Atlanta Braves Arizona Fall League: Trey Harris Hits Second Home Run

Scottsdale had one game on the week cancelled due to rains and in the other five were able to win three of them to keep pace in their division and move to 6-4. They had some struggles against other AFL opponents and finished 1-2, but rolled through their two games against Mexican Pacific League opponents and outscored them 25-1.

Daysbel Hernandez

Weekly Stats: 1 G, 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

Season Stats: 3 G, 1 SV, 3.1 IP, 10.80 ERA, 6 BB, 3 K, .182 BAA

Daysbel got shut out of action for much of the week following his two chances last week, but he finally squeaked in some game action on the final day in a blowout win. Hernandez was an interesting mess on the mound, allowing three walks to load the bases but striking out the other three batters he faced to prevent any runs from scoring. Hernandez has walked three batters in each of his last two outings.

Connor Johnstone

Weekly Stats: 1 G, 1 GS, 1-0, 4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Season Stats: 2 G, 1-1, 6 IP, 6.00 ERA, 4 BB, 1 K, .417 BAA

Connor Johnstone bounced back from a rough start in his first contest to dominant his MPL opponents over a four inning start. Johnstone allowed two hits in the first inning, and it took a great throw from Heliot Ramos cutting down a runner at home plate to prevent a run from scoring, but after that Johnstone took off and went through the lineup with ease. Johnstone recorded seven ground ball outs, including a double play to end the second inning after an error had put a runner on base. He was the starter in what ended up being a three hit shutout pitched by the Scorpions.

Bradley Roney

Weekly Stats: 2 G, 3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Season Stats: 3 G, 1-0, 4.2 IP, 3.86 ERA, 3 BB, 5 K, .200 BAA

Bradley Roney got two chances on the mound last week, the first of which did not go so well for him. He came in with the Scorpions trailing by four runs and quickly added to the problem by allowing a base hit and then a two run home run. A single and a walk in the eighth had him in more trouble with no outs, but he got an infield fly from Jo Adell and then a line out double play from Isaac Paredes to end a shaky outing. Game two was a lot more stable for Roney, as he got a chance in that final game against the Caneros de los Mochis and went through a perfect frame with one strikeout.

Brandon White

Weekly Stats: 1 G, 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

Season Stats: 2 G, 3.1 IP, 5.40 ERA, 3 BB, 4 K, .357 BAA

Brandon White looked bad in his one outing on the week, as he was brought in to hold a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning and could not. White was able to get around a couple of walks in the fourth thanks to his two strike outs, but he could not hold it together when brought out for the fifth. White walked the leadoff batter in the inning, then advanced him to second base on a wild pitch. A double brought in that runner to score and another base hit and sacrifice fly brought in the second run and gave up the Scorpions lead. That sacrifice fly ended White’s day.

Greyson Jenista

Weekly Stats: 3 G, 2-10, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K

Season Stats: 6 G, .227/.320/.273, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB

Greyson Jenista was a walks machine in his three games, which saved his week overall as he struggled again with strikeouts. Jenista filled up the box score a bit in game one, drawing out a walk and getting a base hit as the Scorpions lost 8-4. Jenista struggled in a one run loss in his second game, going 0-3 at the plate with a walk and a key strikeout with runners on in a tie game in the sixth inning. Then in the top of the eighth he once again had a chance with a couple of runners on base as the Scorpions were tied at three, but he failed to produce anything and grounded out to end the inning. Jenista broke through a bit against the Caneros and finally had his first RBIs of the fall. Jenista had a base hit in the seventh inning to score Joey Bart for his first RBI, and then in the bottom of the eighth he drew a bases loaded walk that forced a run home. Jenista also scored two runs as Scottsdale exploded for seventeen runs.

Justin Dean

Weekly Stats: 2 G, 1-8, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 SB

Season Stats: 4 G, .200/.381/.200, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1 SB

Justin Dean could not replicate his first week of success as he struggled to make contact and struck out five times in eight at bats against not-so-great Mexican League opponents. Dean had one hit and it came in the second at bat of his first game. He then stole second base for his first steal of the fall, but was stranded there as the inning came to an end. He drew a walk later in the game, but also had two strikeouts. Dean was the leadoff hitter for the Scorpions as the scored seventeen runs in the final game of the week, but his offensive contribution was similarly minimal as he struck out three times in his four at bats. He did manage to coax two walks in his other two at bats, and he came in to score two runs.

Trey Harris

Weekly Stats: 3 G, 4-11, 1 HR, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 RBI, 4 K

Season Stats: 6 G, .381/.417/.714, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB

Trey Harris was an offensive weapon again for the Scorpions and was by far the best performer of Braves hitters this week, though he opened with a bit of a rough game. Harris struck out three times in four at bats in game one, matching his total from his other five games and nineteen plate appearances this fall. In the lone at bat he did not strike out he led off the ninth inning with a hit and came around to score, but it was all for naught as the Scorpions couldn’t make up an 8-2 deficit. Trey got the DH spot in the second game he plated in the week, and he did everything in his power to put the Scottsdale offense on his back although they ended up losing by a run. Harris opened the scoring for the game with a leadoff home run in the second inning, his first of three times reaching base in the game. Harris walked and got to second base on a passed ball in the fourth inning, but a line drive turned into an unassisted double play and he was erased from a scoring opportunity. with a runner on and one out in the sixth inning, Harris stepped to bat in a one run game with a chance to do damage. He drove a ball into right field for a double that put runners on second and third, and then a base hit scored both runners and Harris came in to score the go ahead run in the sixth. Harris flew out in his final plate appearance. Harris had a hit in the Scorpions 2-0 win over the Saguaros, but his contribution had minimal impact as although it did load the bases with one out the Scorpions couldn’t turn it into any runs. Among players getting full playing time, Harris is not fourth in the league in OPS, trailing a second overall pick in Joey Bart, a first overall pick in Royce Lewis, and a second round pick in Greg Deichmann. Harris continue to do everything in his power to prove he belongs and is worthy of given legitimate prospect attention and hopefully his performance in the AFL will give him a bit more national recognition.

Garrison Schwartz

Weekly Stats: 1 G, 0-3, 1 K, 1 HBP

Season Stats: 2 G, .167/.286/.167, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB

Schwartz played in one game in left field and had minimal impact, though he did get hit by a pitch in the ninth inning and was put on base representing the tying run. He did not score and the Scottsdale lost 4-3.