Arizona Fall League Rosters Announced

This is probably my favorite time of year when it comes to baseball. The 40 man rosters are about to be put in place (Sept. 1), where all the minor leaguers I’ve been following are invited to the bigs. Plus the push for the playoffs is in full swing. The part I like to most is that the Arizona Fall League is about to commence (Oct. 7). So they had to put the rosters together since the minor league season is almost over and practice for the Fall League is soon to start. I actually worked for the Tucson Javelinas in 1993. I was the official times keeper for all aspects of the game. MLB had instituted it’s time study to see what aspects of the game were dragging it out. My friend and I were time keepers for that study.

There is going to be some top notch talent in the league this year, with a few guys that at some point might contend for an MVP award. There is also quite a bit of star power in the coaching staff as well. Below is an assessment of each of the rosters:

American Division

Mesa Solar Sox (Atlanta, Chicago Cubs, Detroit, Florida, Philadelphia)

Ryne Sandberg – He had a tough go around with the Peoria Chiefs this year, and that’s why he is involved in the Fall League. To not only become a better coach but to mentor some of these young infielders.

Tyler Covin – He was a former first round pick in 2006, had a solid season in double A this season going 0.268/14/79. With a solid performance in the AFL he could see not only AAA next season but maybe even a chance to play at Wrigley.

Brandon Jones – Yes the guy that has a rookie card in 2008 Topps base set. He has been doing well at AAA this season he hit 0.260/8/52. He is actually going to finish this season on the Braves roster. He has a shot to make to Braves team out of spring training.

Logan Morrison – Mario deemed him Hulk Logan, and he is aptly named, this season for Jupiter he has hit 0.334/13/71 and has showed that he can be a star (at least in single A). A good AZL will put him in AA and he should be able to advance to AAA by the end of next season.

Lou Marson – Was on Team USA that went to Bejing. At AA Reading he hit 0.319/5/46, and should end up in AAA with a shot at the bigs by the end of next season.

Jason Donald – Had a fantastic season also at AA Reading where he hit 0.308/14/54. He is a SS so that means either learn a new position or be traded, with Rollins and Utley entrenched at SS and 2B, only 3B remains a possibility.

Clete Thomas – Had a sub par year with AAA Toledo this season where he hit 0.248/9/44/28. He needs to beef up that batting average to have a shot with Detroit next season. Hopefully working with Sandberg might help that.

Jeff Larish – Could be another Marcus Thames type player. He hit 0.245/21/64, if he can learn to hit more consistently he might have a shot of making Detroit’s roster out of spring training.

Peoria Saguaros (Chicago White Sox, New York Mets, St. Louis, San Diego, Washington)

Gordon Beckham – Chicago’s first round pick from this year’s draft is hitting very well in A Kannapolis. So far this season he is hitting 0.306/1/4 in just 36 at bats. Allowing him to play in the AZL means that he might open next season in AA.

Aaron Poreda – Chicago’s first round pick in the 2007 draft. So far this season he is 7-9/3.19/1.17 splitting time between A and AA ball. He has some good stuff and is clearly a better pitcher than his record indicates. A good AZL puts him in line for a trip to Spring Training next season, but will open the season in AAA.

Dan Murphy – One of the most intriguing talents of the Fall League this year. He started the season in AA Binghamton, but then was moved up to the Mets Mid Season where he is currently hitting 0.339 and is quickly becoming the darling of the card collector world.

Brett Wallace – Probably one of the best players taken in this year’s draft. Moved from A short season to AA in one summer. So far he is hitting 0.341/8/33 this summer, and with a good AFL showing we could be talking about him in the Cardinals starting lineup next season.

Kyle Blanks – Compares to Frank Thomas in both stature and statistics. So far this season in AA San Antonio he is hitting 0.318/18/101. He is another candidate who with a great AFL season, could end up in the Padres starting lineup next year.

Zech Zinicola – May become the only player with the initials ZZ ever to play in the majors. He moved rapidly through the minors this year going from high A to AAA. He had 9 saves and a 4.01 ERA his year.

Scottsdale Scorpions (Boston, Houston, Los Angeles Angels, Pittsburgh, San Francisco)

Brian Bogusevic – Former top prospect pitcher turned outfielder. He has done well in his first full season since making the switch, hitting 0.345/3/25/9 at two stops this season.

Mark Trumbo – This guy is a super sleeper, this season he has punished pitching at two levels for 0.285/32/90. With the pickup of Texeria by the Angels, he will either become a DH or find a new position, but with a good AFL look for him in Anaheim next season.

Nick Green – Nick is looking to validate his minor league career, by proving he deserves to be in the majors. This season he was 8-7/5.13/1.42. The guy throws a ton of strikeouts (117) and clearly deserves a shot.

Jimmy Barthmaier – Needs to refine his stuff but could easily be one of the better pitchers in the AFL this season. This year he moved through two stops and pitched 5-5/4.17/1.31. He has shown a lot of promise in AAA though.

National Divison

Peoria Javelinas (Cincinnati, Milwaukee, New York Yankees, Seattle, Tampa Bay)

Matt Maloney – has been lights out pitching for AAA Louisville going 11-4/4.35/1.24. A solid showing could put him in the Reds rotation next season.

Drew Stubbs – moved up through three levels this year. So far this year he has hit 0.282/7/55/33. A good AFL season for him puts him right into the mix in the Reds outfield in Spring Training.

Carlos Fisher – A reliever for AAA Louisville, so far this season he is 4-0/1.15 and a good outing in the AFL means a spot int he Reds bullpen come this spring.

Jeremy Jeffress – former 2006 first round draft pick by the Brewers, he is a fireballer who has gone 6-6/3.76 with 115 strikouts in 93 innings pitched. Look for him in AAA to start off next season.

Angel Salome – For AA Huntsville this season he is hitting 0.356/11/80 in 94 games. The Brewers have a lot of talent at the catcher spot in the minors, he might have to make a move to make the majors.

Mat Gamel – the reason why it was OK to trade away LaPorta. Gamel has been on a tear this season, for AA Huntsville and AAA Nashville he is hitting 0.326/19/96. He does well in the AFL, he’ll be looking to take over Bill Hall’s job.

Austin Jackson – Probably the Yankee’s top hitting prospect. This season for AA Trenton, he has been hitting 0.287/9/68/19. Don’t look for him in pinstripes until the end of next season, even with a good AFL showing.

Gregory Halman – started in high A then moved on to AA West Tennessee where he hit a combined 0.277/29/82/31. He is a true five tool guy who could be with the Mariners as early as next season.

JT Hall – In his stint with AA Montgomery, he is hitting 0.239/10/45. Needs a good AFL in order to move up the minors chain.

Phoenix Desert Dogs (Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Oakland, Toronto)

Brooks Brown – Tough to say how good he is, being hit ran up a 6-14/4.23 record for AA Mobile this season. He did have 105 strikeouts in 140 innings. This AFL is critical for him to show what he really has in him.

Eric Young Jr. – Played for AA Tulsa this season where he hit 0.285/3/40/36 for AA Tulsa this season. Look for him in AAA next year regardless of what he puts up the the AFL.

Casey Weathers – he was the Rockies first round pick in 2007 and for AA Tulsa he had a 2-1/3.07 with 2 saves and 49 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched.  He could very well end up on the Rockies bullpen staff next season.

Robert Delaney – pitched at two levels this season and has a combined 1.27 ERA, 17 saves and 72 strikeouts in 64 innings.  Look for him in AAA at the start of next season.

Anthony Slama – pitched only in high A, but posted a 1.06 ERA with 25 saves and 108 strikeouts in 68 innings.  I would look for him in AA next year.  Both he and Delaney are with the Twins organization.

Sean Doolittle – Everyone loves what he can do as the heir apparent to Daric Barton at first base.  Between A and AA ball he hit 0.288/22/88.  A nice AFL from him would give him an outside shot at becoming the A’s first baseman next year, but more likely some time at AAA.

Adrian Cardenas – Through two levels of minor league ball (A and AA) is hitting 0.296/5/40/17.  He definitely needs some more seasoning, so expect a full season at AAA next year.

Josh Donaldson – is hitting 0.265/14/58/7 at two stops in the minors.  But is hitting 0.348 since coming over in the Joe Blanton trade.  He is still very raw and needs at least one more year of minor league ball.

Travis Snider – Put up some scary numbers in moving from single A to AAA, he went 0.275/23/91/3 combined.  He could be in the majors after next spring.  He is that good and as an outfielder there is more room in the bigs for him.

JP Arencibia – Probably one of the best catching prospects in baseball right now.  So far this season in time split between A and AA he has hit a combined 0.298/27/102.  Those are just plain scary numbers for a catcher.  Expect him to put some time in at AAA next year but a mid season call up is not unexpected.

Scott Campbell – He spent the entire season in AA and has gone 0.313/9/46/2.  He’s a second baseman so there is some flexibility at the major league level.  He should start out in AAA next season though.

Surprise Rafters (Baltimore, Cleveland, Kansas City, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas)

Matt Wieters – Probably one of the top 5 prospects in the minors right now. He was the Orioles 2007 first round pick and in time split between A and AA ball he is hitting 0.350/26/88.  He could make a push to be the opening day catcher next year.  He needs a terrific AFL to be there though.

Beau Mills – Cleaveland’s top pick in 2007, played for high A Kinston this season and is hitting 0.293/21/90.  He is still very raw and should start next season out in AA.

Wes Hodges – Cleveland’s second round pick in 2006 is hitting 0.285/16/91 for AA Kinston. He is also farily raw so look for him in AAA next season.

Tony Sipp – Has had some serious arm injuries over the past tow seasons but so far this year he has gone 0-3/2.93/1.07.  Let’s see how he does against the talent in the AFL and then decide where he should go next.

Scott Elbert – Another arm surgury guy who is on the comeback trail.  This season he is a combined 4-1/2.40/1.02 in 24 games at AA Jacksonville.  Look for him in AAA next season as the slowly bring him back to his old form.

Ivan De Jesus Jr. – Is the son of former big leaguer Ivan Sr.  So far this season at AA Jacksonville, he is hitting 0.319/5/55/14, and with a good AFL he should enter the season at AAA with a shot at the major league roster at the end of the year.

Julio Borbon – One of the fastest guys in the minros.  Through A and AA ball he has a combined 0.313/7/54/51 batting record.  The Rangers have definitely fast tracked him to the majors and could open the season as the Ranger’s lead off hitter.

It’s taken me almost two days to get this banged out but I think you now have a great idea of who to watch for this season in the AFL.  Practice starts for these guys just after the minro league championships are over.  So look about the end of the second week in September if you are wondering when to send in your TTM requests.