The Arizona Fall League All-Star Game took place on Saturday.

Of course, Toronto Blue Jays players played a key role in the American League’s 6-5 victory over the National League.
The big play of the game came from Blue Jays’ second baseman Adrian Pinto, as he hit a three-run home run in the top of the second inning. This home run was crucial for the American League team, as it gave them an early 5-1 lead, while Pinto finished the game going 1-4.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
That&#39;s Pinto power!<a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BlueJays</a> prospect Adrian Pinto smashes a 3-run HR to left-center: 414 feet, 107 mph 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/Ek6EdkPi6i">pic.twitter.com/Ek6EdkPi6i</a>
&mdash; MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBPipeline/status/1855425776335671764?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Toronto acquired the 5’6” second baseman/centre fielder before the 2022 season for Randal Grichuk and Pinto’s three-year tenure with the Jays has been marred by injuries. When healthy, Pinto&#8217;s play has been great, and 2024 was no exception as he slashed .330/.378/.573 with four home runs and 11 doubles in 112 plate appearances, along with a 5.4 BB% and a 14.3 K% for a 160 wRC+. 
In 86 plate appearances in the Arizona Fall League, Pinto is slashing .286/.407/.343 with two doubles and a triple, with more walks (12) than strikeouts (8). 
On Friday, Blue Jays first baseman Peyton Williams participated in the Home Run Derby. Unfortunately, he didn’t end up winning, nor did he make the finals like Damiano Palmegiani did in 2023, as he finished with eight home runs, tied for sixth in the tournament.
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Peyton Williams (<a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BlueJays</a>) collects 7 homers in the first round of the AFL HR Derby.
Watch LIVE: <a href="https://t.co/Duxy4A7GjP">https://t.co/Duxy4A7GjP</a> <a href="https://t.co/FtSZKFxHXW">pic.twitter.com/FtSZKFxHXW</a>
&mdash; MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBPipeline/status/1855063995415511343?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
However, Williams was the last American League player voted into the Fall Stars game, as he’s slashing .294/.351/.515 with three home runs in 74 plate appearances this AFL. During Saturday’s Fall Stars game, Williams finished with two at-bats &#8211; a sharp line out and a fly out to centre field. 
Cuban righty Lazaro Estrada leads the Arizona Fall League with a 14.66 K/9, striking out 19 batters in just 11.2 innings pitched. Overall, he has a 41.3 K% and an 8.7 BB% to go along with his 3.86 ERA. On Saturday, Estrada had two strikeouts in his inning of work while allowing a hit.
While he didn’t make the Fall Stars game, reliever Ryan Jennings has also had a terrific fall with the Scottsdale Scorpions. In eight innings pitched, the 25-year-old righty hasn’t allowed a run while striking out 44.8% of batters he’s faced, walking just two batters.
Fellow reliever T.J. Brock also hasn’t given up a run in six innings of action, striking out 43.5% of batters and walking three. Johnathan Lavallee has had similar success, posting a 1.93 ERA in 9.1 innings pitched, with a 20.5%. Notably, Lavallee has yet to walk a batter.
Cuban lefty Kendry Rojas hasn’t shared the same success as the other Blue Jays pitchers though, as the top Blue Jays prospect participating in the AF has a 6.92 ERA in 13 innings pitched. Moreover, he’s struck out just 14.5% of batters while also having a 10.2 BB%.
Eddinson Paulino is the other Blue Jays prospect in the AFL. In 52 plate appearances, he’s slashing .208/.269/.292 with one home runs, with three walks and nine strikeouts. He was acquired from the Boston Red Sox, along with Cutter Coffey and Gilberto Batista for Danny Jansen.
The Arizona Fall League wraps up on Thursday with just four more games remaining for the Scottsdale Scorpions. They are 7-3 over their last 10 games but have a 12-14 record, the second-worst in the league. To make the postseason, the Scorpions have to finish in the top three, with the current benchmark being a 14-12 record. 
With four games remaining, it’ll have to take an insane amount of luck to make the Play-in Semis, especially given that they’ll face the top team, the Surprise Saguaros in their next two games.
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As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

The Arizona Fall League All-Star Game took place on Saturday.



Of course, Toronto Blue Jays players played a key role in the American League’s 6-5 victory over the National League.

The big play of the game came from Blue Jays’ second baseman Adrian Pinto, as he hit a three-run home run in the top of the second inning. This home run was crucial for the American League team, as it gave them an early 5-1 lead, while Pinto finished the game going 1-4.

https://twitter.com/MLBPipeline/status/1855425776335671764

Toronto acquired the 5’6” second baseman/centre fielder before the 2022 season for Randal Grichuk and Pinto’s three-year tenure with the Jays has been marred by injuries. When healthy, Pinto's play has been great, and 2024 was no exception as he slashed .330/.378/.573 with four home runs and 11 doubles in 112 plate appearances, along with a 5.4 BB% and a 14.3 K% for a 160 wRC+. 

In 86 plate appearances in the Arizona Fall League, Pinto is slashing .286/.407/.343 with two doubles and a triple, with more walks (12) than strikeouts (8). 

On Friday, Blue Jays first baseman Peyton Williams participated in the Home Run Derby. Unfortunately, he didn’t end up winning, nor did he make the finals like Damiano Palmegiani did in 2023, as he finished with eight home runs, tied for sixth in the tournament.

https://twitter.com/MLBPipeline/status/1855063995415511343

However, Williams was the last American League player voted into the Fall Stars game, as he’s slashing .294/.351/.515 with three home runs in 74 plate appearances this AFL. During Saturday’s Fall Stars game, Williams finished with two at-bats - a sharp line out and a fly out to centre field. 

Cuban righty Lazaro Estrada leads the Arizona Fall League with a 14.66 K/9, striking out 19 batters in just 11.2 innings pitched. Overall, he has a 41.3 K% and an 8.7 BB% to go along with his 3.86 ERA. On Saturday, Estrada had two strikeouts in his inning of work while allowing a hit.

While he didn’t make the Fall Stars game, reliever Ryan Jennings has also had a terrific fall with the Scottsdale Scorpions. In eight innings pitched, the 25-year-old righty hasn’t allowed a run while striking out 44.8% of batters he’s faced, walking just two batters.

Fellow reliever T.J. Brock also hasn’t given up a run in six innings of action, striking out 43.5% of batters and walking three. Johnathan Lavallee has had similar success, posting a 1.93 ERA in 9.1 innings pitched, with a 20.5%. Notably, Lavallee has yet to walk a batter.

Cuban lefty Kendry Rojas hasn’t shared the same success as the other Blue Jays pitchers though, as the top Blue Jays prospect participating in the AF has a 6.92 ERA in 13 innings pitched. Moreover, he’s struck out just 14.5% of batters while also having a 10.2 BB%.

Eddinson Paulino is the other Blue Jays prospect in the AFL. In 52 plate appearances, he’s slashing .208/.269/.292 with one home runs, with three walks and nine strikeouts. He was acquired from the Boston Red Sox, along with Cutter Coffey and Gilberto Batista for Danny Jansen.

The Arizona Fall League wraps up on Thursday with just four more games remaining for the Scottsdale Scorpions. They are 7-3 over their last 10 games but have a 12-14 record, the second-worst in the league. To make the postseason, the Scorpions have to finish in the top three, with the current benchmark being a 14-12 record. 

With four games remaining, it’ll have to take an insane amount of luck to make the Play-in Semis, especially given that they’ll face the top team, the Surprise Saguaros in their next two games.

<hr />

As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

Arizona Fall League update: Adrian Pinto hit a crucial home run in the All-Star game

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel (18) celebrates after scoring the winning run on a double by right fielder Jorge Soler (12, not pictured) as Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman (23)walks off the field during the ninth inning at Angel Stadium.

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