Eloy Jimenez & Ian Happ Headline AFL Championship Game Today (Live on MLB Network)

Photo of Jon Ferlise Jon FerliseNovember 19, 2016

The Arizona Fall League comes to an end today with the playing of the Championship game between the Mesa Solar Sox (Cubs, Indians, Marlins, Athletics, Blue Jays affiliate) and the Surprise Saguaros (Red Sox, Royals, Twins Pirates, Rangers affiliate) at Scottsdale Stadium starting at 1:08 Arizona time (2:08 PM CT). The game will be broadcast live on MLB Network and MLB.com.

Here’s the starting lineups:

For the Cubs, both Eloy Jimenez and Ian Happ will start for the Mesa Solar Sox. Over the AFL season, Jimenez is slashing .255/.323/.491 with 6 runs, 10 RBI and 3 home runs in 55 at-bats. Meanwhile, Happ is slashing .236/.375/.403 with 12 runs, 8 RBI and 2 home runs in 72 at-bats for the season. Ian Happ is the Cubs’ top-rated prospect, while Jimenez is their number two overall prospect (MLB.com). There’s a high likelihood that we’ll see both players on the Cubs’ 2017 spring training roster.

Ian Happ (22 years old) was the Cubs 9th overall pick of the first round in 2015. For his career he’s posted a .272/.362/.452 slash line. He currently plays for the Cubs’ Double-A affiliate the Tennessee Smokies.

Eloy Jimenez (19 years old) was the top-rated prospect of the 2013 International Draft when the Cubs signed him for $2.8 million. Over his career he’s slashing .297/.338/.469 with 24 home runs over 814 at-bats. Jimenez was the 2016 MiLB Prospect of the Year, 2016 Cubs’ Minor League Player of the Year and he led Single-A Midwest League in double (40) and slugging (.532) in 2016. He currently plays for the Cubs’ Single-A affiliate, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

Photo of Jon Ferlise Jon FerliseNovember 19, 2016
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