2016 Arizona Fall League Team Preview – Mesa Solar Sox
Today, we preview the Mesa Solar Sox, who finished the 2015 season with a record of 9-21, last in the AFL East.
The Mesa Solar Sox are comprised of players from the following teams: Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Miami Marlins, Oakland Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays.
Sam Bragg (RHP) – Parent Club: Oakland Athletics
Bragg, a 2013 18th round pick out of Georgia Perimeter College, enters the Arizona Fall League looking to get back to his 2014 and 2015 form, which saw him dominate in both the A-Midwest League and the A+ Cal League.
The 2016 season presented more of a challenge for Bragg, who posted a 4.29 ERA with Midland in the AA Texas League. Bragg is highly regarded for his swing and miss stuff, posting an astonishing K/9 rate of 9.4, which is actually down from his career rate of 9.8. We saw Bragg’s big arm back when he was a member of the East Cobb Braves, being used as a P/1B.
Yairo Munoz (IF) – Parent Club: Oakland Athletics
Munoz, a 2011 Under Armour All-America from Puerto Rico, will come into the fall looking to make up for lost time as a result of an off-season injury.
Due to the late start that Munoz had in Spring Training, the Athletics’ 7th ranked prospect struggled early in 2016 and never fully recovered, hitting only .240 at AA Midland. However, Munoz is recognized as the most toolsy prospect in the A’s system, and one of the most athletic. Munoz qualified for the 2011 Under Armour All America game at Wrigley, where he was rated as the top player after Byron Buxton and drove in the game winning run in the 8th inning. His quick hands and feet, in addition to his big arm, make his defense up the middle something to watch in the AFL.
Anthony Alford (OF) – Parent Club: Toronto Blue Jays
Alford, another 2011 Under Armour All America, out of Petal, MS, enters the fall as the third best prospect in the Blue Jays’ system.
Alford spent the year at A Dunedin, where he hit nine homers in 92 games. The former Ole Miss Rebel defensive back is going to Arizona to make up for time spent on the disabled list, which curtailed his development in his first year focusing on just professional baseball. His top end athleticism and tools couple nicely with his mature approach to the game, which gives him the chance to be a rare middle of the order center fielder.
At Wrigley in 2011, the 2012 third rounder first flashed his excellent hit tool, while displaying above average tools across the board. His development will be a key AFL storyline this fall.