The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

LUCIUS Fox and Jazz Chisholm continue their 2018 season in the Arizona Fall League and their respective clubs took wins on opening day yesterday.

Fox hit leadoff for the Peoria Javelinas and finished 2-5, with two stolen bases and two runs scored in an 8-7 win over the Glendale Desert Dogs.

After striking out in the first inning, Fox singled on a line drive to centrefield in his next at-bat, stole both second and third and was eventually plated by an Evan White double for the Javelinas' first run of the game. He returned in the fourth inning for another single and was scored on a Keston Hiura double.

The Javelinas have MLB affiliations with the Rays, Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves.

Chisholm was named to the roster of the Salt River Rafters. The Rafters have MLB affiliations with the Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Miami Marlins, Minnesota Twins and Washington Nationals.

He did not see action in the River Rafters' 10-8 win over the Surprise Saguros.

The Arizona Fall League attracts many of the top prospects in the minor leagues. Late in the minor league seasons, MLB clubs hold a position draft to determine the players who will participate in the AFL. Most are Double-A and Triple-A players. The league is designed for these prospects to refine their skills and perform in game settings in front of major and minor league baseball scouts and team executives, who are in attendance at almost every game. The 27th edition of the league concludes in mid-November.

In the preliminary rosters, there were 17 players on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list, 10 in the Top 50. Overall, there are already more than 80 members of team Top 30 lists slated to participate in the six-week league.

Approximately 60 per cent of all AFL participants have reached the major leagues. The league has produced 278 All-Stars, 17 Most Valuable Players, six Cy Young Award winners and 29 Rookies of the Year.

Fox, ranked No.9 overall among prospects in the Tampa Bay Rays organisation, has been listed as the Rays top prospect in the AFL this season.

Four Bahamians have advanced to the Arizona Fall League in the past three seasons following Champ Stuart in 2016 and Anfernee Seymour in 2017.

Fox advanced to the Double-A level for the first time when the Rays assigned him to the Montgomery Biscuits this season.

In 27 games with the Biscuits, Fox hit .221 with a .284 OBP, four stolen bases, 23 hits, three doubles, one triple, nine RBI and 14 runs scored.

He previously spent 91 games with the Charlotte Stone Crabs of Single-A Advanced of the Florida State League.

He hit .282 with a .724 OPS, .371 OBP, 23 stolen bases, 99 hits, 17 doubles, one triple, two home runs, 30 RBI and 54 runs scored. He was named to the Florida State League's Southern Division All-Star Team at the midseason classic.

Fox notched another career milestone last offseason to receive a Major League call-up during Spring Training when he was assigned to the Rays' Grapefruit League roster and saw immediate action on the field against the Minnesota Twins.

Chisholm had a postseason of accolades recognised twice by the Diamondbacks as its Minor League Player of the Year and named an organisational All-Star.

He was chosen as the top prospect at shortstop for the Diamondbacks and finished the season ranked No.2 overall.

On the season between two clubs, he hit .272 (124-for-456)/.329 OBP/.513 SLG with 23 doubles, six triples, 25 home runs, 70 RBI, 39 walks, 17 stolen bases and 79 runs scored in 112 games between the Single-A Kane County Cougars and the Single-A Advanced Visalia Rawhide.

A Midwest League midseason All-Star, Chisholm led all D-backs farm system players in home runs, and ranked among the leaders in runs (3rd), triples (T-5th), RBI (7th), slugging pct. (8th) and walks (T-9th).