September 19, 2016- El Paso's Hunter Renfroe takes batting practice as the team prepares for the Triple-A National Championship Game at AutoZone Park. (Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal)

SHARE September 19, 2016- The field at AutoZone Park is painted with the logo of Triple-A National Championship Game, which will be held Sept. 20. (Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal)

By Pete Wickham, Special to The Commercial Appeal

If Tuesday's Gildan Triple-A National Championship game is the last minor-league appearance for Hunter Renfroe and Clint Frazier, it would be no surprise.

Certainly, the right fielders competing in the championship contest — Renfroe for the Pacific Coast League champion El Paso Chihuahuas, Frazier for the International League champion Scranton-Wilkes Barre RailRiders — have put together resumes worthy of a step to the next level.

Renfroe, a former Mississippi State star who is the San Diego Padres' third-ranked prospect, could look at the game with something of a "victory lap" mentality.

"This is a place that's three hours from my hometown (Crystal Springs, Mississippi), so it's the first time my family and friends have been able to see me play this year," said Renfroe, who earned MVP honors after hitting .306 with 30 homers, 105 RBIs and 24 doubles in 128 games with the Chihuahuas, leading all Triple-A players in extra base hits (68) and total bases (290). "I've played here multiple times as a pro and in college, so if it is my last game in Triple-A it's a great way to go out."

Renfroe, the Padres' first-round pick in 2013, said that while the numbers encourage him through the day-to-day grind, he said his success this year has been "kinda staying through it, through the routine about how I go about my business every day, trying to get better offensively and defensively."

While several teammates have made the jump to the Padres, Renfroe said he's patiently waiting his turn. "It's always in the back of your mind, with everything that's on the internet. But right now I'm playing totally for these guys. San Diego will always be there, and when the time comes for them to make a decision, I'll be here."

His outfield defense has been as spectacular as his hitting, according to El Paso manager Rod Barajas, who still marvels at a Bo Jackson-esque throw from left field that is a YouTube hit.

"We can't see the corner from the dugout. I'm yelling 'Two!' because there's no way I think we can make a play at the plate," Barajas said. "Next thing I know there's this missile launching from the corner, perfect strike to the plate."

In fact, Barajas said that knowing when to go for it, and not go for it, on defense may be where the 24-year-old needs the most improvement. "He's a little like Yasiel Puig, with that huge arm," Barajas said. "The first instinct is to always go for the big play when you just have to hit the cutoff man."

Frazier has been the No. 1 prospect for two different teams. A first-round draft pick by Cleveland in 2013, the red-haired 22-year-old Georgian was the Tribe's top prospect until he was traded in July to the Yankees as part of a package for ace reliever Andrew Miller.

"That hurt and was tough to deal with, and I've had a lot of big-time names say some big-time things about what they think I can do. But I've also struggled more this year than I ever have in baseball," said Frazier, who was slowed by a hamstring injury and has struggled at the Triple-A level, hitting just .228 with three homers and seven RBI in 25 games with the RailRiders.

"It may be a good thing to struggle now, and work through this kind of thing before I get to the big leagues," said Frazier, who will head to the Fall Instructional League after Tuesday.

"I've told him just relax," RailRiders manager Al Pedrique said. "The tools are there."

Redbirds general manager Craig Unger said, "We're closing in on 9,000 tickets" sold for the title game.

"We're close to the point where we will have just single tickets available."