October is when baseball fans get excited about Major League Baseball’s playoff play and the start of a brand-new Arizona Fall League season. The 32nd season of AFL competition will begin on Monday at 9:30 p.m. ET, with the Surprise Saguaros and Mesa Solar Sox taking the pitch for six weeks of action packed with prospects. Surprise’s right-hander Leandro Lopez (Rangers) will start against Mesa’s right-hander Jake Walkinshaw (A’s).
There will be players in the desert from all 30 organisations, including several well-known prospects. Ten of baseball’s Top 100 prospects have appeared in each of the previous two seasons; however, for 2024, that number has increased to 14. On September 25, the league formally revealed its rosters, which are subject to change and feature a few well-known players from each club. The AFL has always claimed to have a fair share of elite players, of course. Out of the over 3,000 Major League players that have graced the AFL, Hall of Famers Mike Piazza, Todd Helton, and Derek Jeter are just a handful. Notable Fall League alumni include Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, and Mookie Betts, current stars in Major League Baseball.
Among the most gifted prospects in the game will be present are Jac Caglianone (No. 17), a first-round pick by the Royals in 2024 who debuted for High-A Quad Cities in the summer. Among the 14 Top 100 prospects competing are Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson (No. 27), Padres teenage phenom Ethan Salas (No. 19), and Giants slugger Bryce Eldridge (No. 35). Additional information on the Arizona Fall League: These connections are: The Cardinals, Dodgers, Phillies, Reds, and White Sox are the Glendale Desert Dogs. Mesa Red Sox, Cubs, Angels, Athletics, Rays, and Solar Sox Peoria Braves, Brewers, Mariners, Marlins, Padres are the Javelinas. Diamondbacks, Nationals, Rockies, Twins, and Yankees are the Salt River Rafters. Scottsdale Scorpions: Tigers, Giants, Blue Jays, Mets, and Pirates Astros, Guardians, Orioles, Rangers, and Royals surprise Saguaros
Top 100 Arizona Fall League prospects 17. The Royals’ Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP (Surprise) 19. Padres, C. Ethan Salas (Peoria) 27. Mariners’ Colt Emerson, SS (Peoria) 28. SS, Padres Leodalis De Vries (Peoria) 35. Bryce Eldridge, first baseman, Scottsdale Giants 36. Rays 1B Xavier Isaac (Mesa) 37. Colson Montgomery of the Glendale White Sox, SS 38. Mariners (Peoria) SS/2B Cole Young 41. OF Guardians, Chase DeLauter (Surprise) 44. Cubs (Mesa) / Moises Ballesteros, C/1B 52. Jett Williams, OF/SS, Scottsdale, Mets Edwin Arroyo, SS, Glendale Reds (#65) 74. Drew Gilbert, OF (Scottsdale) for the Mets 75. Termarr Johnson, Scottsdale Pirates, 2B/SS
Significant dates: Opening Night: October 7, 9:30 p.m. ET October 19: A tripleheader at Goodyear Ballpark, beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark will host Mesa vs. Peoria on October 25 at 9:30 p.m. ET American Family Fields of Phoenix will host a doubleheader on October 26 beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET Home Run Derby on 8 November at Sloan Park, 8:30 p.m. ET Fall Stars Game, Nov. 9, 8 p.m. ET, Sloan Park Nov. 16: Salt River Fields, Championship Game, 8 p.m. ET