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Rafters surprise Saguaros for first Arizona Fall League crown since 2019

@Kelsie_Heneghan
November 17, 2024

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – As the Salt River Rafters posed with their Arizona Fall League champions banner, they held their pinky fingers and thumbs pointed out in the form of “the shaka” or hang-ten as they cheered. “Kala’i Rosario is from Hawaii, he's been one of our team leaders here,” Rafters

2024 Arizona Fall League award winners

@JoeTrezz
November 16, 2024

For six more weeks again this year, some of the best prospects in baseball shined in the Arizona Fall League, the game’s most elite prospect circuit. Now it’s time to give out some hardware. The Fall League annually awards the Joe Black MVP Award to its top performer, and since

8 prospects who stood out in the AFL Championship Game

@JesseABorek
November 17, 2024

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- And just like that, the curtain has fallen on the 2024 Fall League campaign. The Salt River Rafters thwarted the Surprise Saguaros’ attempt at a three-peat in unconventional fashion as the road club in their home park (by virtue of Surprise finishing with the regular season’s best

Tigers prospect Briceño takes home Fall League's Joe Black MVP Award

@JesseABorek
November 16, 2024

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – You don’t always know that you’re witnessing history when you see it. But anyone who watched Josue Briceño on a daily basis during the 2024 Arizona Fall League campaign knew that he was hitting at a prolific rate unlike anything seen in the circuit’s 32 years. On

Phils prospect Painter named Arizona Fall League Pitcher of the Year

November 16, 2024

When you’re as good as Andrew Painter can be on the mound, a rehab assignment can turn into an award-winning performance. After a two-year layoff following Tommy John surgery, the goal was for the No. 32 prospect in baseball to simply get his first competitive innings in the Arizona Fall

Angels prospect Kavadas named AFL Offensive Player of the Year

November 16, 2024

MESA, Ariz. – MLB’s July 30 Trade Deadline had passed five minutes earlier when Triple-A Worcester catcher Mark Kolozsvary approached first baseman Niko Kavadas with a fist bump. “Congrats,” Kolozsvary said. “We survived the Deadline.” Kavadas reciprocated, then was getting ready to take the field when he was told manager

AFL's Saguaros have the best record -- and the best celly

@Kelsie_Heneghan
November 16, 2024

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Watching Chase DeLauter hit a double can be a thing of beauty. And at the Arizona Fall League this season, the entertainment didn't stop when he got to second. MLB's No. 41 prospect, as well as his Surprise Saguaros teammates, would strike a saguaro cactus-like pose to

This Minors team takes concessions very seriously -- watch out for the grasshoppers

@BensBiz
November 15, 2024

This is an excerpt from The Baseball Traveler Newsletter, formerly known as Ben's Biz Newsletter, delivering Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter and background on the name change HERE.

'Big Apples' alternate identity makes Yankees' affiliate New York to the core

@BensBiz
November 15, 2024

The Hudson Valley Renegades, seeking to celebrate core aspects of their home state, planted a seed that has now borne fruit. At a gala event on Friday morning, the New York Yankees' High-A affiliate unveiled their "Big Apples" alternate identity. New York state is the second-largest producer of apples in

Tigers prospect Briceño becomes Fall League's first Triple Crown winner

November 14, 2024

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Fall League has been host to a who’s who of baseball royalty that cut their teeth in pro ball early in their careers -- future Rookies of the Year and Most Valuable Players Bryce Harper, Mike Trout and Ronald Acuña Jr., to name a few.

No. 2 seed Scottsdale meets No. 3 Salt River in Fall League semifinals

November 14, 2024

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Fall League playoffs started a day early on Thursday, with the matchup between the Scottsdale Scorpions and Glendale Desert Dogs at Camelback Ranch serving as a de facto play-in game to Friday’s semifinal contest. Riding back-to-back homers from Adrian Pinto (Blue Jays) and Jacob Reimer

A master of deception, Rockies prospect Justice makes Fall League history

@JesseABorek
November 14, 2024

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- When the Arizona Fall League season got underway on Oct. 7, it offered participants a chance to hit reset on their Minor League statistics. For Evan Justice, that was a welcome reprieve on a year where not much went right on the hill. But nearly everything went

40-man deadline: Which prospects are getting roster spots?

@JoeTrezz
November 14, 2024

For all 30 Major League teams, some of the biggest decisions of the offseason must be made by the Nov. 19 deadline for setting their 40-man rosters. Any player not added to their organization’s roster by then will become eligible to be selected by another organization in the Rule 5

Witt's wedding party is in the cards for Angels' Britt

@JesseABorek
November 14, 2024

MESA, Ariz. -- Three years into his Major League career, Bobby Witt Jr. has already had 2,035 regular-season plate appearances. That’s a lot of chances to make an impression. But when it comes to your wedding, you only get one chance to hit it out of the park.

From 16 to 26, here is the best prospect at each age

@benweinrib
November 13, 2024

With the World Series over and the Arizona Fall League wrapping up, now is a good time to take stock of an exciting year in prospectdom. In October, MLB Pipeline released its updated Top 100 Prospects list, which featured several big changes at the top, but we're going to take

Painter aces test with 6 K's in final Fall League outing

November 12, 2024

SURPRISE, Ariz. – Mission accomplished. Andrew Painter arrived in the Arizona Fall League six weeks ago, having not pitched in game action since he sprained his elbow during a Spring Training appearance on March 1, 2023. He tried to rehab the injury before having Tommy John surgery that July, and

Best of both worlds: Kurtz shows off power, gives outfield a go in Fall League

November 12, 2024

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Nick Kurtz's bat got him selected by the A’s fourth overall this year, and his bat has the first baseman ranked No. 45 overall by MLB Pipeline. Where will he land on the other side of the ball? Well, at the very least, he's broadened his horizons

Road to The Show™: Twins’ Jenkins

No. 2 overall prospect shows five-tool promise despite injuries
@Gerard_Gilberto
November 12, 2024

Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. Here's a look at top Twins prospect Walker Jenkins. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here. Walker Jenkins may be baseball’s top overall prospect early

Braves' Maier showcases elite spin rates in Fall League

@JesseABorek
November 12, 2024

PEORIA, Ariz. – When the Braves selected Adam Maier in the seventh round of the 2022 Draft out of the University of Oregon, they handed a hurler with just 34 2/3 collegiate innings under his belt a massive overslot amount of $1.2 million to forego his remaining eligibility and begin

Running circles around AFL, Yankees' Durbin sets all kinds of stolen-base records

November 12, 2024

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Caleb Durbin made a valiant run at the Arizona Fall League’s single-season stolen base record last year, only to come up three short with 21. He wouldn’t be denied in his return. The Yankees sent Durbin back to the AFL this year to get more at-bats after