OTTAWA-Seattle Mariners prospect James Paxton (Ladner, BC) and Philadelphia Phillies prospect Jay Johnson (Sussex Corner, NB) celebrated an Arizona Fall League championship on Saturday as members of the Peoria Javelinas.
The AFL, as it is commonly referred, is reserved for some of the top prospects from all of Major League Baseball’s 30 teams.
The 4-3 win in the championship game came over the Salt River Rafters who had catcher Lars Davis (Grande Prairie, AB) in their line-up representing the Colorado Rockies organization. Davis went 0-for-2 in the championship contest with a sacrifice-fly that scored the Rafters first run of the ballgame in the second inning.
Johnson saw action in the third, allowing a double before being removed, while Paxton did not play.
Paxton and Johnson were just two of the six Canadians to participate in the AFL in 2012.
Here’s a rundown of the six Canadians and how they’re extended season’s played out:
- Lars Davis hit .310 with a home run and 8 RBIs in 42 at-bats and 12 games.
- Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC) of the Texas Rangers organization saw limited duty as a member of the Surprise Saguaros only playing twice a week. The 20 year-old smacked a home run on November 12th and had 6 hits and 3 RBIs in 32 at-bats.
- James Paxton started 5 games and had a 5.68 ERA in 12 2/3 innings pitched. Paxton had 16 strikeouts to go along with a 1-1 record.
- Jay Johnson had 11 appearances out of the bullpen for Peoria Javelinas and struck out 14 in 8 total innings of work. Johnson only managed 34 innings on the mound in 2012 due to shoulder inflammation.
- Brock Kjeldgaard (London, ON), a Milwaukee Brewers farmhand, played in 7 games with the Phoenix Desert Dogs. Although he only saw limited action, Kjeldgaard made his opportunities count as he belted four homers which tied him for 2nd among the AFL’s home run leaders. Kjeldgaard also carried a .385 average with 9 RBIs.
- Nick Bucci (Sarnia, ON) made up for a 2012 season that was mainly lost due to an arm injury by throwing 18 innings in the AFL. Although the Milwaukee Brewers prospect had an ERA of 9.00, he managed 23 strikeouts and carried a 2-2 record in 6 starts on the mound.
