Two Local High School Stars Join Top Baseball Prospects In Prestigious AFL

http://donatelifeohio.org/

Two local high school stars will illuminate the prestigious Arizona Fall League this year.

The league directed by former Reds’ traveling secretary and Xavier University marketing manager Steve Cobb, is owned by Major League Baseball.  It has been operating since 1992 in the Phoenix area.

This season, 11 of the top 100 prospects, 20 first round draft picks and numerous league all-stars and MVP’s will be on the rosters of the six teams.

http://www.wiedemannbeer.com/

Ryan Atkinson out of Colerain and the University of Cincinnati will compete with these minor league elite players as a member of the Salt River Rafters.  Atkinson has risen from Low A Kane County, thru High A Visalia to Double A Jackson in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ system.

Atkinson made a total of 24 starts this far into the season with a combined.7-10 record and a 3.50 ERA.  He was among the leaders in all of minor league baseball with 152 strikeouts.

The Rafters combine the top prospects of Arizona, Milwaukee, Miami, Baltimore and Colorado.  They will be managed by J.R. House from the Arizona system.

Oak Hills graduate, left-handed reliever Joel Bender was assigned to the league by the Reds.  Bender had surgery on his elbow in February 2016 and missed 18 months.

Bender didn’t pitch in a game until July 7.  He pitched in three games in the Arizona Rookie League then was assigned to Daytona on July 15.  Bender gave up six runs, (two earned) in 2/3 of an inning in his first game at Daytona.  Since then Bender has allowed just two runs in his last 13 appearances.  His last 10 appearances in a row were scoreless.  In 14 games he has a 2.40 ERA for the Tortugas.

Bender will join Reds pitching prospects, Brennan Bernadino of Pensacola and Jake Ehret of Daytona on the pitching staff of the Scottsdale Scorpions.  The Scorpions managed by former Reds’ bench manager Jay Bell, who will guide prospects from the Angels, Giants, Mets and Yankees as well as the Reds.

Catcher Chad Tromp will be a reserve on the team.  Infielders, Taylor Sparks and Blake Trahan will be infielders on the team.  The Reds will likely add another pitcher.