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The Arizona Fall League finished up its first week of play on Saturday, and both Alex Verdugo and Cody Bellinger are off to good starts in the desert.
Play began in the AFL on Tuesday, but two days before that was the Bowman Hitting Challenge, with one representative from each team. Verdugo took part for the Dodgers:
In his three AFL games during the week, Verdugo was 3-for-9 with a triple, a double, a walk and a strikeout during the week. He played two games in center field and one at designated hitter.
Bellinger was 3-for-10 with a double, two walks and four strikeouts in his four games. He played two games at first base and one in center field. He also appeared as a pinch runner in one game.
Bellinger also produced this swing:
This was only a foul ball but holy mother of God, this sweet, sweet Cody Bellinger swing. #Dodgers #swingporn @truebluela @davidchood pic.twitter.com/mCzzgZJImh
— Bobby DeMuro (@BobbyDeMuro) October 13, 2016
Willie Calhoun was 1-for-7 in his two games — both at second base -- during the week, but he made the hit count, homering off right-hander Dillon Tate, the fourth-overal pick in 2015 who was traded from the Rangers to the Yankees in the Carlos Beltran deal.
Bill Mitchell interviewed the trio of top Dodgers prospects for Baseball America, and also spoke with longtime Dodgers minor league coach John Shoemaker, the organization’s captain of player development. Shoemaker shared what the club was working on with the left-handed Calhoun:
“What Willie can do very well is pull the ball,” Shoemaker said, “and we’re trying to get him to be able to use all fields and to adjust to different type of pitching.”
On the pitching side, Chris Anderson had a rough go of it in his first appearance, allowing five runs on six hits in two innings, including a three-run home run to JaCoby Jones in the first inning.
Other performances
Tim Locastro: 1-for-11 with three strikeouts and a stolen base in four games, all at second base.
Joe Broussard: Two scoreless appearances, each one inning, allowing one total hit, with three strikeouts.
Corey Copping: One unearned run in three innings, with three strikeouts and a walk in two relief appearances.
Ralston Cash: Allowed two runs in 2⅓ innings on four hits and two hit by pitches, with one strikeut
Upcoming schedule
After Sunday’s off day, here is Glendale’s schedule for the next week (all times PT):
Monday: vs. Peoria, 11:35 a.m.
Tuesday: at Peoria, 5:35 p.m.
Wednesday: vs. Salt River, 5:35 p.m.
Thursday: vs. Mesa, 11:35 a.m.
Friday: at Peoria, 11:35 a.m.
Saturday: at Surprise, 11:35 a.m.