Red Sox prospects Stephen Scott and Nick Yorke participated in the 16th annual Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game at Mesa’s Sloan Park on Sunday afternoon.
Scott got the start behind the plate for the American League squad and batted out of the nine-hole. The left-handed hitter went 1-for-2 with a walk and run scored. He grounded out in the second inning, walked and scored on an RBI single off the bat of Heston Kjerstad in the fifth, and singled with two outs in the top of the sixth.
In the latter half of the frame, Scott was replaced at catcher by Brewers prospect David Fry. Yorke also came off the bench in the sixth inning as he pinch-hit for Twins infielder Edouard Julien. The right-handed hitter struck out in his first plate appearance and then took over for Julien at second base. He later grounded out to lead off the ninth as he finished the day having gone 0-for-2.
The National League ultimately defeated the American League by a convincing score of 9-3. Cubs prospect Matt Mervis earned Fall Star Game Most Valuable Player honors after accounting for the contest’s lone home run.
Scott, who also took part in the first-ever Arizona Fall League Home Run Derby on Saturday, was deservedly named a Fall Star earlier this weekend. The 25-year-old backstop has batted .315/.393/.648 with one double, one triple, five home runs, 16 RBIs, 15 runs scored, one stolen base, seven walks, and 10 strikeouts in his first 14 games (61 plate appearances) with the Scottsdale Scorpions.
Among qualified AFL hitters, Scott currently ranks tied for second in homers, fourth in RBIs, tied for fifth in runs scored, sixth in slugging percentage, third in isolated power (.333), and fifth in OPS (1.041), per MLB.com. The North Carolina native was originally selected by the Red Sox in the 10th round of the 2019 amateur draft out of Vanderbilt University. He can become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft later this winter if he is not added to Boston’s 40-man roster by November 15.
Yorke, meanwhile, has been one of the more productive hitters in the fall league despite missing some time recently with left wrist soreness. Across 19 games (92 plate appearances) with Scottsdale, the 20-year-old second baseman has slashed .342/.424/.526 with eight doubles, two home runs, 18 RBIs, 18 runs scored, one stolen base, 12 walks, and 16 strikeouts.
According to MLB.com’s AFL leaderboards, Yorke is second in doubles and runs driven in, fifth in runs scored, 15th in on-base percentage, 12th in slugging percentage, and 11th in OPS (.950). The former first-round pick out of Archbishop Mitty High School is currently ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 4 prospect in Boston’s farm system.
Following Sunday’s Fall Stars Game, the AFL regular season will resume on Tuesday and conclude on Thursday. The top three teams make the playoffs. The No. 1 seed receives a first-round bye of sorts while a play-in game between the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds will determine who they take on in the championship next Saturday.
At 13-13, the Scorpions are currently tied with the Peoria Javelinas for sole possession of the second seed. At the same time, they hold a half-game lead over both the Glendale Desert Dogs and Mesa Solar Sox (13-14) for the third and final playoff spot.
(Picture of Stephen Scott and Nick Yorke: Barry Gossage/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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