Record (as of 10/20) - 4-7 (L3), 5th in the AFL

Profile: The Scottsdale Scorpions are an offensive powerhouse in the Arizona Fall League, leading the league in batting average, slugging and OPS. Josue Briceño, the Tigers’ No. 9 prospect, has pulled his fair share of weight offensively, slashing .469/.514/1.000 with five home runs and 10 RBIs. The club’s ability to hit for both contact and power has produced plenty of baserunners, evidenced by their .291 team batting average and whopping .511 team slugging percentage.

Despite their ability to rack up the extra bases, the Scorpions have scored the fewest runs in the league and are averaging just 5.2 runs per game in the offensive-friendly environment of the AFL. For comparison, the Glendale Desert Dogs have averaged 7.6 runs per game in just one extra game. Timely hitting will be an important goal to prioritize as the season ages.

On the mound, the Scorpions hold the second-worst ERA in the league (6.46) and have surrendered six or more runs in 8 of their last 10 games. Lazaro Estrada, Toronto’s Double-A farmhand, has boasted the pitching performance for Scottsdale so far. In five and two-thirds innings, Estrada posted a 1.59 ERA with eight strikeouts and a .150 opponent batting average. The Scorpions will want more pitching performances like that to clinch a spot in this year’s playoffs.

Notable Players:

Bryce Eldridge, 1B (MLB No. 35, SFG No. 1) - The Giants’ Minor League “Hitter of the Year” award winner quickly ascended the organizational ladder, starting the year in Low-A San Jose and finishing in Triple-A Sacramento. Along his journey, the slugging first baseman swatted 23 home runs, tallied 92 RBIs and boasted an impressive .890 OPS across all levels. The plus power makes Eldridge a strong 2025 debut candidate, and his lefty swing will play well to McCovey Cove. In the AFL so far, Eldridge is 7-29 (.241) with a pair of doubles and a home run.

Jett Williams, SS/OF (MLB No. 52, NYM No. 2) - Williams didn’t spend much time on the field in 2024 as he recovered from a right-wrist surgery. Nevertheless, the 2020 first-rounder found his way to Triple-A Syracuse, where he slashed .364/.533/.545 in six games. Williams has a strong run tool that helped net him 45 stolen bases in 2023, a valuable skill that will pay dividends at the major league level with the new base sizes. So far in the AFL, Williams has tallied two triples, tied for 1st in the league.

Termarr Johnson, 2B (MLB No. 75, PIT No. 3) - Johnson is becoming a household name for Pirates fans since he was drafted 4th overall in 2022. He is currently stationed in Double-A Altoona where he mashed 13 homers this past year. He grades as a plus contact and power bat who could reach the Pirates as soon as next season. This year in the AFL, Johnson is batting .318 with a double, a triple, a homer and three RBIs in six games. On top of that, he boasts an 8:3 walk-to-strikeout ratio, appealing to his advanced eye at the plate.

Recent Play: The Scottsdale Scorpions fell to the Salt River Rafters 4-2 on Sunday, October 20th.

Trouble began for the Scorpions early, as starter Derek Diamond (PIT) surrendered back-to-back hits to Caleb Durbin (NYY) and Tommy Troy (ARI No. 5). A strong relay to the plate from right fielder Sammy Siani (PIT) nabbed Durbin attempting to score on Troy’s double. A pair of strikeouts from Diamond followed shortly thereafter, ending the threat.

The scoring began in the second inning, where center fielder Garrett Martin (NYY) connected on a 1-2 fastball for a tape-measure home run to put the Rafters up 1-0.

The Scorpions would make their mark on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, as third baseman Charlie Szykowny (SFG) scorched a game-tying single through the hole at first to even the score at 1-1. A double steal by Szykowny and Jacob Reimer (NYM No. 20) gave the Scorpions the lead heading into the fifth inning.

Things would go quiet offensively until a three-run eighth inning by the Rafters put them back ahead. An RBI double by Tommy Troy, his second of the game, tied the game at two. The next batter Robert Hassell III (WSH No. 13) would provide the dagger, a two-run shot to right to put the Rafters up 4-2.

The Scorpions would rally in the ninth, getting a runner to third base on a two-out triple by Termarr Johnson. But the rally would come to an end as Luis Pacheco (NYY) got Jett Williams to strike out to end the ballgame.

Overall, the Scorpions struggled offensively, going 4-32 as a team with 11 strikeouts. On the pitching side, the only crooked number came in the eighth inning. Aside from that, the Scorpions did well at minimizing the Rafters’ offense, tallying 11 strikeouts of their own in the process.  

Upcoming Games:

Tuesday, October 22nd @ Salt River Rafters

Wednesday, October 23rd vs. Peoria Javelinas

Thursday, October 24th @ Mesa Solar Sox