Reed finds his stroke for Desert Dogs

A.J. Reed didn't struggle at the plate often in 2015. He was quick to put his brief slump in the Arizona Fall League to rest.

The Astros' No. 5 prospect stroked a pair of one-run doubles to snap a 2-for-15 skid as Glendale topped Surprise, 9-6, Friday at Salt River Fields.

"I felt better at the plate today," said Reed. "I felt like my timing was a little better and my rhythm was good. You know, just tried to get a good pitch and drive it."

Reed was unconcerned with his slow start at the plate in the early stages of the AFL season. After MLB.com's No. 91 overall prospect hit .340 with 34 home runs during the regular season and claimed the Minor League home run crown, hitting would seem to be the least of his concerns.

"My primary concern out here is getting better at defense," said Reed. "I'm not going to let whatever I do at the plate affect that. I'm just trying to come out here and get better defensively. Whatever happens at the plate happens, and I'll just kind of go with that."

Reed was charged with eight errors over 96 games as a first baseman between Class A Advanced Lancaster and Double-A Corpus Christi during the regular season. The Indiana native is ready to spend the offseason making sure that number comes down.

"It's tough. I've only played maybe three or four games in the field so far," he said. "It's a process, it takes time and it's going to be a whole process throughout the whole offseason. Just getting the game reps is the biggest thing for me. Just got to get reads off the bat and get better at that."

In the meantime, the 22-year-old is just enjoying the chance to play alongside and against some of the Minor League's top talents.

"[The AFL] is a tremendous league, the facilities and everything are great," Reed said. "The competition's great, the best players are out here. It's fun to just watch them play and see where you compare. Not even just to see where you compare but to just watch these guys play, guys you hear about every day. To face the pitchers that we're seeing, they're all quality pitchers and getting those at-bats is really good for development."

The Desert Dogs saw another struggling hitter break out in Pirates No. 2 prospect Austin Meadows. The 20-year-old -- who entered Friday's game 1-for-16 to start the fall-- slugged a two-run homer in the sixth off Rangers right-hander Adam Parks.

"I think [for Austin] it's kind of the same thing, just getting that timing and rhythm down," said Reed. "He looks more comfortable at the plate, he got that first hit the other night, and he's just kind of taking off from there.

"He's a great player, he's got all the talent in the world and -- just from watching him play this short time in the Fall League -- I'm not too worried about how he's going to play in the future."

Dodgers prospect Brandon Dixon went 4-for-5 for Glendale and scored on both of Reed's doubles.

Brewers No. 18 prospect Yadiel Rivera doubled and homered for Surprise while Yankees prospect Tyler Austin smacked a two-run double in the third inning.

In other Arizona Fall League action:

Scottsdale 10, Peoria 1

Cleveland's No. 28 prospect Yandy Diaz led the way with three hits and two RBIs as the Scorpions piled up 15 hits on the way to the rout. Eight of Scottsdale's nine lineup members registered at least one hit including Diaz's Indians teammate Clint Frazier, Cleveland's No. 2 prospect, who lashed two singles and scored a run. Detroit's Dominic Ficociello tripled and led the Scorpions with three RBIs. Gameday box score

Salt River 5, Mesa 1

Toronto's Rowdy Tellez helped get the Rafters started with his RBI double in a two-run Salt River first inning. The Blue Jays' No. 7 prospect later added a single to boost his heating up AFL average to .269. Arizona's No. 29 prospect Daniel Palka blasted a two-run homer in the third inning to double the Rafters' lead. Four Salt River pitchers combined to hold Mesa to just five hits on the night, led by Nationals prospect John Simms, who picked up the win while allowing a run over four innings in his start. Gameday box score