Alfaro adding nuances to his game

Jorge Alfaro started to developed a reputation as a power hitter this season. Now he's proving he has some finesse to accompany the thunder.

Texas' top prospect went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI as the host Surprise Saguaros beat the Scottsdale Scorpions, 9-7, in the Arizona Fall League on Tuesday.

The outing extended the catcher's hitting streak to five games, gave him his ninth multi-hit performance in 18 contests and lifted his batting average to a league-best .409.

"There are some pretty good hitters here, so [I'm] learning pitch sequences," Alfaro said through translator Noe Ramirez. "The biggest thing [I'm] learning is how to call a game, getting to know each pitcher."

The native of Colombia grounded out in the first inning and singled to left field to load the bases in the fourth. He smacked an RBI double in a four-run fifth and he singled the other way to right to begin the seventh.

"I'm simply seeing the ball and wherever I see it, I'm going with it," said Alfaro, who also made a throwing error, got picked off and was caught stealing. "And that's something that's been working pretty well."

The 20-year-old batted .265 across three Minor League levels this year, primarily with the Class A Hickory Crawdads of the South Atlantic League. MLB.com's No. 55 prospect slugged 18 homers, recorded 61 RBIs and swiped 18 bases in 21 attempts.

Signed by the Rangers as a non-drafted free agent in 2010, Alfaro -- who ranks fourth with a .461 on-base percentage and tied for fourth with 18 runs scored -- was a Futures Game selection and South Atlantic League midseason All-Star this season.

"He has a lot of tools, and the Texas Rangers are very lucky to have him," Saguaros manager Gary Kendall said. "He's a very talented guy that has great arm strength, good blocking skills, he's smart, he's alert, he has agility -- and that's just talking defensively. Offensively, the guy moves well around the bases, he's got power to all fields and he's got baseball sense."

On Tuesday, Surprise first baseman Travis Shaw (Red Sox) was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored, Ryan Rua (Rangers) slugged a grand slam and Mitch Haniger (Brewers) and Indians infielder Joe Wendle chipped in two hits and two runs apiece.

Texas farmhand Lisalverto Bonilla (1-0) allowed one hit over two innings of relief. Starter Taylor Jungmann (Brewers) yielded four runs on two hits and four walks while striking out two batters over two innings.

Scottsdale designated hitter Kyle Kubitza (Braves) went 3-for-4 and Mets prospect Cory Vaughn and Atlanta outfielder Robby Hefflinger both collected two hits and scored twice.

Pittsburgh's Tyler Waldron (1-2) surrendered four runs -- three earned -- on four hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning. Fellow Bucs right-hander Phil Irwin allowed five runs on six hits and a walk while fanning three batters over the first four innings.