Three professional baseball players from Santa Cruz County — pitchers Troy Miller and Phineas Del Bonta Smith and infielder Tanner Murray — have been named to the 2022 Arizona Fall League roster.
Miller and Del Bonta-Smith are former Soquel High teammates, and Murray is a San Lorenzo Valley alumnus.
With teams in Glendale, Mesa, Peoria, Salt River, Scottsdale and Surprise, the AFL begins play on October 3 and features six weeks of prospect-filled action.
A 6-foot-4-inch, 210-pound right-hander who competes in the New York Mets organization, Miller has played in Peoria, which also features prospects from the Guardians, Mariners, Nationals, and Padres.
Signed as a free agent from the Toronto Blue Jays in April 2021, Miller moved to New York two months later. A member of the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies, 25-year-old Miller has missed this season due to recovery from Tommy John surgery and the subsequent stress reaction in his shoulder. His fastball hit 95 mph, and recently endured a similar stress response. He sits on his AFL with his arms resting.
In 2001, he played for three teams at two levels, posting a 5-4 record with a 5.00 ERA and a 1.31 ERA. whip.
“It’s been a minute,” Miller said of the time since he last played. “But I still grind it out. Whether they decide to send me to a big league game or to a minor league camp, I’m ready for spring training.
Miller will have an MRI in a month. He said his recent setback was disappointing, as he had cited the AFL as one of his recovery goals.
Del Bonta Smith, 25, a right-handed pitcher who competes in the Colorado Rockies’ system, plays for the Salt River with prospects from the Blue Jays, Cardinals, Diamondbacks and Tigers.
A 22nd round draft pick from San Jose State in 2019, Bonta Smith started the season with the Advanced Single-A Spokane before competing for the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats. , with an ERA of 3.79 and a WHIP of 1.09. In his 57 innings he allowed 48 hits and 24 earned runs, 14 walks and he allowed 65 strikeouts. The opponent is batting. 226 against the age of 25.
“We are still best friends and talk all the time,” Miller said of Del Bonta Smith. “I’m really excited for him.”
An infielder for the Tampa Bay Rays system, Murray, 23, plays for Mesa, a prospect for the Aces, Cubs, Marlins and Yankees. In 2020 he was a 4th round draft pick from UC Davis. Murray shines at bat and on the field for the Senior Single-A Bowling Green Hot Rods. 276 (69 in 250) with 6 homers, 38 RBIs, 33 runs scored and 6 stolen bases. For the second season in a row, he missed almost two months of the season with a left hand injury. He got hit by the pitch and broke his bones just like he did in ’21.
“I’m eager for it,” said Murray. “It’s definitely a dream come true. They’re the best players, so it’s going to be a great competition. I can see where I am and play against them.”
Sixteen of the top 100 candidates in the MLB pipeline are on the AFL’s roster, including four of the top 20. Marte (No. 18) is good for Glendale and Pirates catcher Henry Davis (No. 20) is a good surprise.
