Arizona Fall League 2011 Season

The 2011 season of the Arizona Fall League came to a close with the Salt River Rafters defeat of the Surprise Saguaros 9-3 in the AFL Championship game. The Rafters were led by Fall League MVP Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies organization. The winning pitcher was Charles Brewer of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.


The Arizona Fall League consisted of six teams divided into East and West divisions. The East teams were the Mesa Solar Sox, Salt River Rafters and the Scottsdale Scorpions. The West teams were the Peoria Javelinas, Phoenix Desert Dogs and the Surprise Saguaros.


The Solar Sox were made up of players from the Cubs, Orioles, Pirates, Twins and White Sox organizations.  They finished 2011 with a 17-20 record. Their top four hitters were Chris Herrmann of the Twins who hit .380/.456/.620 with two home runs, nine RBI, 11 runs and 3 steals in 15 games, Robbie Grossman of the Pirates who hit .375/.472/.625 with seven home runs, 22 RBI, 20 runs and 6 steals in 26 games, Josh Vitters of the Cubs who hit .360/.383/.540 with four home runs, 17 RBI, 14 runs and 4 steals in 24 games and Joe Mahoney of the Orioles who hit .325/.360/.542 with four home runs, 22 RBI, seven runs and zero steals in 20 games. Their top three pitchers were Terry Doyle of the White Sox who was 4-0 with a 1.98 ERA, 22 strikeouts and 0.62 WHIP in 27.1 innings over eight games, Cole DeVries of the Twins who was 2-1 with a 3.12 ERA, 19 strikeouts and 0.92 WHIP in 26 innings over eight games and Gerrit Cole of the Pirates who was 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA, 16 strikeouts and 0.93 WHIP in 15 innings over five games.


The Rafters were made up of players from the Astros, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Rockies and Tigers organizations. They finished 2011 with a 22-16 record. Their top four hitters were Rob Brantly of the Tigers who hit .388/.400/.490 with zero home runs, seven RBI, five runs and zero steals in 15 games, Nolan Arenado of the Rockies who hit .388/.423/.636 with six home runs, 33 RBI, 22 runs and zero steals in 29 games, Alex Castellanos of the Dodgers who hit .379/.471/.828 with three home runs, seven RBI, 13 runs and 4 steals in eight games and Adam Eaton of the Diamondbacks who hit .344/.410/.475 with two home runs, 16 RBI, 31 runs and 8 steals in 30 games. Their top three pitchers were Dallas Keuchel of the Astros who was 3-2 with a 5.08 ERA, 22 strikeouts and 1.31 WHIP in 28.1 innings over seven games, Charles Brewer of the Diamondbacks who was 1-1 with a 5.46 ERA, 22 strikeouts and  1.64 WHIP in 28 innings over eight games and Joe Gardner of the Rockies who was 2-2 with a 5.29 ERA, 18 strikeouts and 1.59 WHIP in 17 innings over seven games.


The Scorpions were made up of players from the Angels, Giants, Nationals, Phillies and Red Sox organizations, They finished 2011 with a 14-22 record. Their top four hitters were Bryce Harper of the Nationals who hit .333/.400/.634 with six home runs, 26 RBI, 17 runs and 4 steals in 26 games, Joe Panik of the Giants who hit .323/.394/.473 with two home runs, 13 RBI, six runs and zero steals in 27 games, Cody Overbeck of the Phillies who hit .321/.427/.457 with one home run, seven RBI, 16 runs and one steal in 24 games and Dan Butler of the Red Sox who hit .313/.484/.396 who hit one  home run, eight RBI, seven runs and zero steals in 16 games. Their top three pitchers were Brock Huntzinger of the Red Sox who was 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA, 22 strikeouts and 1.43 WHIP in 26.2 innings over eight games, Austin Fleet of the Giants who was 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA, 17 strikeouts and 1.22 WHIP in 18 innings over 11 games and Daryl Maday of the Giants who was 1-2 with a 4.91 ERA, 11 strikeouts and 1.18 WHIP in 11 innings over three games.


The Javelinas were made up of players from the Brewers, Cardinals, Mariners, Mets and Padres organizations. They finished 2011 with a 16-19 record. Their top four hitters were Jedd Gyorko of the Padres who hit .437/.500/.704 with five home runs, 22 RBI, 17 runs and one steal in 18 games, Scooter Gennett of the Brewers who hit .411/.470/.556 with two home runs, 14 RBI, 20 runs and 2 steals in 22 games, Ryan Jackson of the Cardinals who hit .342/.438/.500 with one home run, 11 RBI, 13 runs and zero steals in 23 games and Jefry Marte of the Mets who hit .333/.436/.538 with four home runs, 18 RBI, 20 runs and 1 steal in 22 games. Their top three pitchers were Tyler Lyons of the Cardinals who was 3-2 with a 4.85 ERA, 28 strikeouts and 1.18 WHIP in 29.2 innings over seven games, Anthony Bass of the Padres who was 1-0 with a 4.98 ERA, 23 strikeouts and 1.38 WHIP in 21.2 innings over six games and Danny Hultzen of the Mariners who was 1-0 with a 1.40 ERA, 18 strikeouts and 1.09 WHIP in 19.1 innings over six games.


The Desert Dogs were made up of players from the Athletics, Blue Jays, Indians, Reds and Yankees organizations. They finished 2011 with a 14-22 record. Their top four hitters were Ronnier Mustelier of the Yankees who hit .344/.354/.516 with two home runs, six RBI, eight runs and 3 steals in 16 games, Jesus Aguilar of the Indians who hit .339/.458/.610 with three home runs, nine RBI, 15 runs and zero steals in 16 games, Michael Choice of the Athletics who hit .318/.423/.667 with six home runs, 18 RBI, 16 runs and zero steals in 17 games and Ryan Ortiz of the Athletics who hit .310/.448/.500 with two home runs, 12 RBI, eight runs and 1 steal in 15 games. Their top three pitchers were David Phelps of the Yankees who was 2-2 with a 4.41 ERA, 28 strikeouts, 1.38 WHIP in 32.2 innings over eight games, T.J. McFarland of the Indians who was 3-0 with a 3.10 ERA, 22 strikeouts and 1.52 WHIP in 28.1 innings over eight games and Travis Webb of the Reds who was 2-1 with a 5.03 ERA, 24 strikeouts and 1.68 WHIP in 19.2 innings over seven games.


The Saguaros were made up of players from the Braves, Marlins, Rangers, Rays and Royals organizations.   They finished 2011 with a 26-10 record. Their top four hitters were Leury Garcia of the Rangers who hit .361/.379/.590 with three home runs, 12 RBI, 18 runs and 7 steals in 20 games, Wil Myers of the Royals who hit .360/.481/.674 with four home runs, 18 RBI, 24 runs and 1 steal in 23 games, Kevin Mattison of the Marlins who hit .349/.433/.624 with six home runs, 23 RBI, 29 runs and 9 steals in 25 games and Mike Olt of the Rangers who hit .349/.433/.764 with 13 home runs, 43 RBI, 27 runs and zero steals in 27 games. Their top three pitchers were Miguel De Los Santos of the Rangers who was 5-0 with a 3.26 ERA, 40 strikeouts and 1.12 WHIP in 30.1 innings over nine games, Sean Gilmartin of the Braves who was 2-1 with a 4.34 ERA, 26 strikeouts and 1.21 WHIP in 29 innings over eight games and Alex Sanabia of the Marlins who was 2-1 with a 5.65 ERA, 23 strikeouts and 1.50 WHIP in 28.2 innings over seven games.