Record (as of 10/30) - 11-8 (L2), T-2nd in the AFL

Profile: The Mesa Solar Sox have been one of the best teams in the Arizona Fall League, both on the mound and at the plate. Offensively, the Solar Sox rank first as a team in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS and total bases. The combination of power and slug has been encapsulated in their catcher, Moises Ballesteros (MLB No. 44, CHC No. 4). In 11 games for Mesa, Ballesteros is 19-51 (.373) with eight extra-base hits (five of them homers) and a team-leading 14 RBIs.

Pitching is another area in which the Solar Sox excels, especially when it comes to control. Mesa has surrendered the least amount of walks (70), resulting in their league-best WHIP (1.50) and second-best ERA (5.06). Grant Kipp (CHC) has impressed the most so far, maintaining a 2.00 ERA in three starts while striking out 12.

The “Achilles heel” for this team might lie in their inability to generate swings and misses. Their K/9 is the worst in the league, suggesting that more of their outs are coming on balls in play. For now, the pitch-to-contact approach is working fine, but eventually, luck will be flushed from the equation and the hits will start to fall. Securing whiffs and strikeouts would help the Solar Sox lock down the scoring and propel them through the playoffs.

Notable Players:

Denzel Clarke, OF (OAK No. 10): The Oakland Athletics used their fourth-round pick in 2021 to draft Denzel Clarke, and it’s safe to say it was a quality pick. Clarke finished his first full season in Double-A Midland, slashing .269/.339/445 with 13 homers and 53 RBIs. But what has everyone intrigued is his run tool, which helped him swipe 36 bags in 45 attempts. Playing in the AFL, Clarke has posted an incredible slash line (.425/.549/.625) with five stolen bases and two triples.

Niko Kavadas, 1B (LAA No. 29): Kavadas, who’s already stepped foot on major league soil, is best known for his power. Acquired in the Luis Garcia trade with the Red Sox, Kavadas mashed 19 home runs last year in Triple-A. His lefty swing resembles that of Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber and his offensive ceiling is promising. In the AFL so far,  Kavadas boasts the best OPS on the Solar Sox (1.225) with four homers and 10 RBIs.

Jonathan Long, 3B (CHC No. 30): The Long Beach State product has found himself in an organization backed up by top third-base prospects, sitting behind Matt Shaw, Cam Smith and others. But even with the traffic, Long established his presence in the organization with 17 homers and .852 OPS across High-A South Bend and Double-A Tennessee. His quick hands and ability to keep his swing on plane have helped boost his portfolio and open eyes in the front office. In the AFL, Long is 14-44 (.318) with four home runs and 14 RBIs in 10 games played.

Recent Play: The Mesa Solar Sox fell to the Scottsdale Scorpions 10-6 on Wednesday, October 30th.

The Scorpions got off to a quick start in the top of the first, as two runs would come around to score on a double play and an RBI single off the bat of Jacob Reimer (NYM No. 20). Reimer would be thrown out at second on a stolen base attempt to end the inning, Scorpions up 2-0.

Scottsdale would double their lead in the second inning on a two-run single from Adrian Pinto (TOR) to make it 4-0.

The Solar Sox managed to get one back in the bottom half of the second following a line-drive RBI single from Caden Rose (BOS).

Two innings later, Tre’ Morgan (TB No. 10) laced an RBI single into the right-center gap, stretching it two bases thanks to his plus speed and an error by right fielder Sammy Siani (PIT).

Siani would make up for his error, however, by scorching a liner up the middle for a two-run single to put up further distance between the two. Jett Williams (MLB No. 52, NYM No. 2) picked Siani up from second on a long triple to left and came around to score on a passed ball to put the Scorpions up 8-2.

Mesa cut the deficit back a run on Max Ferguson’s (BOS) sac fly, but a two-run sixth inning for Scottsdale snuffed the comeback attempt.

Trailing by six in the bottom of the eighth, Nick Kurtz (MLB No. 45, OAK No. 2) took a low-end fastball to the berm in right-center for a two-run bomb to make it a 10-6 ballgame.

It would end up being Mesa’s final mark on the game as they failed to come back from the deficit in the ninth.

Overall, the pitching wasn’t sharp as they allowed 10 runs on 10 hits and an astounding 12 walks as a staff. On offense, the bats compiled 15 hits as a team, but the inability to bring those hits home (14 left on base) was their undoing.

Upcoming Games:

Thursday, October 31st vs. Salt River Rafters

Friday, November 1st @ Glendale Desert Dogs

Saturday, November 2nd @ Salt River Rafters