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Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Drake Baldwin is off to a hot start in the AFL, further cementing his breakout 2024 After a decent start to the season the Peoria Javelinas have fallen off of a cliff, losing five in a row to fall to 2-7 well back of a playoff spot. Despite these struggles it’s been a productive season so far for the Atlanta Braves hitters over in Arizona, with top prospect Drake Baldwin providing an especially standout performance.
Drake Baldwin
AFL stats: 5 G, 24 PA, 1 HR, .333/.417/.619, 3 K, 3 BB
Drake Baldwin has played in five of Peoria’s game, with him behind the plate in four of those, and so far he has a hit in every single game he has played. The Arizona Fall League wasn’t expected to be a huge challenge for a player who has already proven to be one of Triple-A’s best hitters, and he started off his season by scorching a double in the Javelina’s opening day loss. Baldwin would then score on a home run for Peoria’s first run of the season, and finished off the game with a walk and another hit. It took just one more game for Baldwin to come up with his first home run, and in Peoria’s 5-3 win he provided two critical RBI to lift the Javelinas over Surprise. First was in the third inning, when Baldwin came up with two runners on, no outs, and the Javelinas already holding fast to a 2-0 lead. Baldwin rolled a ground ball through the left side of the infield for a base hit, scoring the second run of the inning and third of the game, though he and three other Javelinas were stranded as the bottom of the order failed to come through. This gave the Saguaros a chance to make a comeback, as they tied the game in the fourth inning. Baldwin made his mark in the seventh inning, quickly untying the game as he launched this inside pitch for a go-ahead solo home run in an eventual 5-3 win.
Baldwin hasn’t been as overwhelming in the past three games, providing one hit in each while the Javelinas have struggled, as he continues to get consistent at bats at the top of the order he seems to once again be making his case in front of national evaluators. Baldwin drove in the first run of a 9-6 Peoria win in the third game, then despite a blowout loss in his next appearance he reached base three times thanks to a couple of walks. Finally on Wednesday he smacked a triple in the first inning and scored the game’s first run, but failed to come through in the final four at bats as Peoria lost by a run. Twice he grounded out with runners in scoring position, though to be fair at the time Peoria led 7-1 so it didn’t seem like it would matter much.
Baldwin’s triple
Ryan Bourassa
AFL stats: 3 G, 3 IP, 21.00 ERA, 1 BB, 4 K
Ryan Bourassa quietly put up one of the system’s best relief seasons this year, but his appearances in the AFL have been more of a grind. He cleaned up a mess for Hayden Harris by striking out the lone batter he faced in Peoria’s opener, but since has taken two straight losses with bad outings. In the first of Peoria’s five losses Bourassa came in trying to preserve a tie in the seventh inning. He did well, getting a couple of fly outs and a strikeout in that inning, but after a strikeout to start the eighth the game got away quickly. Bourassa allowed two home runs in the inning, scoring the three runs that made up the three run difference in the final score. He didn’t get bombed out of the game in Thursday’s contest, but in the sixth inning he was tasked with protecting a 3-0 lead in the sixth inning and it went poorly. Bourassa allowed five hits and a walk which scored four runs, only finally escaping when Termarr Johnson was thrown out trying to go first to third to end the inning.
Drew Compton
AFL stats: 4 G, 17 PA, 0 HR, .231/.353/.385, 2 K, 2 BB
Drew Compton was in the lineup for both of Peoria’s wins, and so far it has been much the same as what we’ve seen from Compton all season. He hasn’t hit for much power yet with a couple of doubles across four games, but it’s just been deep at bats and solid all-fields contact with an advanced feel for the strike zone. Compton had a lone single that wasn’t much in the results of the game in Peoria’s 5-3 win, but in the next he was part of a couple of key insurance runs scored late in the game. A sacrifice fly provided Compton’s first RBI of the fall, then in the eighth inning he cracked an opposite field double that would put Brewers prospect Juan Baez in position to score the final run of the game. In a close loss on Monday he kept his good streak going by reaching base three times and once again accounting for two of Peoria’s runs. His hit by pitch in the first inning was erased by a double play ball, but he once again doubled with Baez on base, this time scoring the runner for the first run of the game for Peoria. He then came in to score on a sacrifice fly, tying the game at two early on though Peoria would end up losing 5-3. Compton drew a walk in the fifth inning and advanced to third on an RBI double that gave Peoria a lead, however he was stranded by a Colt Emerson strikeout and the Javelinas failed to add any more runs. Compton got a bit of a boost int he lineup in his most recent game, batting fifth, but also came away with his worst performance in a one-run game where any hit could have been the difference. Compton grounded out in the first inning with Ethan Salas on third base, ending an early threat, and popped out to the catcher to make the final out of the game. He didn’t come away completely empty-handed, however, drawing a walk in the third inning that extended the inning and allowed Leodalis De Vries a chance to drive in a run and give the Javelinas a 2-0 lead.
Isaac Gallegos
AFL stats: 2 G, 3 IP, 6.00 ERA, 6 BB, 6 K
We have one good outing and one bad outing to talk about for Gallegos, and the main storyline follows what we’ve seen all season from him. Gallegos has had issues with command all season, and in his first game he allowed two of the three Saguaros runs thanks to allowing four walks in the fourth inning. His next appearance came on Tuesday, where once again he allowed two walks, but this time it was over two innings and his ability to miss bats was allowed to shine. Gallegos struck out four batters over two hitless innings, and like all season his fastball and slider combo has been able to carve up hitters when he locates them. Gallegos simply needs to get more reps after missing a good portion of this season and the end of last year with injury, and he could break out in 2025 as one of the better relief prospects in the system.
Landon Harper
AFL stats: 1 G, 3 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 BB, 6 K
Landon Harper has filled his role admirably, once again playing the part of the guy who comes in and gives solid innings whenever a reliever is needed to give bulk. Harper was dominant in a win for Peoria; after Adam Maier only went two innings Harper covered three innings and struck out six batters with no earned runs allowed. This performance came against the currently first place Mesa Solar Sox, as he came in to cover the fifth and immediately struck out the side. The Solar Sox had a bit of a chance as they got a walk and a single in the sixth inning, but Harper forced two infield pop outs to escape damage and locked back in to strike out the side in the seventh.
Hayden Harris
AFL stats: 3 G, 4 2⁄3 IP, 3.86 ERA, 2 BB, 9 K
Hayden Harris has yet to pitch in a win for the Javelinas, but he can’t be faulted for that as he has dominated with his fastball to strike out nine of the 19 batters he has faced in three outings. Still he has had a couple of trouble spots, like in game one of the season. After striking out the first two batters he faced and getting a weak pop out Harris ran head first into problems in the ninth inning as he issued a leadoff walk. A wild pitch allowed the runner to advance, where a double put the final run of the game on the board for Glendale. Harris bounced back to strike out another batter, but issued his second walk of the game before being replaced. His second outing was more of what we saw during the regular season. He came in with a couple of runners on base in the seventh inning and stranded them with a strikeout, then rolled through the eighth inning thanks to a double play ball and another strikeout. Again in game three his first trip to the mound was a success. With the bases loaded and only one out Harris was needed to keep a three run game from getting out of hand. He immediately struck out a guy and forced a pop out from Termarr Johnson, keeping the deficit at three runs. He struck out the first two batters he faced in the eighth inning, but a double and a single scored a run off of him before he could escape the inning. So far Harris continues to pile on swing-and-misses with his fastball, with a 33.3% whiff rate in his three outings.
Adam Maier
AFL stats: 1 G, 2 IP, 9.00 ERA, 2 BB, 3 K
Adam Maier has only gotten one start so far (with his next scheduled for tonight) and he struggled in this one. It’s not surprising to see Maier struggle given where his command was to end the season and how long of a layoff it has been since Rome’s playoff exit and the AFL season. Maier just couldn’t locate well, though he got off to a solid start. Maier struck out three batters and got six swing-and-misses in the first inning, but the second time out there he couldn’t find the edges of the zone and the Solar Sox were able to tee off for two runs and four hits. The negative here is of course the command, but given his lengthy return from a brace procedure, his setbacks this season, and his general lack of pitching experience some command woes are to be expected. It was encouraging to see him get whiffs from good hitters in that first inning even though the second wasn’t so kind in that regard, and as long as the fastball command comes along next season he should be positioned for a bounce back.
David McCabe
AFL stats: 3 G, 14 PA, 0 HR, .385/.429/.462, 4 K, 1 BB
David McCabe is back for his second stint with Peoria, and in a limited sample he has done better this go around. Four strikeouts in 14 plate appearances certainly isn’t a good number, but it’s an improvement over what he did last year and isn’t bad for a hitter who was shelved for much of the season. McCabe went 1-5 with a double in his opener, then in his past two has had multi-hit performances both times out. McCabe has been hitting the ball hard and taking solid at bats even if the strikeout-to-walk ratio isn’t pretty, and the main focus for him right now is just getting at bats headed into next season. If he can hit at a consistent pace like this it would provide a ton of optimism for a presumed second go around Double-A, and as long as he shows a hit tool the power will eventually start to pop up in these games.
<img alt="MLB: All Star Futures Game" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/m7zLc-E77ySchMYq25OxxFNDHg8=/148x0:5184x3357/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73661926/usa_today_23736718.0.jpg">
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Drake Baldwin is off to a hot start in the AFL, further cementing his breakout 2024 After a decent start to the season the Peoria Javelinas have fallen off of a cliff, losing five in a row to fall to 2-7 well back of a playoff spot. Despite these struggles it’s been a productive season so far for the Atlanta Braves hitters over in Arizona, with top prospect Drake Baldwin providing an especially standout performance.
Drake Baldwin
AFL stats: 5 G, 24 PA, 1 HR, .333/.417/.619, 3 K, 3 BB
Drake Baldwin has played in five of Peoria’s game, with him behind the plate in four of those, and so far he has a hit in every single game he has played. The Arizona Fall League wasn’t expected to be a huge challenge for a player who has already proven to be one of Triple-A’s best hitters, and he started off his season by scorching a double in the Javelina’s opening day loss. Baldwin would then score on a home run for Peoria’s first run of the season, and finished off the game with a walk and another hit. It took just one more game for Baldwin to come up with his first home run, and in Peoria’s 5-3 win he provided two critical RBI to lift the Javelinas over Surprise. First was in the third inning, when Baldwin came up with two runners on, no outs, and the Javelinas already holding fast to a 2-0 lead. Baldwin rolled a ground ball through the left side of the infield for a base hit, scoring the second run of the inning and third of the game, though he and three other Javelinas were stranded as the bottom of the order failed to come through. This gave the Saguaros a chance to make a comeback, as they tied the game in the fourth inning. Baldwin made his mark in the seventh inning, quickly untying the game as he launched this inside pitch for a go-ahead solo home run in an eventual 5-3 win.
Baldwin hasn’t been as overwhelming in the past three games, providing one hit in each while the Javelinas have struggled, as he continues to get consistent at bats at the top of the order he seems to once again be making his case in front of national evaluators. Baldwin drove in the first run of a 9-6 Peoria win in the third game, then despite a blowout loss in his next appearance he reached base three times thanks to a couple of walks. Finally on Wednesday he smacked a triple in the first inning and scored the game’s first run, but failed to come through in the final four at bats as Peoria lost by a run. Twice he grounded out with runners in scoring position, though to be fair at the time Peoria led 7-1 so it didn’t seem like it would matter much.
Baldwin’s triple
Ryan Bourassa
AFL stats: 3 G, 3 IP, 21.00 ERA, 1 BB, 4 K
Ryan Bourassa quietly put up one of the system’s best relief seasons this year, but his appearances in the AFL have been more of a grind. He cleaned up a mess for Hayden Harris by striking out the lone batter he faced in Peoria’s opener, but since has taken two straight losses with bad outings. In the first of Peoria’s five losses Bourassa came in trying to preserve a tie in the seventh inning. He did well, getting a couple of fly outs and a strikeout in that inning, but after a strikeout to start the eighth the game got away quickly. Bourassa allowed two home runs in the inning, scoring the three runs that made up the three run difference in the final score. He didn’t get bombed out of the game in Thursday’s contest, but in the sixth inning he was tasked with protecting a 3-0 lead in the sixth inning and it went poorly. Bourassa allowed five hits and a walk which scored four runs, only finally escaping when Termarr Johnson was thrown out trying to go first to third to end the inning.
Drew Compton
AFL stats: 4 G, 17 PA, 0 HR, .231/.353/.385, 2 K, 2 BB
Drew Compton was in the lineup for both of Peoria’s wins, and so far it has been much the same as what we’ve seen from Compton all season. He hasn’t hit for much power yet with a couple of doubles across four games, but it’s just been deep at bats and solid all-fields contact with an advanced feel for the strike zone. Compton had a lone single that wasn’t much in the results of the game in Peoria’s 5-3 win, but in the next he was part of a couple of key insurance runs scored late in the game. A sacrifice fly provided Compton’s first RBI of the fall, then in the eighth inning he cracked an opposite field double that would put Brewers prospect Juan Baez in position to score the final run of the game. In a close loss on Monday he kept his good streak going by reaching base three times and once again accounting for two of Peoria’s runs. His hit by pitch in the first inning was erased by a double play ball, but he once again doubled with Baez on base, this time scoring the runner for the first run of the game for Peoria. He then came in to score on a sacrifice fly, tying the game at two early on though Peoria would end up losing 5-3. Compton drew a walk in the fifth inning and advanced to third on an RBI double that gave Peoria a lead, however he was stranded by a Colt Emerson strikeout and the Javelinas failed to add any more runs. Compton got a bit of a boost int he lineup in his most recent game, batting fifth, but also came away with his worst performance in a one-run game where any hit could have been the difference. Compton grounded out in the first inning with Ethan Salas on third base, ending an early threat, and popped out to the catcher to make the final out of the game. He didn’t come away completely empty-handed, however, drawing a walk in the third inning that extended the inning and allowed Leodalis De Vries a chance to drive in a run and give the Javelinas a 2-0 lead.
Isaac Gallegos
AFL stats: 2 G, 3 IP, 6.00 ERA, 6 BB, 6 K
We have one good outing and one bad outing to talk about for Gallegos, and the main storyline follows what we’ve seen all season from him. Gallegos has had issues with command all season, and in his first game he allowed two of the three Saguaros runs thanks to allowing four walks in the fourth inning. His next appearance came on Tuesday, where once again he allowed two walks, but this time it was over two innings and his ability to miss bats was allowed to shine. Gallegos struck out four batters over two hitless innings, and like all season his fastball and slider combo has been able to carve up hitters when he locates them. Gallegos simply needs to get more reps after missing a good portion of this season and the end of last year with injury, and he could break out in 2025 as one of the better relief prospects in the system.
Landon Harper
AFL stats: 1 G, 3 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 BB, 6 K
Landon Harper has filled his role admirably, once again playing the part of the guy who comes in and gives solid innings whenever a reliever is needed to give bulk. Harper was dominant in a win for Peoria; after Adam Maier only went two innings Harper covered three innings and struck out six batters with no earned runs allowed. This performance came against the currently first place Mesa Solar Sox, as he came in to cover the fifth and immediately struck out the side. The Solar Sox had a bit of a chance as they got a walk and a single in the sixth inning, but Harper forced two infield pop outs to escape damage and locked back in to strike out the side in the seventh.
Hayden Harris
AFL stats: 3 G, 4 2⁄3 IP, 3.86 ERA, 2 BB, 9 K
Hayden Harris has yet to pitch in a win for the Javelinas, but he can’t be faulted for that as he has dominated with his fastball to strike out nine of the 19 batters he has faced in three outings. Still he has had a couple of trouble spots, like in game one of the season. After striking out the first two batters he faced and getting a weak pop out Harris ran head first into problems in the ninth inning as he issued a leadoff walk. A wild pitch allowed the runner to advance, where a double put the final run of the game on the board for Glendale. Harris bounced back to strike out another batter, but issued his second walk of the game before being replaced. His second outing was more of what we saw during the regular season. He came in with a couple of runners on base in the seventh inning and stranded them with a strikeout, then rolled through the eighth inning thanks to a double play ball and another strikeout. Again in game three his first trip to the mound was a success. With the bases loaded and only one out Harris was needed to keep a three run game from getting out of hand. He immediately struck out a guy and forced a pop out from Termarr Johnson, keeping the deficit at three runs. He struck out the first two batters he faced in the eighth inning, but a double and a single scored a run off of him before he could escape the inning. So far Harris continues to pile on swing-and-misses with his fastball, with a 33.3% whiff rate in his three outings.
Adam Maier
AFL stats: 1 G, 2 IP, 9.00 ERA, 2 BB, 3 K
Adam Maier has only gotten one start so far (with his next scheduled for tonight) and he struggled in this one. It’s not surprising to see Maier struggle given where his command was to end the season and how long of a layoff it has been since Rome’s playoff exit and the AFL season. Maier just couldn’t locate well, though he got off to a solid start. Maier struck out three batters and got six swing-and-misses in the first inning, but the second time out there he couldn’t find the edges of the zone and the Solar Sox were able to tee off for two runs and four hits. The negative here is of course the command, but given his lengthy return from a brace procedure, his setbacks this season, and his general lack of pitching experience some command woes are to be expected. It was encouraging to see him get whiffs from good hitters in that first inning even though the second wasn’t so kind in that regard, and as long as the fastball command comes along next season he should be positioned for a bounce back.
David McCabe
AFL stats: 3 G, 14 PA, 0 HR, .385/.429/.462, 4 K, 1 BB
David McCabe is back for his second stint with Peoria, and in a limited sample he has done better this go around. Four strikeouts in 14 plate appearances certainly isn’t a good number, but it’s an improvement over what he did last year and isn’t bad for a hitter who was shelved for much of the season. McCabe went 1-5 with a double in his opener, then in his past two has had multi-hit performances both times out. McCabe has been hitting the ball hard and taking solid at bats even if the strikeout-to-walk ratio isn’t pretty, and the main focus for him right now is just getting at bats headed into next season. If he can hit at a consistent pace like this it would provide a ton of optimism for a presumed second go around Double-A, and as long as he shows a hit tool the power will eventually start to pop up in these games.
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