Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Rangers' Morgan powers on and then some

Catcher collects four hits, four RBIs before Neuse walks it off
Josh Morgan went to the AFL, in large part, to get better acclimated behind the plate. (Buck Davidson/MiLB.com)
November 2, 2017

While Josh Morgan continues to hone his skills defensively, he looks dialed in offensively for Surprise.Texas' No. 15 prospect went 4-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs to raise his Arizona Fall League average to .444 in Surprise's 8-6 loss to Mesa in 10 innings on Thursday.

While Josh Morgan continues to hone his skills defensively, he looks dialed in offensively for Surprise.
Texas' No. 15 prospect went 4-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs to raise his Arizona Fall League average to .444 in Surprise's 8-6 loss to Mesa in 10 innings on Thursday.

Gameday box score
But it was Athletics No. 14 prospect Sheldon Neuse who led the Solar Sox to victory with a two-run walk-off shot. It marked the fourth homer of the fall for Neuse, who has continued to produce since his July trade to Oakland.
Morgan, who is using his time in the AFL to hone his catching skills, staked the Saguaros to a 4-3 lead in the second inning when he took Oakland's No. 8 prospect Logan Shore deep to left field for a three-run homer. It was the second long ball of the season for Morgan, who collected six in 106 games for Class A Advanced Down East during the regular season. 
After beating out an infield single to third base in the fourth, the 2014 third-round pick drove in another run with a single to right in the sixth. Morgan, who also singled to right in the eighth, batted .270 and amassed a pair of four-hit contests in the Carolina League this year. 
Top Astros prospectKyle Tucker went 2-for-4 with a double and scored twice while Kody Eaves (Tigers) homered, doubled and drove in four runs for the Solar Sox. 
In other AFL action:
Javelinas 4, Scorpions 2
Second-ranked Red Sox prospect Michael Chavis drilled a go-ahead single in the ninth inning to leave him within a home run of the cycle in his first three-hit performance of the fall. He also scored twice for Peoria. Teammate Austin Riley, the Braves No. 10 prospect, doubled twice and scored a run. Seattle's Art Warren (2-0) allowed two hits and recorded a strikeout over two scoreless innings to earn the win. Kevin Kaczmarski (Mets) collected three knocks and an RBI for the Scorpions. Gameday box score
Rafters 6, Desert Dogs 3
D-backs No. 19 prospectVictor Reyes paced Salt River with three hits and three runs scored. Ninth-ranked Orioles prospectAnthony Santander went 2-for-5 with an RBI while Rockies No. 14 prospectBrian Mundell and 10th-ranked Brewers prospectLucas Erceg plated a run apiece for the Rafters. Dodgers No. 30 prospectMatt Beaty and Logan Hill (Pirates) both collected two hits while Sean Brady (Indians) allowed an unearned run on three hits and fanned four over five innings for Glendale. Gameday box score

Michael Leboff is a contributor to MiLB.com.