AFL Update: Sammy Siani off to a strong start
AFL Update: Sammy Siani off to a strong start
Sammy Siani, Termarr Johnson continue start showings in the Fall League
While the Scottsdale Scorpions haven’t had the most success regarding wins and losses, a pair of Pirates’ hitters carried their strong starts into the second week of the Fall League schedule.
Termarr Johnson and Sammy Siani find themselves among the league leaders in several offensive categories after Scottsdale wrapped up their game on Sunday, closing the book on two weeks of play.
Siani picked up hits in all three games he played this past week, going 6-12 (.500) overall. That included a three-hit day on October 17. He had a double among those three hits and drove in three runs.
He even flashed some defense on Sunday, picking up two outfield assists. Siani has 11 hits now through two weeks, tied for the sixth most in the AFL. He also ranks near the top of the league in average (3rd), OPS (11th), runs scored (T11th), and strikeout rate (7th).
Johnson had four hits in 16 at-bats this past week (.250) but drew three more walks and belted a pair of knocks that went for extra bases (double and triple). On October 17th, he went 0-3 but also walked three times. He’s in a tie for second regarding walks so far.
He’s also one of three players to have hit multiple triples so far and ranks near the top of the league in OBP (9th), OPS (13th), strikeout rate (8th), and walk rate (4th). On the defensive side, Termarr has played some at second base and shortstop.
The other two hitters—Kervin Pichardo and Geovanny Planchart—combined to get three extra-base hits. It was also the only three hits they got all week. Planchart went 1-6 with a home run, while Pichardo hit a double and triple.
As a duo, they went 3-15 for Scottsdale.
Khristian Curtis opened up the week with his first start of the fall, which didn’t go nearly as good as his debut. He allowed four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out two in three innings pitched.
After coming out of the bullpen the first couple of times, Derek Diamond made his first start of the fall, pitching three innings of one-run ball, striking out four. He allowed just one run across 4.1 innings this past week.
Diamond is currently tied for ninth when it comes to strikeouts.
Valentin Linarez has yet to allow a hit in 3.1 innings this fall but has also walked five to striking out just three. All five of those walks came in one outing, however.
The struggles continued for Eddy Yean this past week, as his ERA still sits at 13.50. In his first outing of the week, he failed to get an out, allowing three hits, all three scoring (two earned).
It was a rough first outing for Brandan Bidois, allowing six earned runs on two walks and four hits and only recording one out. While the walks have still been an issue, he hasn’t allowed a run or hit in his next two appearances.
He struck out two, walking one, in 1.2 innings pitched in his only game this past week.
Khristian Curtis
Last Week: 3 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
AFL Season: 6 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 6.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP
Derek Diamond
Last Week: 4.1 IP, 4 H, ER, 6 K
AFL Season: 6.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, BB, 8 K, 4.26 ERA, 1.11 WHIP
Valentin Linarez
Last Week: 2 IP, ER, 5 BB, 3 K
AFL Season: 3.1 IP, ER, 5 BB, 3 K, 2.70 ERA, 1.50 WHIP
Eddy Yean
Last Week: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, K
AFL Season: 3.1 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, SV, L, 13.50 ERA, 3.00 WHIP
Brandan Bidois
Last Week: 1.2 IP, BB, 2 K
AFL Season: 3 IP, 4 H, 6 ER, 5 BB, 6 K
Termarr Johnson
Last Week: 4-16, R, 2B, 3B, 3 BB, 3 K, RBI
AFL Season: 8-26 (.308/.486/.615), 5 R, 2B, 2 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 9 BB, 4 K, 2 SB
Sammy Siani
Last Week: 6-12, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB, 2 K, 2B
AFL Season: 11-25 (.440/.481/.640), 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 7 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 2 SB
Kervin Pichardo
Last Week: 2-9, 3 R, RBI, 3 BB, 2 K, 2B, 3B
AFL Season: 4-16 (.250/.400/.500), 3 R, 2 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 3 K
Geovanny Planchart
Last Week: 1-6, 2 R, BB, 4 K, HR, RBI
AFL Season: 3-13 (.231/.333/.538), 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K
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From Keith Law (take it how you like) on the Athletic
Johnson continues to show excellent ball-strike recognition, in line with his regular-season performances the last two years where he drew 101 and 85 walks, respectively, although he’s still not converting that excellent judgment into hard contact. His swing does look good, though — there’s no sign of the little hitch he would flash in high school, and he’s definitely shorter to the ball than he’s been before. He also played superb defense at second base in my looks, showing good range to his left and making a great pivot on a 5-4-3 double play.
There was some chatter among scouts about how disappointing his performance has been given the hype around his hit tool before he was drafted No. 4 in 2022, and that’s fair, but I do think he’s going to be at least an average regular at second who gets on base and plays at least above-average defense.
A random trade idea, Johan Oviedo to the Mets for Ronny Mauricio and Brett Baty.