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(Photo by Bill Mitchell)
Surprise Saguaros manager Jesus Azuaje knew from the moment he met his team in early October that his group was special.
He sensed their resilience even before the season started. Each player had their own journey, their own story and their own reason to maximize their time in the Arizona Fall League.
By mid-November, that notion became true. The Saguaros, playing in their sixth consecutive title, beat the Javelinas 9-4 on Friday in a come-from-behind, seven-inning rally at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
“From Day 1, they never gave up,†said Azuaje, who coaches for the Royals. “All the credit to those guys. They stayed locked in. The guys made adjustments later in the game and we were able to put up some good at-bats and good results.â€
Down 4-2 in the eighth inning, Brewers prospect Josh Adamczewski stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. Even with the magnitude of the at-bat, the 20-year-old kept his approach the same, and it worked out.
He roped an opposite-field double to tie the game, and eventually the runs followed. The Saguaros then added five more runs, giving them more than plenty to help win the teamâ€s third AFL championship over the past four seasons.
“This group is special for you,†Adamczewski said. “It was an unbelievable fall. These guys are the best, on and off the field. Itâ€s a blessing to be around them.â€
Along with Adamczweski, Brewers teammate Luke Adams had a strong showing, driving in three runs. Guardians prospect Juan Benjamin followed Adamczweskiâ€s game-tying hit by giving the Saguaroâ€s the two-run lead with a single to right field.
Brewers pitcher Edwin Jimenez delivered a scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts to earn the win and save, sealing the win for Surprise.
With the MLB in-game season officially over, these prospects will rest up and work through their offseason plans before the next chapter of their journey resumes in 2026. But the Arizona Fall League will hold a special page in the story of their careers.
“This is an unbelievable experience for all these guys,†Azuaje said. “Every day theyâ€re facing elite pitching, and the enviornment is competitive. For these guys to play the fall league, itâ€s going to benefit so much for them to play down the road.â€
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