The 30th installment of Arizona Fall League wraps up this weekend.
After a month of games with their peers, MLB’s top prospects now direct their focus towards the offseason and the start of the 2024 campaign.
Prospects from every MLB franchise are featured during Fall League.
Each Fall League squad includes prospects from five different MLB teams.
Games were played Monday through Saturday during the month of October at various Spring Training venues around the Phoenix metro area.
The Teams
Mesa Solar Sox (Astros, Cubs, Orioles, Athletics, Yankees)
Glendale Desert Dogs (Dodgers, Mets, Red Sox, Twins, White Sox)
Peoria Javelinas (Guardians, Mariners, Marlins, Padres, Rays)
Salt River Rafters (Braves, Diamondbacks, Pirates, Rockies, Tigers)
Scottsdale Scorpions (Angels, Cardinals, Giants, Phillies, Nationals)
Surprise Saguaros (Blue Jays, Brewers, Rangers, Reds, Royals)
The month of games is an opportunity for prospects to work on their craft, play competitive baseball and gain confidence heading into the next season.
According to MLB.com, almost 60% of fall league participants get called up to their respective big-league affiliates.
Fall League is run like a full 162 game MLB regular season.
Last weekend was the All-Star weekend for the prospects, which included a Home Run Derby followed by the Fall Stars Game the next day.
Minnesota Twins, No. 19 prospect Kala’I Rosario wound up edging out No. 18 Blue Jays prospect Damiano Pamelgiani to win the derby.
The following day the American League won the Fall Star game 6-3, behind a monster game from the top fall league prospect, White Sox No. 1 prospect, Colson Montgomery, who blasted a 409-foot home run on the way to earning the Fall Stars Game MVP award.
Fall League also gives fans an opportunity to enjoy a little more baseball before the five-month offseason sets in.
Eric Lodge, a longtime San Francisco Giants fan, attended one of the last games of the season on Thursday night and told Northeast Valley News why enjoys the Fall League experience.
“We come for the love of the game and hanging out with the family,” Lodge said.
Chris, a former groundskeeper for the Cubs at Wrigley Field, said that he came to watch the Solar Sox and the Scorpions face off for more than one reason.
“I’m here for the love of the game, and since the weather is nice, I’m here to enjoy both.”
The AFL final will pit the Peoria Javelinas against the Surprise Saguaros. The game is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. MST at Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn Rd., Scottsdale, Ariz.
