce Harper is the first player to play in the AFL that is younger than the league itself.
There are six teams that comprise the AFL – Surprise Saguaros, Peoria Javelinas, Phoenix Desert Dogs, Salt River Rafters, Mesa Solar Sox and Scottsdale Scorpions.
The best prospects from the AFL East and AFL West played in the sixth annual Rising Stars Game on Saturday, Nov. 5 in Surprise, Arizona. Outfielder Bryce Harper and Catcher Derek Norris, two of the Washington Nationals top prospects, were on the AFL East Rising Stars roster facing Seattle Mariners 2011 number one draft pick (second overall) LHP Danny Hultzen of the AFL West.
The rising stars players wore the uniform of their home team and the hat/batting helmet of AFL team. East Rising Stars lineup: Grossman 9, Trout 8, Lake 6, Arenado 5, Harper DH, Norris 2, Paulsen 3, Dozier 4, T. Wheeler, 7, Cole 1. West Rising Stars lineup: Mattison 8, Franklin 6, Myers 9, Olt 5, Choice DH, Terdoslavich 3, Decker 7, Bethancourt 2, Colon 4 Hultzen 1.
Bryce Harper during first plate appearance in AFL Rising Stars Game (iPhone Screen Shot Photo by Cheryl Nichols)
Bryce Harper has been red-hot recently and had a thirteen game hitting streak going into the Rising Stars game. Harper has played in eighteen games for the Scottsdale Scorpions with a .314 AVG, 6 HR, 24 RBIs and 3 SB.
Dale Valle of MLB Network talked about Bryce Harper prior to the game. “There is a certain sound when Bryce Harper hits the baseball. Tremendous power to all fields, tremendous athlete.” Valle went on to say that he had spoken to Nationals GM Mike Rizzo earlier in the day and asked about where Harper would play in the field. Rizzo said, ”It might be in right field, moving Jayson Werth over to center field.”
MLB Network announcers and graphics discussed and analyzed Harper throughout the game wondering if he was the most exciting player, gushed about his power, compared him to Mike Trout and on and on. However, overall agreed that the hype was warranted.
Unfortunately, neither Harper or Norris had a remarkable game.
Playing as a designated hitter in the rising stars game, Bryce Harper went 0 for 2 with a walk, an RBI and two strikeouts in four at-bats. Harper walked in his first at-bat, being the only player to get on base against the dominant Danny Hultzen. In his second plate appearance, Bryce hit a sacrifice fly off of Wes Etheridge to deep left field and Junior Lake scored the last run of the night for the AFL East. Harper struck out swinging in his third and fourth chances (against Jeremy Jeffress and Brad Boxberger).
Derek Norris started at catcher and went 0 for 2 with a walk and a strikeout in three at-bats. Norris just missed a two-run homer in his first at-bat after Harper walked in the second inning. Kevin Mattison caught the ball with his back against the center field wall. Norris walked in the fourth inning and struck out swinging in the sixth. Derek made a great defensive play at the play in the bottom of the second inning which saved a run. Jason Castro replaced Norris at catcher in the bottom of the sixth.
There are no AFL games scheduled for today, Sunday, Nov. 6. Scottsdale Scorpions have ten more games to play with the next game at Salt River on Monday.
Derek Norris during AFL Rising Stars Game (iPhone Screen Shot Photo by Cheryl Nichols)
It’s one game… who cares? “Failed?” Really? Pump the breaks please.