Arizona Fall League Announces Schedule, Personnel Changes For 2019

Image credit: Dalton Varsho of the Salt River Rafters scores the second run of the game in the 2018 Arizona Fall League championship game. (Photo by Bill Mitchell)

The Arizona Fall League is moving to a new time with new potential players.

Major League Baseball announced Tuesday the AFL will now begin in mid-September and end during the final week of October. In previous years, the league began play in early October and ended in mid-November.

In it’s statement, MLB stated the reason for the schedule changes was, “the amended timeline allows Minor League players to avoid downtime at the end of their seasons and instead transition directly into the Arizona Fall League schedule. In particular, pitchers will have the opportunity for more continuous rest in preparation for the following year’s playing schedule. The new AFL schedule more closely aligns with timing of Clubs’ traditional Instructional Leagues.”

The 2019 AFL will begin Sept. 17 and conclude with a championship game on Oct. 27.

Clubs will also now be able to nominate any player in their organization to play in the AFL. In the past, only one player below Double-A was allowed per major league organization. Players with more than one year of major league service time were also previously not allowed.