Skip to main content

AFL Rising Stars Game Tonight

By

What is being called The Futures Game of the Fall will be played in Surprise, Arizona on Saturday night. The annual Arizona Fall League showcase known as The Rising Stars Game will be televised nationally on MLB Network at 9pm EST, when the best prospects from all organizations meet in a contest that pits the East and West divisions against each other.

As I've stated before, the Arizona Fall League is a stepping stone for many players on their ways upward in the professional baseball ranks. The players on the rosters for this big game, slated to be played at Surprise Stadium, are among the highest regarded prospects in the league. Many of the players will be receiving their very first chance to play on such a big stage, with the eyes of the baseball world upon them.

"The entire year has been an incredible experience and this is only making it better," said righty hurler Justin De Fratus. "I'm excited for it and can't wait to meet the other players." The 23-year-old is one of two Phillies prospects on the East Division roster.

Justin De Fratus prior to a game in August


De Fratus has pitched 6 scoreless innings thus far with the AFL's Mesa Solar Sox. In 49 combined games at High A level Clearwater and Double A Reading this year, De Fratus posted a 3-0 record, a 1.94 ERA, struck out 71 batters in 65 innings and recorded 21 saves.

The other Philadelphia property on the East roster is right-handed pitcher, 23-year-old Josh Zeid, who helped the Phillies Class A affiliate Lakewood BlueClaws lock down their second consecutive South Atlantic League championship during the 2010 season. Zeid has posted a 3-0 record with a 3.86 ERA in 4 AFL starts with the Solar Sox. Zeid was the Phillies' minor league pitcher of the month in April 2010, when, as the closer for Lakewood, he went 2-0 with 2 saves and allowed no earned runs in 9 outings.


Josh Zeid with the SAL championship trophy in September

In an exhibition game where some players might feel pleased to simply be recognized and/or get the opportunity to display their talents, De Fratus wants his team to come out on top. "I hope we can all do our best and win this game."
____________________________________________________


Be sure to follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter by clicking HERE.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2021 Phillies Top Prospects Countdown: #22 SS Casey Martin

By
Please visit Patreon.com/PhoulBallz in order to support my work, get access to material like this before anyone else and get access to interviews as well as other exclusive content you can't get anywhere else.   A third round draft pick last year, Arkansas junior Casey Martin was quickly signed by the Phillies and consideration as one of the organization's top infield prospects quickly began.  The team's confidence in his ceiling is likely evident in the signing bonus he got, which was reportedly $1.3 million, which was considerably more than slot money dictated by his 87th overall draft position ($685K). The right-handed batting Martin tallied a .311/.393/.545 slash line with 30 homers, 24 steals and 112 RBI in 143 games through his college career at Arkansas.  Reports had him falling in the draft as a result of an injury to the hamate bone in his left hand prior to his 2020 season.  Prior to the procedure, Baseball America projected Martin as a top ten draft pick.
Post a Comment
Read more

Bubby Rossman's long awaited MLB debut

By
Eight years after he initially signed a professional contract with the Dodgers and a five-year stretch playing away from affiliated ball, Bubby Rossman became a major leaguer on Wednesday. Added as a substitute for pitcher Kyle Gibson, who is restricted from travel to Canada for the Phillies' series in Toronto, due to his medical inability to be vaccinated from COVID-19, Rossman took the mound for the first time in the majors. Rossman, who was a 22nd round draft selection in 2014 had pitched in 200 professional games before his one-inning outing in the Phillies' 8-2 loss to the Blue Jays. In 27 appearances with Double-A Reading this year, the 30-year-old right-hander has performed well, tallying a 2-2 record with a save, a 3.32 ERA and a .200 batting average against.   The embedded video below features a media session with Rossman from prior to opening day this year, in which the California native discusses his journey through independent baseball and back to affiliated ball wi
Post a Comment
Read more

Slick fielding Sam is the Champion of the (PhoulBallz) world!

By
Phillies Ball(z)girl Sam Arnone was kind enough to answer some questions for the PhoulBallz site and all of you. Sam will be entering her 3rd season as a Phillies ballgirl and is a junior at Drexel University. Sam hails from the great town of Mt. Ephram, NJ. 1- Since the Phillies are the World Champions of baseball teams, are the Phillies ballgirls the world champions of ballgirl teams? - Of Course!!! There are not that many teams that have Ballgirls, so the competition is a little scarce. I would definitely put my team up against any other Ballgirl team with full confidence! 2- What is your routine to prepare for a day of on-field duties? - Before a game, I am always a little nervous. Once I am ready to leave my house and head to the ballpark I triple check my bag to make sure I have my glove and then I check again. I always have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on wheat because it keeps me full and gives me energy for the entire game. I guess I might have to find a new favorite sa
3 comments
Read more