Arizona Fall League Notes: The playoffs are starting, Daminao Palmegiani continues to mash, and more

Will Robertson raises his stock:

It wouldn’t be too surprising if you didn’t know of Will Robertson’s name before Fall League, but you should know it now. Robertson slashed .279/.449/.485 with three homers in 89 plate appearances playing in the Fall League. To add to that, Robertson had a crazy 21.4 BB% and a 28.1 K%.

The 25-year-old outfielder had a great second half with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, bringing his season totals to a .245/.323/.488 slash line with 19 homers in 412 plate appearances. Next season will be a big one for the former fourth-rounder, as he’ll likely start the season with Triple-A Buffalo.

Dasan Brown bounces back:

The Canadian outfielder had a rough season with the High-A Vancouver Canadians, but like many of his teammates, Brown was named a Fall Star. In the Arizona Fall League, Brown slashed .274/.342/.397 with a homer in 82 plate appearances.  Since the last update, his batting average has dropped from .299 to .274, but it was still an excellent fall for Brown.

He may start the season with High-A Vancouver, but there’s no doubt he’ll be tested in Double-A at some point in 2024.

Trent Palmer overcomes a tough start:

The 2020 draftee had a rough start to his Arizona Fall League, eventually ending up with a 13.91 ERA in 11 innings pitched, along with an equal BB% and K% of 18.8%. Over his last two appearances, Palmer pitched 4.2 innings, giving up six hits, two earned runs,  two walks, and striking out eight, looking like the pitcher of old.

If I had to guess, he’d probably start the season with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats before potentially moving to Triple-A midway through the season.

Fitz Stadler is ready for next season:

Stadler is in the same boat as Palmer, having a rough first outing before eventually pitching well in his remaining seven games. The 26-year-old finished the Arizona Fall League with a 10.29 ERA in 7 innings pitched, along with a 23.3 K% and a 21.6 BB%.

Stadler pitched most of the 2023 season with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats after returning from an injury, posting a 4.08 ERA and a 4.11 FIP in 28.2 innings pitched in 23 relief appearances.

C.J. Van Eyk’s excellence:

Van Eyk missed all of 2022 and a large portion of the 2023 season with Tommy John surgery, but he showed why he was selected in the second round of the 2020 draft. In Fall League action, he posted a 2.51 ERA in 14.1 innings pitched, along with a 23.3 K% and a 13.3 BB%.

Van Eyk also started the Fall League game for the American League Fall Stars, finishing with a line of 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, and 3 K.

Sunday will be a big game for the Blue Jays prospects at the Arizona Fall League. Let’s hope they take home the championship.