Judging by the record, the Scottsdale Scorpions (14-22) were not a success.

But team accomplishments mean nothing in the Arizona Fall League, which concluded this weekend.

The league is full of known prospects, and others hoping to up their status.

The Scorpions, managed by former Portland Sea Dogs manager Arnie Beyeler, featured several Red Sox minor leaguers, all of whom played in Portland last year.

Chief among them was third baseman Will Middlebrooks, who batted only .250, but with four home runs in 13 games, before his playing time ended with a sprained thumb.

“He did better,” said Beyeler, who had Middlebrooks briefly in Triple-A Pawtucket, where he batted .161 in 16 games.

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“The athletic ability is really there. He just needs reps.”

Beyeler said outfielder Alex Hassan “did OK,” batting .253 with two home runs in 25 games. Hassan, who batted .291 in Portland last season, is likely headed to Triple-A next year, where he will face more challenging pitching, while he continues to work on his defense.

Catcher Dan Butler “has been the sleeper,” Beyeler said. “He got himself on the map.”

Butler batted .313 in 16 games, and was also nominated for the Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award, given to the player considered the best teammate.

Infielder Ryan Dent, a .200 career hitter in the minors, batted only .196 in Arizona, but did expand his defense, adding third base to his resume.

Two pitchers that really stood out were Brock Huntzinger and Caleb Clay.

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Huntzinger had a 5.40 ERA, but put in some solid outings, and finished with 22 strikeouts and only three walks in 262/3 innings.

“Brock Huntzinger has done an outstanding job out here,” Beyeler said. “He grows on you. Throws strikes. Goes at guys. Gets guys out.”

Clay, who struggled with a 7.47 ERA in Portland this past season, put up a 1.26 ERA in 142/3 innings in Arizona.

“I had never seen him before. Pretty impressive,” Beyeler said. “We had him between 91 and 94 (mph).”

Two other pitchers did not fare as well, with both Will Latimer and Jeremy Kertz, both with ERA’s over nine.

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Mike Cather was the Sea Dogs pitching coach from 2007 to 2009. He helped pitchers Clay Buchholz and Daniel Bard refine their skills. When Cather took an advance scouting job with the Red Sox two years ago, it was thought that he could eventually return to coaching pitchers.

And Cather has done that … but not with the Red Sox.

Cather took a job as pitching coordinator (aka roving instructor) in the San Diego Padres minor league system.

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Outfielder Josh Reddick underwent minor wrist surgery to repair a torn tendon. He should he ready to go in spring training (not to mention the Sea Dogs Hot Stove Dinner, Jan. 13, when he will be one one of the honored guest).

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Nate Spears and catcher Matt Springs have re-signed with the Red Sox, to minor league contracts, according to soxprospects.com. Spears, 26, a Sea Dogs infielder in 2010, batted .248 for Pawtucket last year and made his major league debut, playing three games for Boston.

Spring, 27, was signed out of the Rays system last year and split time between Portland and Salem.

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Several former Sea Dogs have declared free agency and seem likely to leave the Red Sox organization, including pitchers Tommy Hottovy, Kyle Fernandes and Blake Maxwell; catcher Mark Wagner; and infielder Ryan Khoury.


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