Arizona Fall League Preview – Scottsdale Scorpions
Some of the best young talent in the game of baseball will descend upon Arizona, starting Tuesday October 13th for the start of the Arizona Fall League.
Today, we preview the Scottsdale Scorpions. Scottsdale is comprised of players from the following teams: Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins and San Francisco Giants.
Scottsdale finished in last place (12-20) in the AFL East last season.
Baseball Factory Alumni
Ray Black – Parent Club: San Francisco Giants
Black participated in the 2007 Cape Cod High School Classic and was drafted in the seventh round of the 2011 Draft out of the University of Pittsburgh. Black pitched for High-A San Jose this season, appearing in 20 games (five starts) with a 2-1 record and an ERA of 2.88. He struck out 51 batters in 25 innings pitched in 2015.
Nick Burdi – Parent Club: Minnesota Twins
Burdi pitched for two levels of the Twins organization in 2015, beginning with High-A Fort Myers and later in the season with Double-A Chattanooga. He appeared in 43 games, going 5-6 with an ERA of 3.82, striking out 82 batters and collecting four saves in 63 2/3 innings pitched. Burdi, a second round selection of the Twins in the 2014 Draft, appeared in the 2010 Under Armour All-America Game.
Dan Slania – Parent Club: San Francisco Giants
Slania played collegiately for the University of Notre Dame before he was selected in the fifth round of the 2013 Draft by the Giants. Slania was a teammate of Black’s at High-A San Jose this season, pitching to a 3.53 ERA in 71 1/3 innings pitched. Pitching out of the bullpen, Slania made 59 appearances, saving 16 games and striking out 90 batters for the San Jose Giants. Back in 2008, Slania was part of the Team One Preview in Phoenix, Arizona.
JaCoby Jones – Parent Club: Detroit Tigers
Jacoby was a third round draft selection by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013 but was traded at this year’s Trade Deadline to the Detroit Tigers for reliever Joakim Soria. Jones was ranked the 12th best prospect in the Pirates organization coming into the 2015 season, according to MLB.com.
Jones batted .253 with 18 doubles, three triples, 10 homers and 58 RBIs at Single-A Bradenton this season before being promoted to Pittsburgh’s Double-A afflilate, the Altoona Curve, and subsequently traded.
Jones participated in the 2009 Under Armour All-America Game.
Clint Frazier – Parent Club: Cleveland Indians
Frazier was a first round selection (5th overall) by the Cleveland Indians in the 2013 Draft and finished 2015 playing the entire season at High-A Lynchburg. Frazier hit .285 with 36 doubles, three triples, 16 homers and 72 RBI in 133 games. He also added 15 stolen bases and was named a Carolina League Post-Season All-Star.
Frazier was a 2012 Under Armour All-America Game participant.