2025 AFL

[CubinNY]

So bummed about Howard. I know he and Horton are friends.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Ayers threw out 6/14 would-be base stealers last week in the AFL.

[Bertz]

Even though it's an extremely hitter friendly environment it's good to see Ayers doing this against upper level pitching.  He performed well this year but unfortunately as a 24 year old in A ball there's more or less no level of performance that can earn accolades.  He's probably got to get to Knoxville by the back half of next year to get even close to an MLB trajectory.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Owen Ayers 3-run HR in the first AFL game back from the rainouts. OPS up to 1.610 (admittedly a SSS).

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Cole Mathis hit a sac fly that just missed being a HR - 385 ft, 100.4 mph.

DH Owen Ayers 1/4, 3-run HR
1B Cole Mathis 0/2, BB, 2 K
RP Luis Martínez-Gőmez 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP

[CubinNY]

I've never heard of Owen Ayers until the AFL. 

[Jason Ross]

23 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

I've never heard of Owen Ayers until the AFL. 

19th round pick in 2024 out of Marshall. I'm a prospect sicko and I only recognize the name because I watch Myrtle Beach games more than I should. 

[Bertz]

In my brain Ayers is paired with Cam Sisneros.  There were a bunch of times early in the year the MB was fiercely struggling, you'd check a boxscore and see they're up 8-3, but like 7 of those runs are thanks to these two damn 24 year olds. Basically this:

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Ayers went 0/3 with a walk yesterday. One of the outs was a 102.1 mph lineout to LF. No other Cubs got in the game yesterday.

Koen Moreno isn't starting today's game but I assume he'll get in as a piggybacking long reliever.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Today:

SS Ed Howard 1/3, BB
RP Mat Peters 0.1 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
RP Koen Moreno 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K

Koen averaged 93.1, topped out at 95.5. Savant data for Koen's outing today.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

All in all a good report. Also, I’m guessing his catching in the AFL is worse than in the regular season since he’s working with so many new pitchers.

[Bertz]

That's much better than I expected to read.  Fun stuff.  Still feels behind the 8 ball with his age but if there's a position where you can handwave that away it's catcher.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

JP Wheat: 1+ IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 0 K

Two AFL appearances and both times, he’s had a scoreless first and got roughed up in his second inning of work.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

6 hours ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

 

C Owen Ayers 1/3, 2B, 3 BB. 2 K - 1.204 OPS
1B Cole Mathis 2/4, BB, HR - 1.074 OPS
DH Logan Poteet 2/4, BB, K, 2B
RP Mat Peters 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CubinNY]

14 hours ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

 

I’m going from who?, to nice trade candidate, to hang on to this guy. I know it’s just the AFL but hope springs eternal. 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

If they start Ayers in Knoxville next year I'll be intrigued.

[Bertz]

Quote

Ayers has an incredible arm, he has the lightning-fast exchange of an undefeated late-1800s gunslinger, and has routinely popped sub-1.9 for me this Fall with throws right on the bag. The other aspects of his catching defense are not great, but Ayers is a recent small-school draftee ($50k out of Marshall in 2024) and deserves time to develop back there. Can he hit? He performed as an old-for-the-level hitter at Low-A in 2025 (Ayers is 24) and has looked good against mostly bad pitching in Arizona, with roughly average raw power but vulnerability to elevated velocity. He’s definitely on the prospect radar now, but his role and projection are still pretty fuzzy and dependent on him improving as a receiver.

 

[Jason Ross]

54 minutes ago, Bertz said:

 

Realistically, this feels like a "best case scenario" report. There's some positives about his defense, some hope about the bat, but enough holes that make you realize it's not a report that shies away from the polishes. 

[Post Count Padder]

So what's Ayers' best case scenario? Good throwing catcher with a little power?

Baseball savant listed these as the catchers with sub 1.9 pop times this season: Hayden Senger, JT Realmuto, Patrick Bailey, Luis Torrens, Endy Rodriguez, Rafael Marchan, Henry Davis, Eric Haase, Drew Millas, Shea Langeliers.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Owen Ayers today: 2/3 with 3 walks
Cole Mathis today: 2/4 with 2 walks and his 2nd AFL home run

Ayers has a 1.264 OPS and Mathis has a 1.008 OPS.

[CaliforniaRaisin]