AFL: Rafters v Desert Dogs Oct 25, 2024
Oct 26, 2024
Author: 3-1Count.com
Yesterday I headed across the Valley and caught a game at Camelback Ranch. This is the spring training home for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. It’s an excellent facility yet can be one of the hotter parks out here due to the way the extended roof is constructed. For me…gotta stay in the shade during day games!
Here’s a couple pics so you can get a feel for Camelback Ranch:
Camelback Ranch - Near LF Corner
Camelback Ranch - Behind Home Plate (in the shade!)
On to the game at hand. It was the Salt River Rafters vs Glendale Desert Dogs. Checking the lineups pregame I decided to focus on Robert Hassell III WAS and Gino Groover ARI for the Rafters. And Tyler Callihan CIN, Colson Montgomery CWS, Thomas Saggese STL, and Zyhir Hope LAD for the Desert Dogs. I grabbed video of each and share those clips below along with a few comments.
I saw Robert Hassell III play when he was in his first year of pro ball with the Lake Elsinore Storm in 2021. Then again in the Arizona Fall League in 2023 and now back in the AFL in 2024. I think it’s fair to say that he probably hasn’t reached the physical projection that most expected. And this has shown up in his production over his 4 pro-seasons as he has a combined .385 slug.
Hassell remains athletic, he noticeably cut his K rate this year, and looks capable of handling centerfield. The developmental questions really land on will he hit enough and will he drive the ball enough to be an impact MLB regular?
Today Hassell was 1-4 with a BB, a K, and a SB. On the strikeout, it just wasn’t a strong at bat and he ended up getting beat on heat up and out of the zone. But then he bounced back with a clean single in his next AB. Last note on Hassell, theres a lot of bat movement pre-set and then a fairly pronounced wrap. I wonder if he has tinkered with quieting this down?
Gino Groover is a bit of a mystery to me and today didn’t do much to clear this up. I’m trying to figure out what kind of hitter he is and might become. Atm, he appears to be a bat to ball guy with athleticism. The power displayed so far has been modest. Also, he didn’t run in college and hasn’t run in the pro’s. Today Groover went 1-3 with a RS, BB, and 2 RBI.
I mentioned Tyler Callihan in my AFL Target List a few days ago (https://www.3-1count.com/blog/afl2024topprospects). Callihan isn’t on any top prospect lists I am aware of. I do remember watching his video when he was drafted late in the 3rd rd of a ridiculously loaded 2019 draft class (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Major_League_Baseball_draft). Callihan can hit. But other than 2023 he has had a great deal of difficulty staying healthy. Over his 5 minor league seasons Callihan has logged just 1,386 total at bats and that’s not even considering the lost year from covid.
This is a really important moment for Callihan. He’s Rule 5 eligible this year so the Cincinnati Reds must either move him to their 40 man roster or leave him exposed to the Rule 5 draft where another team could take a shot at him. Given the Reds depth on their 40 man it would surprise me if they protect him. My current thought is that Callihan eventually gets big league playing time, somewhere. Take a look at his swing in the video below. His swing is simple, controlled, with a short follow through. What do you think?
Colson Montgomery looks like a different player this year versus last. To start with his frame looks stronger and he has greater presence on the field. He also has gone from looking overmatched at times in the AFL last year to being the biggest bat in his lineup this year.
Sitting with Chris Welsh today (https://x.com/IsItTheWelsh, Prospect One Podcast, and just about everywhere else you can find Fantasy Baseball content) he told me that Montgomery has been hit by pitches quite a few times this fall. So, of course, Montgomery gets hit again! Chris called it.
This has me thinking the book on Montgomery right now must be to pound him inside as to not let him extend. And he’s also probably the guy no one wants to beat them. As displayed by this pitch he absolutely unloaded on earlier in the game.
Montgomery is on his way to Chicago sooner than later next year. I don’t know if he will be their SS or 3B or what, but he’s coming.
Thomas Saggese is the grinder type. I’ve seen him a few times this year and now again in the fall league. Saggese works the count and works the pitcher. Today he saw 18 combined pitches over two consecutive at bats. You know his teammates love this. It’s an invaluable trait in today’s game. Not only does it make Saggese better, it elevates the team, and it hurts the opposing pitchers.
Last but definitely not least on my list today is Zyhir Hope. He’s arguably 2024’s biggest pop-up player and I wanted to see why. And I have. I haven’t seen Hope enough to be emphatic on my position but I can tell you he makes one heck of an impression. Hope was 2 for 5 today with a RS, RBI and a triple. The swing is clean, the ball jumps off his bat, and he moves really well.
Today my plan is to catch the doubleheader scheduled for American Family Fields of Phoenix. This is the Brewers spring training facility and while I’ve caught Spring Training games here before it’s not normally on the AFL schedule. I should have videos going up on my X (@3OneCount) account throughout the afternoon.
If you enjoyed this article please consider signing up for FREE email updates from 3-1Count.com. The link is at the bottom of this page. We will send you an email when new articles are published. For your protection, the system will require you to accept the subscription through a confirmation email once you have signed up. No spam, no cost - just baseball!
