Bellinger ends Arizona Fall League play as one of its top performers
By Cary Osborne
The Dodgers’ top prospect only raised his profile with a tremendous run through the Arizona Fall League, which saw its regular season end on Thursday.
First baseman Cody Bellinger finished in the league’s top 10 in doubles (first, eight), OPS (third, .981), slugging (third, .557), on-base percentage (fourth, .424), RBI (fourth, 17), total bases (tied for sixth, 39), walks (sixth, 14) and batting average (ninth, .314). He also clubbed a team leading three home runs for the Glendale Desert Dogs.
Second baseman Willie Calhoun batted .255/.300/.340 with a home run in 50 plate appearances. He joined Bellinger in the AFL Fall Stars Game on November 5 and was named its MVP after a 3-for-3 performance in which he homered. Bellinger hit a two-run homer in the same game.
Outfielder Alex Verdugo batted .140/.213/.233 in 47 AFL plate appearances.
Right-handed reliever Joe Broussard was the organization’s best pitcher in the AFL, allowing two earned runs in 11 1/3 innings (1.59 ERA). The 25-year-old struck out nine batters and walked none and pitched scoreless relief in his last seven appearances.
Fellow right-handers Corey Copping (four earned in 10 1/3 innings: 3.48 ERA), Ralston Cash (four earned in 8 1/3 innings: 4.32 ERA) and Chris Anderson (22 earned runs in 16 2/3 innings: 11.88 ERA) had mixed results for the Desert Dogs.
