2019 Arizona Fall League Roster Analysis: Surprise Saguaros

Top Prospects: Royals lefthander Daniel Lynch was part of the club’s gigantic haul of pitching in the 2018 draft. He missed two months of the season after exiting a June start with discomfort in his arm, so he’ll be making up time with the Saguaros. At his best, he works with a mid-90s fastball and a pair of sharp breaking balls. He had been solid before the injury and picked up right where left off after returning in mid-August.

Nationals shortstop prospect Luis Garcia opened the year as the youngest player in the Eastern League by more than a full year. He put together a solid month of June but has hovered around a .600 OPS all season long, which is still fairly impressive for a player who won’t turn 20 until next May.

The Intriguing: Orioles righthander Dean Kremer was part of the five-player package the Dodgers used to pry Manny Machado away from the Orioles last summer, and he has performed well in his first full season in the Baltimore organization. He works with a low-90s fastball as well as a big curveball he can drop in for strikes or bury for chases. He’s also continuing to develop a slider to add to his mix.

Relatively unheralded among a group of higher-profile prospects at high Class A Wilmington, Royals outfielder Brewer Hicklen is sixth among all Kansas City farmhands with 14 homers and ranks third in the system with 38 stolen bases. He’s been especially potent away from the pitcher’s paradise of Frawley Stadium, having posted a slash line of .297/.382/.479 in away games.

The Rehabbing: Rangers outfielder Bubba Thompson, one of the more interesting and toolsy players in the system, broke the hamate bone in his left wrist and cost him a month early in the season. He missed a second month shortly after returning from the injured list, and will make up the lost time in Arizona.

Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel missed three months recovering after taking a ball off of his face while playing defense for high Class A Wilmington, while Nationals righthander Sterling Sharp missed three months with an oblique injury. When healthy, Sharp is one of the minor leagues’ premier pitchers at inducing ground balls.

UPDATE — Sept. 6: Three righthanders join the roster—Aaron McGarity from the Yankees, and Noah Bremer and Nick Snyder from the Rangers.

Opening Day Update: The Rangers filled out their pitching staff by adding righties Josh Advocate and Cole Uvila, and also selected shortstop Jax Biggers to complete their AFL contingent. The Orioles are sending righthand Cody Carroll, and the Royals swapped first baseman Travis Jones in for Gabriel Cancel.