Arizona Fall League Announces Fall Stars Game Rosters With Notable Omissions

The Arizona Fall League released the rosters for its annual Fall Stars game on Monday, and the results are as notable as much for who got left off as they are for those who made it.

The Fall Stars rosters are selected with the help of MLB front office officials and are not selected on the basis of first-half Arizona Fall League performance. Only three players from any one organization can make the game (the Giants, Cubs and Braves placed three on the teams).

But even with those caveats, there are some notable omissions.

The most glaring absence by far is Braves lefthander Max Fried, who has starred for Peoria all fall and ranks No. 3 on this week’s AFL Hot Sheet. Fried, who made his major league debut this September, is 3-0, 0.47 and has allowed just nine hits in 19 innings. He’s struck out a league-best 23 and walked five. He’s been the star of a Peoria staff that includes fellow Braves righthander Touki Toussaint and Blue Jays righty T.J. Zeuch—who both made the Fall Stars rosters—and has shown the ability to sit mid-90s with two average or better offspeed pitches.

After Fried, the next biggest absence is Yankees outfielder Estevan Florial. Although he still has a chance to make the team through the fan vote—in which fans can choose one of three players in each division to make the game—he seemed a logical choice as one of the toolsier outfield prospects in the game. In his first full season as a pro, Florial shot through the Yankees’ lower levels and made a cameo in the Eastern League playoffs with Double-A Trenton.

He’s performing in the Fall League, too. The 19-year-old is hitting .316/.422/.447 with three doubles, a triple and three RBIs and is one of the best prospects on a very talented Scottsdale team.

Alex Jackson, whose five home runs pace the AFL, probably deserved a spot, too. Those five home runs would have been tied for the league lead for all of last season too, and there’s still a half to play before the offseason.

Of course, many of the league’s best prospects made the rosters as well. That starts with Braves wunderkind Ronald Acuna, the 19-year-old who shot from high Class A who ranked 10th in our midseason Top 100 Prospects rankings and will rank higher this offseason. After a big week, Acuna is proving he can handle the prospect-laden AFL too. He’s 17-for-45 so far this fall, hitting .378/.455/.657 with three home runs, nine RBIs and two stolen bases is showing big-time athleticism in center field as well.

Maybe you’d like a prospect with MLB playoff experience? The Fall Stars Game has you covered. Victor Robles, who joined the AFL last week, found a spot on the roster. One of the very best prospects in the game, Robles started his season with high Class A Potomac and ended it with Washington. He made enough of an impact in September to earn a spot on the Nats’ roster in their Division Series loss to the Cubs.

So how’d he introduce himself to the AFL? With a bang. After carding two hits in his first game, Robles reached Scottsdale starter Albert Abreu for a home run the next day. Other notable players to watch in the Fall Stars Game include:

 

Tanner Scott, Orioles — The lefthander can bring triple-digit heat and a wipeout slider made his big league debut this September
Justus Sheffield, Yankees — A big prize in the Andrew Miller(^) trade, Sheffield’s 21 punchouts are second in the AFL
Sandy Alcantara, Cardinals — The live-armed righty can touch 100-plus with his fastball and get swings and misses with his changeup
Luis Guillorme, Mets — The light-hitting infielder can provide highlight-reel defense up the middle
Kyle Tucker, Astros — The outfielder brings power and athleticism to a talented Mesa outfield that also includes Robles
Mitch Keller, Pirates — One of the minors’ best arms offers high-octane heat and a hammer curveball
Michael Chavis, Red Sox — Boston’s best position prospect can punish baseballs all over the park
Luis Urias, Padres — Sweet-swinging second baseman crushed his way to Double-A and put up a nearly .400 OBP as a 20-year-old
Francisco Mejia, Indians—We know he can hit, but can he play third base?

EAST ROSTER

PITCHERS
Yency Almonte  — RHP, Rockies (Salt River)
Adbert Alzolay — RHP, Cubs (Mesa)
Kirby Bellow — LHP, Diamondbacks (Salt River)
Brennan Berardino — LHP, Reds (Scottsdale)
Tyler Cyr — RHP, Giants (Scottsdale)
Samil De Los Santos — RHP, Angels (Scottsdale)
James Farris — RHP, Rockies (Salt River)
Gerson Moreno — RHP, Tigers (Mesa)
Tanner Scott — LHP, Orioles (Salt River)
Justus Sheffield — LHP, Yankees (Scottsdale)
Jake Stinnett — RHP, Cubs (Mesa)

CATCHERS
Aramis Garcia — Giants (Scottsdale)
Tomas Nido — Mets (Scottsdale)

INFIELDERS
Yordan Alvarez — 1B, Astros (Mesa)
David Bote — 2B, Cubs (Mesa)
Thairo Estrada — 2B/SS, Yankees (Scottsdale)
Jake Gatewood — 1B, Brewers (Salt River)
Luis Guillorme — 2B/SS, Mets (Scottsdale)
Ryan Mountcastle — 3B, Orioles (Salt River)
Sheldon Neuse — 3B, Athletics (Mesa)

OUTFIELDERS
Braxton Lee — Marlins (Salt River)
Corey Ray — Brewers (Salt River)
Victor Robles — Nationals (Mesa)
Chris Shaw — Giants (Scottsdale)
Kyle Tucker — Astros (Mesa)

FAN VOTE
Matt Thaiss — 1B, Angels (Scottsdale)
Estevan Florial — Yankees (Scottsdale)
Billy McKinney — OF, Yankees (Scottsdale)

 

WEST ROSTER

PITCHERS
Sandy Alcantara — RHP, Cardinals (Surprise)
Argenis Angulo — RHP, Indians (Glendale)
Adam Choplick — LHP, Rangers (Surprise)
Matthew Festa — RHP, Mariners (Peoria)
Jace Fry — LHP, White Sox (Glendale)
J.D. Hammer — RHP, Phillies (Glendale)
Jordan Hicks — RHP, Cardinals (Surprise)
Tyler Jay — LHP, Twins (Surprise)
Mitch Keller — RHP, Pirates (Glendale)
Touki Toussaint — RHP, Braves (Peoria)
T.J. Zeuch — RHP, Blue Jays (Peoria)

CATCHERS
Andrew Knizner — Cardinals, (Surprise)
Max Pentecost — Blue Jays (Peoria)

INFIELDERS
Michael Chavis — 3B, Red Sox (Peoria)
Kevin Kramer — SS, Pirates (Glendale)
Brandon Lowe — 2B, Rays (Surprise)
Francisco Mejia — 3B, Indians (Glendale)
Josh Naylor — 1B, Padres (Peoria)
Austin Riley — 3B, Braves (Peoria)
Luis Urias — 2B, Padres (Peoria)

OUTFIELDERS
Ronald Acuna — Braves (Peoria)
Matt Beaty — Dodgers (Glendale)
Braden Bishop — Mariners (Peoria)
Yusniel Diaz — Dodgers (Glendale)
Cornelius Randolph — Phillies (Glendale)

FAN VOTE
Bobby Bradley — 1B, Indians (Glendale)
Nicky Lopez — SS, Royals (Surprise)
Yanio Perez — Rangers (Surprise)