OTTAWA-The Arizona Fall League opened this week with six Canadians scattered amongst the circuit’s six teams which features some of the top talent that minor league baseball has to offer.
Operating since 1992, the AFL as it is commonly known is a breeding ground for future major league stars such as Derek Jeter, Albert Pujols and Canadian MVP’s Justin Morneau and Joey Votto. Each Major League club sends six of their top prospects to the AFL each October where each of the six clubs plays a 32-game schedule.
Here’s a rundown of the Canadians currently down in Arizona playing amongst the games brightest future stars.
Phoenix Desert Dogs
RHP Nick Bucci (Sarnia, ON) Milwaukee Brewers
Bucci was held back after Spring Training due to an injury and only returned to the mound in August where he threw 42 2/3 innings between two minor league levels. The Junior National Team grad (2008) managed a 3-3 record and 44 strikeouts between the Rookie League Brewers and High A Brevard County as he made 10 starts. In 2011 he recorded eight wins at Brevard County and later helped Canada to a bronze medal at the IBAF World Cup in Panama and a gold medal at the Pan Am Games.
OF Brock Kjeldgaard (London, ON) Milwaukee Brewers
Bucci will be joined on the Desert Dogs by fellow Brewers prospect Brock Kjeldgaard who recently helped Canada qualify for the 2013 World Baseball Classic last month in Germany. Kjeldgaard had injury troubles of his own in 2012 as a broken thumb caused him to miss significant time as he only managed to play in 81 games. The 26 year-old began his AFL season with a bang yesterday as he homered and singled as part of a 2-for-3 day at the plate. Like Bucci, Kjeldgaard was a key contributor to the Pan Am Games gold medal at IBAF bronze medal winning clubs in 2011.
Surprise Saguaros
C Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC) Texas Rangers
Deglan just finished his second full minor league season, both spent at Low A Hickory, after the Texas Rangers made him a first round selection (22nd overall) back in 2010. The 20 year-old was Canada’s youngest player at the recent WBC Qualifier in Germany where he wore the red and white for the first time since 2010 when he was named Junior National Team MVP. Also one of the youngest players on the Surprise Saguaros, Deglan will be challenged in Arizona by handling some of the top pitching prospects in baseball, while also facing them at the plate.
Peoria Javelinas
LHP Jay Johnson (Sussex Corner, NB) Philadelphia Phillies
Johnson, another member of the bronze and gold medal winning teams in 2011 is heading to the AFL as a member of Peoria Javelinas where he will be working out of the bullpen. Another player that was marred by injury in 2012, Johnson will be looking for some additional innings on the mound after only amassing a total of 34 last season between three minor league levels. Johnson will be looking for a healthy 2013 as injuries also hampered the southpaw in 2011 as he only threw 49 innings.
LHP James Paxton (Ladner, BC) Seattle Mariners
Joining Johnson on the Javelinas is fellow left-hander James Paxton who has become one of the top pitching prospects in baseball over the past two seasons. The Mariners have high hopes for the 23 year-old who they took in the fourth round in 2010. The University of Kentucky grad was recently named the 10th best prospect in the Double A Southern League by Baseball America after going 9-4 with a 3.05 ERA in 21 starts with the Jackson Generals. In 106 1/3 innings Paxton struck out 110 batters after a 2011 season that saw him fan 131 in just 95 innings between Low A and Double A. The 2010 Futures Game participant was lights out in his AFL debut October 9th as he struck out five and only gave-up one hit and one walk in three innings of work.
Salt River Rafters
C Lars Davis (Grande Prairie, AB) Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies farmhand enjoyed the finest of his six minor league campaigns in 2012 after swatting 9 home runs and hitting .287 at Double A Tulsa. Davis was named both a Mid-Season and Post-Season All-Star in the Texas league in 2012 as he appeared in a career high 90 games. Davis will be catching a pair of Blue Jays prospects in Deck McGuire and Sam Dyson with the Rafters.
To follow all of the action in the AFL, please visit: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/afl/index.jsp
