Cubs prospect Happ sparks AFL title win

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A pair of home runs from Cubs No. 1 prospect Ian Happ backed a strong effort by Dylan Covey on the mound as the Mesa Solar Sox won the Arizona Fall League title Saturday with a 6-1 win over the Surprise Saguaros at Scottsdale Stadium.

Happ, No. 21 on MLBPipeline.com’s Top 100 Prospects list, homered from both sides of the plate, hitting a two-run homer from the left side in the third inning and then connecting on a right-handed solo shot in the seventh. He finished the game 4-for-4, with three runs scored and three RBIs.

“First time in my whole life I’ve done that from both sides,” the switch-hitting Happ said about his home runs. “I’m normally hacking when I hit from the left side and then go righty, but that was awesome.”

Yankees’ Torres youngest to win AFL MVP

The Solar Sox (16-15-1) boasted the top offense in this year’s Fall League, pacing the circuit in home runs (25), stolen bases (44), on-base percentage (.340) and slugging (.395) while ranking second in the circuit in scoring (5.03 runs per game). Unsurprisingly, it was Mesa’s high-octane offense, led by Happ, which powered the AFL East champions to a league title.

Happ’s homers help Mesa to title A’s Covey, Montas mow for Mesa Callis: Top title game performers Gameday Yanks’ Torres named AFL MVP Top stories from 2016 season Nola wins Stenson award Mayo’s All-time AFL team Video Complete Fall League coverage

“To be completely honest, I didn’t have to tell these guys anything before the game,” Solar Sox manager Ryan Christenson said. “They’ve always showed up to play, and I knew they’d be out here to play today.”

Marlins No. 4 prospect Brian Anderson, whose five home runs during the regular season paced the Fall League, provided the Solar Sox with an early lead as he delivered a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning, depositing the first pitch he saw from Surprise starter Eric Stout over the wall in left …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com