The Arizona Fall League has been a productive stage for Chicago’s prospects, and Colby Shelton has been right at the center of it. The infielder has turned Glendale into his personal launchpad, capped by a week that earned him Arizona Fall League Hitter of the Week honors after he went 6-for-13 with 12 RBIs.
Shelton’s biggest night came on Oct. 29, when Glendale trailed Peoria 6-3 before erupting for seven runs in the bottom of the sixth. Shelton delivered the knockout blow in that rally, launching a one-out grand slam to push the Desert Dogs ahead 10-6. The lead didn’t hold, though, as the pitching staff gave up six runs in the seventh and Glendale fell 13-10.
He was just as dangerous in the earlier meeting with Peoria on Oct. 28.
Shelton finished 2-for-5 with two doubles, four RBIs and a walk, and his loudest swing came with two outs in the seventh inning. With Glendale down 10-6, he ripped a bases-clearing double off the right-field wall to pull the Desert Dogs within one.
Peoria still held on for an 11-9 win.
Chicago’s other bats have had moments, too. Caleb Bonemer wrapped up his fall assignment on Oct. 24 after posting a .286/.364/.633 line with a .996 OPS in 13 games. In 49 at-bats, he collected four doubles, two triples and three home runs, while adding six walks, 12 RBIs and 12 strikeouts.
Grant Magill has handled the catching duties for Glendale, though the numbers have been quieter. He’s at .172/.242/.207 with a .449 OPS, along with one double, three walks, four RBIs and 12 strikeouts in 29 at-bats.
The White Sox prospects are playing for the Glendale Desert Dogs, who sit at 7-15 and share a roster with players from the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates. The Chicago contingent in the Grand Canyon State includes Mathias LaCombe, Colby Shelton, Nick Altermatt, Jonathan Clark, Grant Magill, Tommy Vail and Garrett Wright.
Vail joined the group after Pierce George suffered an olecranon fracture in his pitching elbow. The injury sounds severe, but George is expected to take part in 2027 Spring Training. Anthony DePino was also supposed to be on the roster, but he had shoulder surgery and should also be ready for spring.
On the mound, the results have been mixed. LaCombe, Clark and Vail combined to give up five earned runs over four innings in the Oct. 28 loss.
Altermatt allowed one run on two hits in the ninth inning of the Oct. 29 game, striking out one. Wright’s spotless 0.00 AFL ERA took a hit on Oct. 31 when a rough fourth inning and shaky defense turned into three unearned runs.
A leadoff walk and a shortstop error set the table, and after a sacrifice fly, two singles and a stolen base, his outing was done.
Glendale did manage one comeback to remember. On Oct. 31, the Desert Dogs erased a deficit and scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth to walk off Peoria 9-8. Shelton had the day off in that one, while Magill went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
One other game on the slate was canceled due to rain, and another was wiped out by wet grounds.
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