The Arizona Fall League came to an end for nine Blue Jays who suited up for the Mesa Solar Sox, including top prospects Anthony Alford and Conner Greene.
The Blue Jays representatives showed well on a 16-15-1 team that narrowly advanced to the championship game and came out on top with a 6-1 victory over the Surprise Saguaros.
Here’s a look at how the four position players and five pitchers performed in Arizona…
Danny Jansen
Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Top 2016 affiliate: Dunedin Blue Jays | Selected: 16th round, 2013 draft
A pleasant surprise at the plate, Jansen posted a .282 average and .366 on-base percentage and was awarded with the majority of the playing time among the four Sox catchers. Jansen has not hit a triple in four minor league seasons, but hit two in just 20 fall games — his only extra base hits in the AFL.
Ryan McBroom
Age: 24 | Bats: Right | Top 2016 affiliate: New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Selected: 15th round, 2014 draft
McBroom was on quite a tear when he went down with an injury after just seven games. The 6-foot-3, 230 pound first-baseman had two home runs and 10 RBI, building on his 22 regular season home runs.
Juan Kelly
Age: 22 | Bats: Switch | Top 2016 affiliate: Lansing Lugnuts | Selected: Signed as free agent, 2012
The 5-foot-10, Dominican-born first-baseman got the call to to Arizona to replace McBroom and picked up 13 hits in his 11 games, including one home run. Kelly walked just once and struck out ten times.
Anthony Alford
Age: 22 | Bats: Right | Top 2016 affiliate: Dunedin Blue Jays | Selected: 3rd round, 2012 draft
The headliner of the Blue Jays’ bats did not disappoint. He hit three home runs and collected 15 RBI in 72 at-bats to go along with a .253/.349/.440 batting line. The outfielder had 8 stolen bases and hit .364 with runners in scoring position, helping him earn him a spot on the all-star team and AFL Rising Star honours.
Matt Dermody
Age: 26 | Throws: Left | Top 2016 affiliate: Toronto Blue Jays | Selected: 28th round, 2013 draft
Joining Alford in the 2016 Fall Stars Game was the big lefty, who became well-known for his celebratory antics in the Blue Jays clubhouse after the team clinched a playoff spot. Dermody logged 10 innings and a 5.40 ERA, pitching at least a full inning in all eight of his appearances while walking three and striking out eight.
Conner Greene
Age: 21 | Throws: Right | Top 2016 affiliate: New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Selected: 7th round, 2013 draft
The Jays’ number two ranked pitching prospect, according to Baseball America, drew mixed results in his four starts, finishing with a 5.40 ERA in 10 innings of work. Greene struggled with his command at times, walking 11 batters, with five of those coming in one outing. The bright side? Greene allowed just six hits and no home runs in the fall season.
John Stilson
Age: 26 | Throws: Right | Top 2016 affiliate: Buffalo Bisons | Selected: 3rd round, 2011 draft
The Texas A&M product had a good season in New Hampshire before getting the late call to Buffalo, but his results did not translate to the AFL. Stilson surrendered 14 runs in 8.2 innings and opponents batted .400 against him.
Justin Shafer
Age: 24 | Throws: Right | Top 2016 affiliate: Dunedin Blue Jays | Selected: 8th round, 2014 draft
Shafer struggled to get outs in his six starts with the Solar Sox and it led to an 8.71 ERA and 2.18 WHIP — 20 earned runs, 29 hits, four home runs and 16 walks in 20.2 innings.
Tim Mayza
Age: 24 | Throws: Left | Top 2016 affiliate: New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Selected: 12th round, 2013 draft
A tough start to the season inflated his 6.14 ERA, but Mayza allowed just four earned runs in his last eight appearances, totalling 12.1 innings. The southpaw was especially effective against righties.