The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

JAZZ Chisholm got his first action for the Salt River Rafters and Lucius Fox continues to post promising numbers for Peoria Javelinas in Arizona Fall League play.

Both players were featured this week by MLB.com.

Chisholm went 2-5 in his debut against the Surprise Saguaros.

After rising to the No.2 prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks organisation, Chisholm detailed his transition to Fall League following an acclaimed season filled with milestones. "It was amazing, I was speechless when they told me," Chisholm said about receiving the news. "I was literally asking, 'Are you serious or are you playing with me right now?' That's amazing. I couldn't wait to get out here. They told me they expected a lot from me, and they're going to keep on expecting a lot from me, so I'm going to keep on pushing it to go."

On the season between two clubs, he hit .272 (with 23 doubles, six triples, 25 home runs, 70 RBI) between the Single-A Kane County Cougars and the Single-A Advanced Visalia Rawhide.

"Just slow it down, slow everything down, don't try and do too much. That was basically the difference between the Midwest League and the California League for me. The ball travelled a little more, so it's a better hitter's league, so I didn't have to swing as hard as I was swinging in the Midwest League. I went to the California League and took a little bit off it, controlled my swing a little better," he told MLB's Johnathan Mayo.

"I do it in BP now and I'm still hitting balls out to centre. I just tell myself, 'No need to swing out of your shoes. Just try and hit line drives and then go.' Just trust the process like everybody's been telling me and that's all I've been doing, is trusting the process."

He also detailed the relationship with Fox and seeing each other excel at the professional level.

"It's brotherly, friendly, that kind of rivalry," Chisholm said. "We were always growing up together, playing on different teams. Then when it came to the national team, or a summer ball team, we played together. Now seeing him in professional baseball, I want nothing but the best for him, but I just told him, 'You know I have to get there before you this time.' Playing against him, the brotherly love is just amazing."

Fox went 2-3 with three walks and two stolen bases against Salt River and followed up with 2-5 with two runs and one RBI in a back-to-back against Surprise.

He told Sam Ficarro of MLB.com that he wants to improve his power after hitting just three home runs in Class A Advanced Charlotte and Double-A Montgomery last season.

"I want to hit for more power, more doubles and home runs. I like where I'm at with stolen bases and putting the ball in play, so hopefully I can get into some balls and hit more homers and doubles," Fox said. "On the defensive side, just make the routine play. Every shortstop in the Major Leagues makes the routine plays so that's one side I'm working on."

Fox is currently the No.9 prospect in the Tampa Bay Rays organisation.

"We have a great organisation in Tampa. This year, we won 90 games and we called up a lot of rookies so seeing the Rays trusting and going with the youth movement is incredible," Fox said. "It motivates me more and more to improve on my game so that I can have the opportunity to help the team win and hopefully make a playoff run and bring a World Series in the near future."