Maybe they should just rename the Arizona Fall League the "Tommy Hanson Fall League."
A 6-foot-6, 210-pounder, Hanson led the league in seemingly every pitching category en route to claiming the top spot on this list with ease. But he wasn't the only pitcher to have his way with AFL hitters; fall league veteran Max Scherzer and first-timer Brian Matusz were also making headlines.
This list is focused on some of the league's most prominent players and how they've fared. It is not meant to be an exhaustive report of the league's top performers.
The best:
Tommy Hanson, RHP, Mesa Solar Sox (ATL)
WHIP (0.59), check. Strikeout rate (51.7%), check. If there was a statistical category worth owning, Tommy Hanson owned it. Fresh off a 3.68-FIP showing in Double-A, Hanson conquered the AFL, recording his 49 strikeouts (versus just seven walks) in 28.2 dominant innings of work. With his impressive offseason showing in the books, Hanson will likely start the 2009 campaign in Triple-A -- and work his way to Atlanta by season's end.
Max Scherzer, RHP, Phoenix Desert Dogs (ARZ)
Most years, we'd be salivating over Max Scherzer's AFL performance. A 6-foot-3, 215-pounder, Scherzer takes home the "Best Pitcher Not Named Hanson Award" in posting an impressive 24:5 strikeout-to-walk rate (31.2% K, 6.5% BB) en route to a 0.88 WHIP (second among AFL starters). The Missouri product saved his best for last, striking out six and allowing just three to reach base over seven innings in his final AFL appearance.
Brian Matusz, LHP, Surprise Rafters (BAL)What Matt Wieters did in the AFL for the Baltimore chain with his bat, Brian Matusz did with his arm. Months removed from being selected with the No. 4 overall pick, the San Diego product made the most of his professional debut, striking out 31 against seven walks in 26.2 innings (1.24 WHIP). He had 35.6% K and 8.0% BB rates, respectively. Expect the talented lefty to continue pitching his way up the top prospect charts.
The rest:
Phil Hughes, RHP, Peoria Javelinas (NYY)
Phil Hughes' 2008 season didn't go as planned. He missed time due to a rib injury, and didn't have too much success for the Yankees when healthy (5.95 FIP in 34.0 innings). The 2004 first rounder's luck changed in Arizona, as Hughes struck out 38 in 30.0 innings (35.8% K) for the Javelinas. He held opponents to a .198 average, helping him to post a 1.13 WHIP despite his 13 walks (12.3% BB). Hughes is still just 22 years old; there's no reason to think he can't start living up to his abilities in New York in '09.
Clay Buchholz, RHP, Scottsdale Scorpions (BOS)
Buchholz didn't pitch poorly in Arizona, but he didn't throw to his potential, either. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder walked too many hitters (12.3% BB) and didn't have his usual groundball prowess at his disposal (0.75 GO/AO). He had a 23.3% K rate. Buchholz pitched better than his 6.75 ERA in Boston gives him credit for (4.85 FIP, 76.0 IP), but he still has some work to do to reach the potential he's showed in the minors.
Adam Loberstein can be reached at aloberstein@projectprospect.com.