Record (as of 10/23): 7-6 (W1), T-3rd in the AFL

Profile: The Salt River Rafters are by far the best pitching team in the Arizona Fall League, boasting a league-leading 4.53 team ERA, a .246 batting average against, and a strong 10.45 K/9 in 12 games. The staff has been led by 21-year-old Yu-Min Lin (ARI No. 7), a native of Taiwan who touts a 3.00 ERA with nine strikeouts in his three starts for the Rafters. His 60-grade changeup that induced a 49% whiff rate in Double-A this season has helped put Salt River in a playoff spot entering the last few weeks of play.

While the starters have pitched quality innings, the closers have some polishing up to do. The Rafters have blown five of their eight save opportunities, a troubling trend that might affect the standings later in the season. Cleaning up the later innings and minimizing rallies will be a goal for the staff moving forward as they eye the playoffs.

Offensively, the Rafters boast standout performances but lack complete lineup efficiency. Among the standouts, no one has shined brighter than Robert Hassell III (WSH No. 13). In nine games, Hassell is 14-35 (.400) with five doubles, a triple, two homers and 13 RBIs. Apart from Hassell, however, the Rafters numbers don’t pop off the page. The team’s batting average, slugging and OPS are all just 5th best in the league. To stand out and claim a playoff berth, more crooked numbers will need to be put up by the offense.

Notable Players:

Tommy Troy, SS (ARI No. 5) - The 2023 12th overall pick has played 99 games in the minor leagues for the Diamondbacks, totaling a .244 average, nine homers and 25 stolen bases. Injuries have kept him from maxing out his playing time, but when he’s on the field he displays an incredible feel for the opposite field while putting his speed on display. Troy’s speed has been on showcase so far in the AFL, as he’s legged out six doubles and a triple while maintaining an OPS above .800.

Jack Noble, RHP (MIN) - An undrafted free agent out of Long Beach State, the Minnesota Twins took a chance on the 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-hander by signing him to a minor-league contract in 2022. Noble is 13-4 in his minor league career, boasting a 4.06 ERA with 143 strikeouts in 133 innings of work. In 2024, Noble caught the eye of baseball by posting an immaculate inning, a testament to his ability to command his pitch repertoire. Noble has a 1.80 ERA so far in the AFL with a 10.8 K/9 in five innings.

Garrett Martin, OF (NYY) - Martin has shined in the AFL so far, posting a .290/.400/.613 slash line with five extra-base hits and eight runs batted in. Originally signed by the Yankees as an undrafted free agent out of Austin Peay State, Martin projects as a power bat with slug to the pull side. In High-A Hudson Valley this year, Martin batted .216 with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs in 87 games.

Recent Play: The Salt River Rafters beat the Surprise Saguaros 6-5 on Wednesday, October 23rd.

Things looked sharp for the Rafters offense early on, as third baseman Gino Groover (ARI No. 9) got things started in the bottom of the first with an RBI single down the left field line to start the scoring. Another run would come around to score on a sac fly by Garrett Martin (NYY), making it a 2-0 ballgame after an inning.

Quincy Hamilton (HOU) brought across the Saguaros' first run of the game on a groundout to second, allowing Max Acosta (TEX) to score following his leadoff double.

In the bottom of the third, Martin would come up clutch again, this time poking an RBI single the other way for the Rafters’ third run of the ballgame.

Acosta propelled the scoring for the Saguaros in the fourth, smacking an RBI double the other way, his second of the game. Hamilton notched his second sac fly on the day, tying the score up 3-3.

The score wouldn’t remain tied for long, as designated hitter Kala’i Rosario (MIN No. 19) drove in two on a line drive single up the middle. Rosario attempted to take second base, but a timely relay gunned him down to end the inning with the Rafters up 5-3.

The back-and-forth continued in the sixth, as another two runs scored on an RBI groundout from Austin Deming (HOU) and Hamilton’s bloop single to right center, his third RBI of the game. In another tie, Tommy Troy ensured it didn’t last long with an opposite-field RBI single to put the Rafters back ahead 6-5.

Troy’s single would end up being the final tally of the ballgame, as the Rafters bullpen locked down three scoreless innings to end the ballgame. Evan Justice (COL) was credited with the save.

The Rafters tallied nine hits with only one of them going for extra bases. Rosario led the charge, going 3-3 with two runs batted in.

On the mound, the Rafters bullpen went six innings of two-run ball, striking out seven and walking just one.

Upcoming Games:

Thursday, October 24th vs. Glendale Desert Dogs

Friday, October 25th @ Glendale Desert Dogs

Saturday, October 26th @ Peoria Javelinas