Name it a last-chance saloon in the course of the desert.
The Arizona Fall League supplies extra than simply a chance to see among the sport’s high prospects in a single spot. It’s additionally the ultimate place sure Minor Leaguers can show they’re deserving of a 40-man roster spot forward of the Rule 5 Draft safety deadline.
Rapidly for the uninitiated: Rule 5-eligible gamers are those that a.) signed once they had been 19 or older and have been in affiliated ball for 4 or extra seasons or b.) signed once they had been 18 or youthful and have been in affiliated ball for 5 or extra seasons. To be able to shield such gamers from being taken within the Rule 5 Draft — a course of designed to enhance gamers’ MLB possibilities outdoors their present techniques — organizations can place them on their 40-man rosters by a sure date.
This yr, the Rule 5 safety deadline is 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The Rule 5 Draft is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 11, on the Winter Conferences in Dallas.
With these dates looming, some prospects have taken benefit of the additional enjoying time to assist their possibilities. Right here’s a breakdown of which Fall Leaguers might need performed their manner straight onto their respective 40-man rosters:
Colson Montgomery, SS, White Sox (No. 3/MLB No. 37)For starters, no staff would let a Prime 100 general prospect get near the Rule 5 Draft, and that’s very true of a rebuilding group like Chicago. That will get to a different stage this yr when the Rule 5 pool may not be so deep. Excessive-school picks from the 2020 Draft are eligible this yr, however there gained’t be so many due to the shortened five-round course of that yr. Montgomery, in the meantime, is a uncommon prep choose from the 2021 Draft who’s Rule 5-eligible this winter as a result of he was 19 when he signed. The White Sox despatched the 22-year-old shortstop to the Fall League in hopes of ending on a stronger notice after he hit simply .214 with a .710 OPS in 130 video games for Triple-A Charlotte throughout the common season.
Mission completed there: Montgomery posted a .511 on-base proportion and 6/10 Ok/BB ratio over 11 video games in his second profession AFL journey earlier than it ended on Oct. 25. His three homers matched his 2023 Fall League whole (after he handled indirect and again accidents) in 9 fewer contests. The 6-foot-3 infielder bought a whole lot of time at third base with Glendale however mentioned he expects shortstop to be his full-time place in 2025 and past. The Sox had been going to guard him anyway, however the transfer will look higher now that he has wind in his sails once more.
Denzel Clarke, OF, Athletics (No. 10)Nobody who’s seen Clarke in Arizona would dare doubt his ferocity. The 24-year-old outfielder leads the Fall League with three triples, has gone 7-for-8 in steal makes an attempt and has been a mainstay in middle discipline for Mesa. He’s no less than a plus runner and even higher underway when the engine actually will get going.
The large query in his profile stays his potential to make constant contact; Clarke struck out no less than 29 p.c of the time at Double-A Midland in 2023 and ‘24. He’s operating a 24.4 p.c Ok price in opposition to lesser fall pitching however has additionally proven extra of a willingness to take a stroll with a 16.7 p.c BB price and an excellent .500 OBP by way of 16 video games. Solely Main Leaguer Thomas Saggese (.524) has the next on-base proportion this fall. Clarke’s energy, velocity and protection would get him lengthy Rule 5 appears to be like, and any strategy enhancements solidify his standing as a soon-to-be 40-man member for the A’s.
Robert Hassell III, OF, Nationals (No. 13)Hassell’s first Fall League flip lasted solely two video games in 2022 resulting from a damaged hamate. He slugged simply .348 and picked up two extra-base hits in 20 video games in ‘23. His third has been an enormous enchancment at a much-needed time. The 23-year-old has slashed .286/.360/.545 with 4 homers and 11 whole extra-base hits by way of 19 video games. What’s extra, he’s had 37 batted-ball occasions recorded by Statcast; 21 (56.8 p.c) have posted exit velocities increased than the hard-hit customary of 95 mph.
Getting his energy to play in video games has been an actual drawback for Hassell because the first hamate harm, and the Nats even despatched him again to the complicated for a time this summer time to let his hand/wrist points absolutely heal. He nonetheless may undertaking finest as a doubles-hitting fourth outfielder who can play all three positions, however Washington gained’t wish to let that slip away, particularly given all of the work the participant and group have put in to get him again to this standing.
Josh Stephan, RHP, Rangers (No. 25)Stephan was certainly one of solely 17 high-schoolers signed after going undrafted in 2020, and that call to go professional as a substitute of heading to Stephen F. Austin State sped up his 40-man clock, maybe in his favor. The 23-year-old righty rebounded from a UCL sprain this summer time to develop into one of many circuit’s finest pitchers, rating second in each ERA (2.25) and strikeouts (21) whereas topping the loop in innings (20). He works with a pair of 92-94 mph fastballs, flashes a plus 82-85 mph slider and folds in an 85-89 mph changeup and a brand new 89-92 mph cutter, all whereas displaying plus management when wholesome.
The Fall League is often so hitter-friendly that any pitcher who can maintain his ERA in test have to be doing one thing proper, and on this case, Stephan’s deepened arsenal and robust command may very well be sufficient to erase the earlier harm issues within the eyes of Texas.
Caleb Durbin, UTIL, YankeesThe 2021 14th-rounder out of Washington College in St. Louis stole 21 bases within the Fall League final yr, good for the circuit’s second-highest single-season whole in historical past. This yr? He’s already as much as 23. Nobody else within the league has greater than 11. The document is 24. Durbin actually has the velocity to push the envelope, and with a 40-man spot on the road, he’s keen to point out off these wheels if it helps his case with the Yankees or one other Rule 5 membership. These within the Bronx are actually paying consideration. Basic supervisor Brian Cashman has talked about Durbin as a second-base candidate with Gleyber Torres hitting free company. The 24-year-old didn’t submit stellar exit-velocity knowledge at Triple-A this yr, prioritizing contact over pop, and he may match finest as a slap-and-dash hitter who strikes across the diamond off the bench. (He’s performed 5 totally different positions with Salt River this fall.) However even that has worth as Cashman might need proved when he tipped his hand on one Nov. 19 resolution.
Sammy Siani, OF, PiratesAs MLB Pipeline’s Jonathan Mayo famous, Siani flattened out his bat path in 2024 to present himself extra time within the zone, and the outcome was his Ok price dropping 31.7 p.c in 2023 (after which he went unprotected and unpicked within the Rule 5 Draft) to 18.9 p.c this season between Excessive-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona.
The 2019 thirty seventh general choose has continued his work within the field this fall with optimistic outcomes. He leads the league with a .406 common whereas rating third in hits (26), fourth in OBP (.472), fifth in slugging (.594) and sixth in OPS (1.066). He’s additionally performed all three outfield spots, getting extra time in proper the place he has two assists, and his above-average velocity ought to be useful anyplace on the grass. The Pirates have just one Prime 30 prospect in want of Rule 5 safety this yr (No. 26 Omar Alfonzo), leaving house for a possible future fourth outfielder like Siani to get 40-man safety whereas his trajectory factors upward.
