Autumn Dreamin

Elko and Adler will be joining Team USA for the Premier12 tournament following their AFL time: https://www.usabaseball.com/news/usa-baseball-announces-roster-for-2024-premier12-presented-by-raxus?s=34 Old friend Touki Toussaint is also on the roster.

Elko and Montgomery both make BA's hot sheet: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/arizona-fall-league-hot-sheet-tigers-josue-briceno-continues-power-surge-in-week-2/

Alternatively... And (in my opinion) outside of when he was feeling the sting of a HBP, he's been moving fine? He's got 4 SB in 8 games, as a guy who had 8 total all last season.

Sosa does in fact appear to be carrying his late season progress forward. He's hitting .536/.581/.893 through the first week or so of winter ball (28AB).

Lots of rave reviews for Montgomery's swing and approach early in Fall League. He's got just 1K through 17AB (7 games). His 9 walks (and a few HBP) have led to a league leading .607 OBP. He's also stolen 4 bags, so it seems he's feeling pretty healthy. Elko isn't cutting down the K rate quite yet (13K to 1BB in 26AB...) but he did hit his 3rd HR (and a 2B) yesterday:

ICYMI

Colson came around to score on an Elko HR after this HBP yesterday but left the game the next inning. He's back in the lineup at DH today, so doesn't seem like anything major. Gladney starting in LF, days off for Elko and Turner.

Taylor didn't enjoy the long layoff it turns out. Struggled with location and gave up a 2 run HR, a pair of walks, and a 2R throwing error before hitting his pitch limit. Adler and Elko put out the fire with a foul pop DP at 1B. Colson adds this double to help get a pair back. He's 2-2.

Grant Taylor is going to be so good. Doesn't hurt to be spotted a very healthy lead too. Singles for Montgomery and Elko who both came around to score (the Reds bats are nice), and a 106mph 432ft shot for Turner to chase the starter:

3Ks for Grant Taylor in the first. Also very nice attempt for Colson at 3B here:

Taylor gets the start for the opener. Colson at 3B 👀, Turner at C, Elko at 1B. https://www.mlb.com/gameday/javelinas-vs-desert-dogs/2024/10/08/787635/preview Game's at 3:30 and should be streaming here: https://www.mlb.com/video/live-fall-league-pej-gdd-138521

AFL got underway tonight, and Glendale plays their first game tomorrow. Barons' championship squad is well represented. Montgomery and Pallette are looking to carry their momentum from the end of the season into potential roles for next year. Gladney, AHT, Dalquist, and Adler will be trying to make cases for Rule 5 protection. Taylor needs innings, Elko needs to show consistency against higher level pitching, and Turner probably caps out as an org C, but one you trust to work with young pitchers so it doesn't hurt to get him more reps. Elsewhere, a handful of Sox should be getting reps in winter ball as well. Lenyn Sosa is probably the most notable of the bunch after his very strong finish to the season. Anyway, I'm a sicko who already misses Sox baseball for some dumb reason so I'll post highlights and stuff in here.

One late inning Travis Jankowski HR robbery away from not breaking the record, huh? Jankowski was also the batter for the last out at the Coliseum. Interesting history-adjacent season for a guy with <200 ABs this year.

Two Ws for Flex today.

They have a reported agreement with 17yo Cuban 3B Alejandro Cruz, who Pipeline has #32 in their top 50.

White Sox (Glendale): Colson Montgomery, SS (No. 2/MLB No. 25) Grant Taylor, RHP (No. 6) Peyton Pallette, RHP (No. 27) Eric Adler, RHP Andrew Dalquist, RHP Tim Elko, 1B D.J. Gladney, OF Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa, RHP Michael Turner, C Colson will have an opportunity to carry his strong finish to the season into a repeat AFL tenure. Taylor should be one of the best arms there, good to get him some innings now that he's healthy.

In addition to the players, I should mention that Sergio Santos and his staff also deserve a hell of a lot of credit. They lost their entire first half winning rotation (Thorpe, Adams, Iriarte, Bush, Eder), a good chunk of their lineup (Baldwin, Ramos, Elko, Quero...), a few quality pen arms (Coffey, Cousin, AHT, Ellard...), and still managed to win it all. Not easy to find success while juggling integrating waves of new guys, having your best guys promoted away, dealing with midseason injuries, and fighting through a second half slump. And for whatever it's worth, I've seen a few relatives of players specifically shouting out the support they feel like their guys have gotten from Santos and the staff in making adjustments, staying focused, and building a winning environment. Also, this is fun:

They did it! Barons walk it off 2-1 on a Gladney bases loaded base hit!

Quick 3U/3D for Adler to strand the free runner. Winning run on 2nd for the Barons.