Ranking The Arizona Fall League Rosters
Here’s a quick look at how these preliminary rosters rank purely in terms of prospect talent.
1. Surprise Saguaros
Yoan Moncada is the best prospect in baseball. Michael Kopech is one of the best pitching prospects who will be throwing in the desert. Josh Staumont isn’t as good of a prospect but he throws nearly as hard as Kopech. Nick Gordon is one of the better middle infield prospects around and Austin Meadows is nearly big league-ready if he can find a spot in the Pirates outfield.
2. Glendale Desert Dogs
With Alex Verdugo and Harrison Bader in the outfield, Cody Bellinger and Willie Calhoun in the infield, Zack Collins and Carson Kelly behind the plate and a pitching staff that includes Francis Martes, David Paulino and Rowan Wick, there’s something for everyone on the Desert Dogs roster.
3. Mesa Solar Sox
The Cubs have graduated a lot of talent in recent years and has traded off some more, but sending outfielder Eloy Jimenez, second baseman Ian Happ and righthander Duane Underwood to the AFL is a good reminder that the farm system still has talent to spare. Outfielder Anthony Alford and shortstops Yu-Cheng Chang and Franklin Barreto add to the star power.
4. Salt River Rafters
Ozzie Albies should pile up hits and stolen bases while Isan Diaz hits for power in the middle infield for Salt River. And the Rafters’ outfield is stacked with Christin Stewart, Brett Phillips, Dustin Peterson and JaCoby Jones, but the pitching staff is thinner than most.
5. Scottsdale Scorpions
The Yankees did their part for the Scottsdale roster by sending Gleyber Torres and Greg Bird, but the rest of this roster is filled with more complementary players than future regulars.
6. Peoria Javelinas
Righthander Brent Honeywell is one of the best starting pitchers to make the trip to Arizona and outfielders Tyler O’Neill and Michael Gettys give the Javelinas an intriguing outfield, but overall there are less star prospects on Peoria’s club than most of the rest.
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