2025 AFL

[Bertz]

That early season South Bend lineup is gonna be wild next year.  Something like this?

2B - Southisene 

CF - Kepley

1B - Mathis

DH - Conrad

SS - Cepeda

RF - Lumpuy

C - Ayers

3B - Melendez

LF - Escobar

That's hella fun.  Conrad aside probably not as much raw talent as the group that's currently on the MLB/AAA border, but still an exciting group.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

JP Wheat has 13 walks in 3.1 AFL innings.

He's also thrown the fastest pitch in the AFL: https://www.mlb.com/news/arizona-fall-league-early-statcast-standouts

Longest home runs

2. 454 feet -- Cole Mathis, CHC

Quickest personal-best pop times (to 2B)

2. 1.75 seconds -- Owen Ayers, CHC

Highest fastball velocities

1. 101.7 mph -- JP Wheat, Cubs
3-T. 101.3 mph -- Wheat
3-T. 101.3 mph -- Wheat

Quote

There have been 31 pitches clocked in triple digits, and Wheat has provided 16 of them, including 12 of the hottest 18. The problem has been that seven of those 16 100-mph+ heaters weren't strikes, symptomatic of how he has battled the zone throughout his pro career.

Highest average fastball velocities
Min. 35 tracked 4-seamers/sinkers

2-T. 98.4 mph -- Wheat

[Tim]

1 hour ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

Longest home runs

2. 454 feet -- Cole Mathis, CHC

I initially read that as 2,454 feet and almost did a spit take.

[Jason Ross]

23 minutes ago, Tim said:

I initially read that as 2,454 feet and almost did a spit take.

2.454 miles.

[JunkyardWalrus]

Has anyone in recent memory become a thing and stuck after the AFL (Mervis and Canario crushed and are still AAAA players years later, that’s all I’m coming up with off the top.)

[Bertz]

5 minutes ago, JunkyardWalrus said:

Has anyone in recent memory become a thing and stuck after the AFL (Mervis and Canario crushed and are still AAAA players years later, that’s all I’m coming up with off the top.)

If Jonny Long ends up being legit I would consider last year's AFL to have been his coming out party.  He had already been raking at Tenn but we actually got measurement and scouting reports when he went to AZ.

I also tend to think what Kilian did in the AFL was legit and that he backed up after.  Though considering he was ultimately a bust that distinction doesn't necessarily matter much.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Koen Moreno:

LMG: 

 

[JunkyardWalrus]

16 hours ago, Bertz said:

If Jonny Long ends up being legit I would consider last year's AFL to have been his coming out party.  He had already been raking at Tenn but we actually got measurement and scouting reports when he went to AZ.

I also tend to think what Kilian did in the AFL was legit and that he backed up after.  Though considering he was ultimately a bust that distinction doesn't necessarily matter much.

I have blocked out those Killian starts where he painted black with 98 and looked like a monster before his injury. But, I hope Long is a thing. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Owen Ayers hit his 3rd AFL home run today.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Loud day at Sloan Park for Owen Ayers: 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

4 hours ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

Loud day at Sloan Park for Owen Ayers: 

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Owen Ayers and Koen Moreno are AFL all-stars.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

3 Cubs pitchers to start Friday’s Solar Sox game:

[Bertz]

LMG?  More like LFG!

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Ayers and Moreno on TV tonight.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Owen Ayers and Luis Martínez-Gómez showed up for their playoff game today:

Owen Ayers: 1/3, HR
Cole Mathis: 0/3, 2 K
LMG: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K - topped out at 96.5

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Ayers - 1/2, single, 2 BB
Mathis - 0/3, BB
Moreno - 3 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K

Mesa lost. I believe their AFL season is over.

[macarthur31]

Ok, Owen Ayres!  We see you!  

 

Quote

The premier prospect circuit offered Ayers, 24, a lifeline to end his campaign on a positive note. After enjoying a successful July in which he collected 18 RBIs in 18 games, he brought that hot bat to the Fall League and rode it to the league’s Breakout Player of the Year award after slashing .379/.539/.591 with three homers and 16 RBIs. He walked more times (22) than anyone in the league and ranked in the top six in hits (25) and total bases (39).

 

[We Got The Whole 9]

Legit one of the best AFL showings we have had. 22:10 BBK in that league for a kid who is in A ball is unreal. I had never even heard of him before the AFL, but he should be fun to watch this year. 

[Post Count Padder]

On 11/20/2025 at 12:15 AM, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Legit one of the best AFL showings we have had. 22:10 BBK in that league for a kid who is in A ball is unreal. I had never even heard of him before the AFL, but he should be fun to watch this year. 

Yeah he posted obscene numbers in the AFL but he's also going to be 25 in June and hasn't played in AA yet. I'll be curious to see where he starts the season.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

34 minutes ago, Post Count Padder said:

Yeah he posted obscene numbers in the AFL but he's also going to be 25 in June and hasn't played in AA yet. I'll be curious to see where he starts the season.

Agreed. He's gonna have to start and hit in Tenn for me to be interested.