photo: Tink Hence (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
On Friday, November 4, an off day for the World Series, the Arizona Fall League disclosed the rosters for the 16th annual Fall Stars Game. For the first time, the two squads will be organized by American vs. National League parent organizations.
The game will be played at 3:00 p.m CT/2:00 p.m. MST on Sunday at Sloan Park in Mesa. It will be televised on MLB Network – unless there is a World Series Game 7 that evening – and streamed via MLB.com either way.
The NL squad is especially loaded, headlined by four St. Louis Cardinals. They are shortstop Masyn Winn, outfielder Jordan Walker and pitchers Connor Thomas and Tink Hence.
With eight steals (in nine attempts), Winn is tied for fifth in the league. His slash line is an impressive .327/.448/.382/.830 in 17 fall games in part due to 12 walks against just nine strikeouts.
Walker is in a five-way tie for the league lead with five home runs. The 20-year-old is slashing .299/.364/.597/.961 and has 15 RBI in 18 AFL games.
Walker has drawn national attention defensively with a 99.5 mph throw from the outfield, At the plate, he has hit four of the five hardest-hit balls recorded in the league.
Thomas, 24, is second in the AFL in innings pitched with 22 2/3 and is third among all league starters with a 1.59 ERA. The lefty’s 31 strikeouts are eight more than the next closest pitcher and he has walked just four.
Hence, 20, is pitching one inning per outing in relief in the AFL. The right-hander has allowed just three hits including a solo home run in 7 1/3 innings for a 1.23 ERA. Hence has fanned eight against four walks.
Full rosters are here:
Tink Hence (STL) and Antonio Menendez (TB) have been added as active participants to the Arizona Fall League roster! #AFL22
— MLB's Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) November 4, 2022
In a real imbalance, only one of the AL Fall Stars is ranked among MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects, while the NL features 11, including Walker (no. 6), Winn (no. 51) and Hence (no. 91).
Fall Stars managers and coaches come from the AFL teams with the best first half records. Surprise Saguaros manager Mickey Storey from the Astros leads the AL team and Peoria Javelinas skipper Reid Brignac from the Mets heads the NL squad.
In addition, on Saturday, the AFL is holding its first Home Run Derby, scheduled at 8:35 p.m. CT/6:35 p.m. MST at Sloan Park. The eight hitters involved, four per league, do not include any Cardinals.
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Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.
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