Pictured left to right (Brad Holt, Eric Thames, Tony Sanchez)
Former Northwoods League players Brad Holt, Eric Thames and Tony Sanchez were recently selected to the ‘Rising Stars’ All-Star roster for the Arizona Fall League (AFL). The Arizona Fall League began in late October and is full of players considered the best in Minor League Baseball. Every Major League Baseball teams sends six top prospects to the AFL to help speed their transition to the Major Leagues.
Brad Holt, a right handed pitcher for the Mesa Solar Sox, won ‘Player of the Week’ in week two due to his unblemished earned run average. Holt now holds a 2-1 record with a 2.92 earned run average in 12.1 innings pitched. Holt was a member of the 2008 La Crosse Loggers pitching staff.
Another former Logger making the roster is Eric Thames of the Peoria Javelins. Thames, the 5th best prospect in the NWL by Baseball America in 2007, has 10 RBI in 15 AFL games for the Javelins.
Tony Sanchez, a 215 pound catcher, is a teammate of Holt with the Solar Sox and is playing extremely well in his 1st season in the AFL. Sanchez played in the NWL for Battle Creek but is currently in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system. The Miami native played this past season in the Florida State League and hit .314 with 17 doubles.
Follow Holt, Thames and Sanchez this Saturday as the ‘Rising Stars’ All-Star game will be televised at 9 PM Eastern from Surprise, AZ. The game will be televised on the MLB Network and www.mlb.com.
To see the rest of the AFL All-Star rosters click here.
