Georgia College baseball alum named to top prospect league

Published in The Colonnade on Oct. 26, 2016

Georgia College baseball alumnus Josh Taylor has been selected to play for the Salt River Rafters in one of the most selective offseason leagues in professional baseball, the Arizona Fall League. The AFL is considered a stepping stone to the Major Leagues, with 60 percent of AFL players making it to the Majors.

“It means a lot,” said Taylor, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ No. 25 overall prospect according to MLB.com. “I didn’t have the greatest year statistically, so for [the D-backs to select me] means a lot.”

The AFL is an offseason league monitored by Major League Baseball that is comprised of six teams, each made up of seven prospects from five different Major League teams. Taylor, along with six other D-backs prospects, have been assigned to the Salt River Rafters.

“It’s humbling being able to see and being able to compete with [some of the top prospects in the game] and being able to show my talents as well,” Taylor said.

Besides D-backs Minor-Leaguers, the Salt River Rafters are comprised of prospects from the Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers. This environment breeds competitiveness, but also allows for the bonding of a baseball community.

“[It’s been great] just being able to meet people you played against during the season and being able to build relationships with these guys,” he added.

Taylor, a left-handed pitcher, graduated from GC in 2014 and played his senior season for the Bobcats before being signed by the Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 12, 2014. He credits his time at GC in helping him be mentally tough and pushing himself to get better, which has carried over to his time in the Minors.

In 2016, the 23-year-old D-backs farmhand posted a 5-11 record with a 5.36 ERA between Single-A Adv. Visalia and Double-A Mobile. His 2016 season included a complete game, three-hit shutout in his first Double-A start against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on July 5, which led him to be named Southern League Pitcher of the Week on July 10.

So far in the AFL, Taylor has recorded nine strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings pitched. Although he struggled in his first start with the Rafters, Taylor bounced back by going four innings while allowing just one hit, one walk and striking out seven batters on Oct. 19 against the Glendale Desert Dogs. He is focused on getting better with the mental side of the game.

“I’m working on staying focused and competing, and not letting things get to me,” said Taylor.

Taylor hopes to open eyes during his time in the AFL and looks to showcase his skills heading into D-backs’ spring training in 2017.

The future is bright in San Diego

Although the San Diego Padres experienced another rough season, failing to reach the .500 mark for the sixth season in a row, they had room for excitement with the promotion of two of its top prospects, Manny Margot and Hunter Renfroe (No. 2 and No. 3 respectively), who both made their Major League debut on Sept. 21.

Both players received a taste of PetCo Park at the SiriusXM Futures Game in July, with Margot representing the World team and Renfroe representing U.S. Margot's day included a 1-for-4 offensive showing, in addition to a homer-robbing catch in center field. Renfroe went 0-for-2 with a walk as the U.S. fell to the World 11-3.

Margot, ranked as MLB Pipeline's No. 27 overall prospect, is an athletic outfielder who has a variety of tools. The 22-year-old signed as an international free agent with the Red Sox in 2011, and was traded to the Padres in the offseason deal that sent Craig Kimbrel to the Red Sox before the 2016 season. In 124 games with Triple-A El Paso, Margot hit .304 with six home runs, 21 doubles, 12 triples, 30 stolen bases and 55 RBIs.

Renfroe, the No. 13 overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft by the Padres, is also ranked in MLB Pipeline's top 100 prospects, coming in at No. 41. The former Mississippi State Bulldog is known for his power, belting 20 or more homers in all of his full seasons in the Minors. At Triple-A El Paso this year, Renfroe hit a career high 30 home runs, while also maintaining a .306 average. He was selected as the Pacific Coast League's Most Valuable Player in addition to winning the Joe Bauman Home Run Award for Triple-A.

The two took advantage of their promotion, and played almost everyday down the stretch. In 35 at-bats, Renfroe totaled 13 hits, four homers and 14 RBIs. Margot started off hot, tallying eight hits in his first 23 at-bats, with four of them going for extra bases, but cooled down towards the end as he totaled just one hit in his next 14 at-bats.

The Padres have a lot to look forward to as more of their top prospects are set to make the jump to the Majors in 2017. Margot and Renfroe could make the roster out of Spring Training next year and are early 2017 Rookie of the Year Award candidates.