There’s a ton that goes into developing an Arizona Fall League roster.
Every AFL membership receives prospects from 5 separate organizations, all with completely different wants and priorities. Some need their greatest prospects to spend time within the desert. Others primarily need previously injured gamers to make up for misplaced at-bats and innings. And a few are out to get longer seems to be at gamers headed for Rule 5 eligibility within the offseason. With these and plenty of different issues, you continue to need to fill out a roster balanced between the 9 positions on the sphere and ample depth behind them.
In any case that motion, there are at all times loads of causes to get excited all over the place throughout the Valley of the Solar, besides, some AFL rosters come trying brighter than others. Beneath is a rating of essentially the most loaded Fall League rosters because the circuit will get rolling this week:
Organizations: Braves, Brewers, Mariners, Marlins, PadresTop 100 prospects: Ethan Salas, C, Padres (No. 19); Colt Emerson, SS, Mariners (No. 27); Leodalis De Vries, SS, Padres (No. 28); Cole Younger, SS/2B, Mariners (No. 38)Whole Prime 30 prospects: 20
You need essentially the most loaded group when it comes to Prime 30 prospects? Test. You need the joint-most Prime 100 prospects on a single roster? Test. You need these Prime 100 prospects enjoying premium positions? Test, test, test. The Mariners and Padres — Peoria’s two typical expertise swimming pools — deliver the large names above, and it’ll be fascinating to see how the Javelinas particularly steadiness the shortstop place. Salas, in the meantime, is seeking to bounce again from an uneven age-18 marketing campaign at Excessive-A, although he was exhibiting indicators of a turnaround from August onward. Drake Baldwin (Braves) and Brock Wilken (Brewers) deliver loads of energy to the desk as nicely, and this is among the deepest pitching staffs within the Fall League, with seven arms ranked of their membership’s Prime 30s. The truth is, none of Peoria’s 5 dad or mum golf equipment despatched fewer than three of their Prime 30 prospects, highlighting simply how deep the Javs might be within the coming weeks.
Organizations: Cardinals, Dodgers, Phillies, Reds, White SoxTop 100 prospects: Andrew Painter, RHP, Phillies (No. 32); Colson Montgomery, SS, White Sox (No. 37); Edwin Arroyo, SS, Reds (No. 65)Whole Prime 30 prospects: 15
Glendale already boasted a strong roster earlier than it jumped one other degree Monday with the information that Phillies No. 2 prospect Painter was becoming a member of the membership. The 21-year-old right-hander immediately turns into one of the best pitching prospect on this yr’s AFL, even when he hasn’t thrown in a sport setting for 2 years resulting from elbow points and Tommy John surgical procedure. His fastball has been as much as 99 mph within the late summer time, as Philly followers want another excuse for pleasure. Montgomery is a uncommon Fall League repeater, and even after some Triple-A struggles at 22 years outdated, he nonetheless has loads of thunder in his bat to do injury within the desert. Arroyo missed your entire season after struggling a torn labrum in his left shoulder within the spring, so anticipate him to push to make up for misplaced time. Dodgers No. 11 prospect Zyhir Hope might be a menace for opposing AFL golf equipment at simply 19 years outdated together with his above-average energy and plus-plus pace as a Desert Canines outfielder.
Organizations: Blue Jays, Giants, Mets, Pirates, TigersTop 100 prospects: Bryce Eldridge, 1B, Giants (No. 35); Jett Williams, SS/OF, Mets (No. 52); Drew Gilbert, OF, Mets (No. 74); Termarr Johnson, 2B/SS, Pirates (No. 75)Whole Prime 30 prospects: 12
Eldridge might be probably the most carefully adopted Fall Leaguers after the 2023 sixteenth general choose hit 23 homers whereas climbing 4 ranges in his first full season. Mets representatives Williams and Gilbert ought to be hungry for at-bats after lacking a lot of the 2024 season with wrist and hamstring points respectively, and 2022 fourth general choose Johnson will try to finish his second full season on a vivid be aware. The Tigers duo of Prime 10 prospects Thayron Liranzo and Josue Briceño provides heft to the Scorpions lineup, and there are some intriguing arms like Blue Jays southpaw Kendry Rojas and Pirates righty Khristian Curtis.
Organizations: Angels, Athletics, Cubs, Rays, Pink SoxTop 100 prospects: Xavier Isaac, 1B, Rays (No. 36); Moises Ballesteros, C/1B, Cubs (No. 44)Whole Prime 30 prospects: 11
Tampa Bay claims two of MLB Piopeline’s Prime 10 1B prospects in Isaac and Tre’ Morgan, and each are headed to the desert. They’ve completely different offensive profiles (Isaac has a few of the greatest uncooked energy within the AFL; Morgan is extra contact-heavy), however they’re very a lot in competitors to be the way forward for the chilly nook in St. Petersburg. Anticipate each to see some outfield time to increase the flexibility the Rays love a lot. Ballesteros offers the Photo voltaic Sox one other potential plus hitter from the left aspect, and the A’s Prime 30 group (Henry Bolte, Denzel Clarke, Daniel Susac) extends the lineup. And that’s earlier than 2024 fourth general choose Nick Kurtz arrives, as he’s anticipated to do later within the AFL season. Pitching might be mild right here, Mesa doesn’t have a pitching prospect ranked amongst his group’s Prime 30 coming into the primary week.
Organizations: Astros, Guardians, Orioles, Rangers, RoyalsTop 100 prospects: Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Royals (No. 17); Chase DeLauter, OF, Guardians (No. 41)Whole Prime 30 prospects: 10
Getting Caglianone (who is predicted to be solely a place participant within the AFL) on the roster so quickly after he went sixth general to Kansas Metropolis within the Draft ought to maintain sending followers and scouts to Shock, and DeLauter’s return to the Fall League (he hit .299/.385/.529 with 5 homers and 5 steals in 23 video games in ‘23) is greater than welcome as nicely. The Rangers are sending essentially the most Prime 30 prospects with three, led by No. 16 Alejandro Osuna coming off his breakout age-21 season wherein he went 18/17 between Excessive-A and Double-A, and sticking with Shock Spring Coaching residents, Royals No. 5 prospect Carter Jensen put up the identical power-speed numbers on the similar degree however as a catcher as a substitute.
Organizations: Diamondbacks, Nationals, Rockies, Twins, YankeesTop 100 prospects: NoneTotal Prime 30 prospects: 12
The D-backs’ contingent is among the deepest within the Fall League, together with 2023 first-rounder Tommy Troy, 2023 second-rounder Gino Groover, promising left-hander Yu-Min Lin and former Prime 100 prospect Kristian Robinson. That group offers the Rafters some heft, however not one of the different 4 organizations are sending greater than a pair of their Prime 30 prospects. The Twins and Yankees aren’t sending anybody ranked larger than twentieth of their respective farm techniques, although New York’s No. 30 prospect, Rafael Flores, is coming off a career-high 21-homer season between Excessive-A and Double-A.
