Arizona Fall League Daily: October 9
By Riley Thompson ·
The most complete offensive showing on day seven of the AFL season belonged to Diamondbacks infielder Demetrio Crisantes, who went 4-for-5 with a double, three RBI, and three runs scored as Salt River routed Glendale 13-9. Crisantes drove in a run in the first, doubled home another in the second, and singled in the fifth, giving him a .471 average across four AFL games. The game itself was decided in the second inning, but Scottsdale and Mesa served up a thriller that ended on a walk-off double.
Salt River Rafters 13, Glendale Desert Dogs 9
Salt River built a 7-1 lead through two innings and never relinquished it, though Glendale kept scoring late to shrink the gap on the final scoreboard. The Rafters put up six runs in the bottom of the second: a fielder's choice scored the go-ahead run, then Twins infielder Kyle DeBarge singled home two more, Crisantes doubled in another, and Rockies outfielder Jared Thomas capped it with a two-run homer to center that left the park at 102.1 mph, 417 feet, per Statcast. Crisantes was the engine throughout, reaching base four times and collecting four hits against Braves left-hander Briggs McKenzie, who lasted only 2.2 innings. McKenzie allowed eight runs on eight hits, and his sinker sat at an average of 91.0 mph. Glendale's best offensive moment came in the seventh when Grant Magill laced a sharp three-run double to pull within four. Thomas's homer was the most notable single swing: he is graded with a 50 power tool, and that 417-foot drive with elite exit velocity supports the projection. His 2026 Double-A strikeout rate is still a concern heading into 2027, but the power showed up when it was needed here.
Peoria Javelinas 10, Surprise Saguaros 4
Peoria took the lead in the first inning and held it long enough, with Cardinals righty Tekoah Roby delivering the game's most arresting pitching performance. Roby threw three hitless innings against Surprise, walking one, generating eight whiffs on 40 pitches and striking out six. His four-seam fastball averaged 97.0 mph and touched 98.7, and his curveball sat at 82.7; both grades align with his pre-injury report, which projects a mid-rotation ceiling if durability holds. The Cardinals are tracking his arm health, and three hitless innings in the AFL provide meaningful context. On offense, Phillies infielder Aidan Miller went 2-for-3 with a double and a triple, driving in two runs and helping Surprise erase a 3-1 deficit to tie the game at 3-3 in the fifth. A Calvin Ziegler wild pitch, a Sammy Hernandez fielder's choice, and an Alex McCoy sacrifice fly in the sixth gave Peoria a 6-3 lead. Miller has above-average grades across the board at 80Grade, and his ability to make hard contact without chasing in a short AFL sample fits his profile. The Saguaros ran out of answers against Peoria's bullpen.
Scottsdale Scorpions 11, Mesa Solar Sox 10
This game changed leads several times and ended when Giants infielder Kaeden Kent lined a walk-off double to right in the bottom of the ninth. Scottsdale led 9-6 entering the ninth after Giants outfielder Dakota Jordan's three-run homer to center at 104.4 mph in the eighth. Boston Red Sox first baseman Antonio Anderson answered with a grand slam to right at 115.2 mph and 403 feet to give Mesa a 10-9 lead; that was the hardest-hit ball of the night by a wide margin. Scottsdale tied it on a Luke Davis single, then Kent delivered the winner. Jordan was the game's most prominent prospect on the winning side: he went 2-for-5 with the three-run homer and four RBI. His 60-grade power is graded as his carrying tool at 80Grade, and the ability to drive a ball 289 feet to center at that exit velocity aligns with how the power profile is described. His swing-and-miss tendencies showed up, two strikeouts on the night, but when he makes contact it creates genuine damage.
Scouting Notes
Tekoah Roby, P (St. Louis Cardinals): Three hitless innings with one walk, six strikeouts, eight whiffs on 40 pitches. His fastball touched 98.7 and his curveball sat at 82.7. These three frames are as good a first data point as the Cardinals could ask for heading into spring.
Vance Honeycutt, CF (Baltimore Orioles): Reached base three times without a hit, drawing three walks against Surprise, including a bases-loaded free pass that drove in a run in the second. His walk rate here gives him a different avenue to contribute; discipline is crucial for his 2027 development arc.
Aidan Miller, DH (Philadelphia Phillies): A double and a triple in three at-bats against Peoria, driving in two runs. Miller is ranked No. 46 on 80Grade's consolidated list; the hard contact and clean swing in this AFL look support the above-average hit and power grades that define his projection as an everyday infielder.
Irving Cota, P (New York Mets): Two innings, six strikeouts, one walk on 37 pitches against Peoria's lineup. His slider averaged 82.7 mph and his sinker sat at 93.2. The six-strikeout outing here is a look that keeps his starter track alive.
Dakota Jordan, LF (San Francisco Giants): His three-run homer at 104.4 mph put Scottsdale ahead 9-6 in the eighth inning. Jordan is graded with a 60 power tool and a 40 hit tool at 80Grade, ranked No. 12 on their Giants list. The aggressive approach was visible, but the power output when it connects matches what the projection calls for.
Up Next
Saturday's schedule features two games at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium. Peoria faces Mesa with Kannon Kemp (Padres) starting for the Javelinas against Cubs right-hander Dominick Reid, ranked No. 7 on 80Grade's Cubs list. Scottsdale starts Miqueas Mercedes against Salt River's Jarlin Susana, ranked No. 8 on 80Grade's Nationals list and No. 174 overall, a matchup worth watching as the Rafters carry the AFL's best record at 5-1.