Arizona Fall League

The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball (MLB)[1] which operates during the autumn in Arizona, United States, at six different baseball complexes.[1] Arizona Fall League rosters are filled by many of the top prospects in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) who are assigned by their parent clubs.

Arizona Fall League
SportBaseball
Founded1992
No. of teams6
CountryUSA
Most recent
champion(s)
Salt River Rafters (2019)
Most titlesPeoria Javelinas (7)
Official websiteOfficial website

Structure

Each August, MLB clubs hold a position draft to determine the players who will go to Arizona.[1] Most are Double-A and Triple-A Minor League players.[1] Each club can opt to send two players below Double-A. Foreign players are allowed, as long as the player is not on his native country's primary protected player list. The league is designed for these prospects to refine their skills and perform in game settings in front of major and minor league baseball scouts and team executives, who are in attendance at almost every game. Play begins shortly after the end of MiLB's regular season in mid-September and runs to the end of October.[2] Additionally on September 5, 2019, both MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) approved a rule change that allowed players on the 40-man roster to report to the AFL in October.[3]

The Arizona Fall League teams are each affiliated with five separate Major League teams; each affiliated Major League team provides seven players who team up to fill the 35-man roster of each team.[1] Additionally, teams may elect to send Taxi Squad players who are only eligible on Wednesdays and Saturdays. MLB teams also provide managers, coaches, and trainers.[1]

Notable players

A number of famous ballplayers have had stints in the Arizona Fall League. In 1994, the league got worldwide attention as Michael Jordan's second professional baseball league, when he played for the Scottsdale Scorpions. Likewise, Tim Tebow played for the Scorpions during his transition to professional baseball.[4] Other notable ballplayers who have played in the Arizona Fall League include Derek Jeter, Dustin Pedroia, Mike Piazza, Albert Pujols, Jimmy Rollins, Bryce Harper, David Wright, Aaron Judge, Nomar Garciaparra, Mike Trout and Mookie Betts.

Current teams

Division Team Major League Affiliates City Stadium Capacity
East Mesa Solar Sox Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics Mesa, Arizona Sloan Park 15,000
Salt River Rafters Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Miami Marlins, Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays Scottsdale, Arizona Salt River Fields at Talking Stick 11,000
Scottsdale Scorpions Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays Scottsdale, Arizona Salt River Fields at Talking Stick 11,000
West Glendale Desert Dogs Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals Glendale, Arizona Camelback Ranch 10,300
Peoria Javelinas Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners Peoria, Arizona Peoria Sports Complex 10,714
Surprise Saguaros Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals Surprise, Arizona Peoria Sports Complex 10,714
Current team locations:
(Maricopa County, Arizona shown)
  East Division
  West Division

Championship history

Year Champion Runner-Up
1992 Sun Cities Solar Sox Phoenix Desert Dogs
1993 Tempe Rafters Tucson Javelinas
1994 Peoria Javelinas Mesa Saguaros
1995 Mesa Saguaros Sun Cities Solar Sox
1996 Scottsdale Scorpions Mesa Saguaros
1997 Peoria Javelinas Grand Canyon Rafters
1998 Sun Cities Solar Sox Grand Canyon Rafters
1999 Mesa Solar Sox Maryvale Saguaros
2000 Grand Canyon Rafters Phoenix Desert Dogs
2001 Phoenix Desert Dogs Grand Canyon Rafters
2002 Peoria Javelinas Scottsdale Scorpions
2003 Mesa Solar Sox Mesa Desert Dogs
2004 Phoenix Desert Dogs Scottsdale Scorpions
2005 Phoenix Desert Dogs Surprise Scorpions
2006 Phoenix Desert Dogs Grand Canyon Rafters
2007 Phoenix Desert Dogs Surprise Rafters
2008 Phoenix Desert Dogs Mesa Solar Sox
2009 Peoria Javelinas Phoenix Desert Dogs
2010 Scottsdale Scorpions Peoria Javelinas
2011 Salt River Rafters Surprise Saguaros
2012 Peoria Javelinas Salt River Rafters
2013 Surprise Saguaros Mesa Solar Sox
2014 Salt River Rafters Peoria Javelinas
2015 Scottsdale Scorpions Surprise Saguaros
2016 Mesa Solar Sox Surprise Saguaros
2017 Peoria Javelinas Mesa Solar Sox
2018 Peoria Javelinas Salt River Rafters
2019 Salt River Rafters Surprise Saguaros
2020 None (season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic)[5]

Most Valuable Player award

First presented in 2002 and named for Joe Black of the Brooklyn Dodgers, the award honors the 1952 National League Rookie of the Year.[6]

Joe Black MVP Award winners
Year Player Organization Position Team Ref
2002 Ken Harvey Kansas City Royals1BScottsdale Scorpions[7]
2003 Jason Dubois Chicago CubsOFMesa Solar Sox[7]
2004 Chris Shelton Detroit TigersDHGrand Canyon Rafters[7]
2005 Eric Duncan New York Yankees3BGrand Canyon Rafters[7]
2006 Chip Cannon Toronto Blue Jays1BPhoenix Desert Dogs[7]
2007 Sam Fuld Chicago CubsOFMesa Solar Sox[7]
2008 Tommy Hanson Atlanta BravesPMesa Solar Sox[7]
2009 Grant Desme Oakland AthleticsOFPhoenix Desert Dogs[7]
2010 Dustin Ackley Seattle Mariners2BPeoria Javelinas[8]
2011 Nolan Arenado Colorado Rockies3BSalt River Rafters[7]
2012 Chris McGuiness Texas Rangers1BSurprise Saguaros[7]
2013 Kris Bryant Chicago Cubs3BMesa Solar Sox[7]
2014 Greg Bird New York Yankees1BScottsdale Scorpions[9]
2015 Adam Engel Chicago White SoxOFGlendale Desert Dogs[7]
2016 Gleyber Torres New York YankeesSSScottsdale Scorpions[10]
2017 Ronald Acuña Atlanta BravesOFPeoria Javelinas[11]
2018 Keston Hiura Milwaukee Brewers2BPeoria Javelinas[7]
2019 Royce Lewis Minnesota TwinsSSSalt River Rafters[12]
2020 None (season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) [5]

Stenson Award

Mark Teahen won the first Stenson Award in 2004.

The Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award was created in 2004, in memory of Dernell Stenson,[13] an outfielder for the Scottsdale Scorpions (Cincinnati Reds), who was killed in a carjacking on November 5, 2003. The award is voted on by the managers and coaches of the six Arizona Fall League teams.[14]

Stenson Award Winners
Year Player Organization Position Team Ref
2004 Mark Teahen Kansas City Royals3BPhoenix Desert Dogs[14]
2005 Andre Ethier Oakland AthleticsOFPhoenix Desert Dogs[14]
2006 Kevin Frandsen San Francisco GiantsIFScottsdale Scorpions[14]
2007 Sam Fuld Chicago CubsOFMesa Solar Sox[14]
2008 Jason Donald Philadelphia PhilliesIFMesa Solar Sox[14]
2009 Russ Mitchell Los Angeles Dodgers1BPeoria Javelinas[14]
2010 Steve Lombardozzi Jr. Washington Nationals3BScottsdale Scorpions[14]
2011 Kevin Mattison Miami MarlinsOFSurprise Saguaros[14]
2012 Cole Kimball Washington NationalsPSalt River Rafters[14]
2013 Garin Cecchini Boston Red Sox3BSurprise Saguaros[14]
2014 Patrick Kivlehan Seattle Mariners3BSurprise Saguaros[15]
2015 Yadiel Rivera Milwaukee BrewersIFSurprise Saguaros[16]
2016 Austin Nola Miami MarlinsCMesa Solar Sox[17]
2017 Eric Filia Seattle MarinersOFPeoria Javelinas[11]
2018 Cole Tucker Pittsburgh Pirates SS Surprise Saguaros [18]
2019 Tyler Stephenson Cincinnati RedsCGlendale Desert Dogs[19]
2020 None (season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) [5]

Hall of Fame

The Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame was created in 2001. The AFL has had over 1,200 players who came through the league reach Major League Baseball. Additionally, 18 former AFL Managers/players have gone on to manage a Major League club after managing in the league. To be considered by the selection committee, a player must be recognized at Major League Baseball level as a Rookie of the Year, a Most Valuable Player, an All-Star, or a Gold Glove or Silver Slugger Award winner.

Year Inductee AFL Year AFL Team Role
2001 Dusty Baker 1992Scottsdale ScorpionsManager
2001 Nomar Garciaparra 1994Scottsdale ScorpionsShortstop
2001 Derek Jeter 1994Chandler DiamondbacksShortstop
2001 Mike Piazza 1992Sun Cities Solar SoxCatcher
2002 Jason Giambi 1994Peoria JavelinasFirst baseman
2002 Jerry Manuel 1994Maryvale SaguarosManager
2003 Shawn Green 1992Scottsdale ScorpionsOutfielder
2003 Todd Helton 1996Peoria JavelinasFirst baseman
2003 Mike Scioscia 1997Peoria JavelinasManager
2004 Garret Anderson 1993Tempe RaftersOutfielder
2004 Tony Peña 2000Maryvale SaguarosManager
2004 Albert Pujols 2000Scottsdale ScorpionsThird baseman
2005 Troy Percival 1992Scottsdale ScorpionsPitcher
2005 Terry Francona 1992
1994
Grand Canyon Rafters
Scottsdale Scorpions
Coach
Manager
2006 Roy Halladay 1998Grand Canyon RaftersPitcher
2006 Grady Little 1992Grand Canyon RaftersManager
2006 Alfonso Soriano 1998Grand Canyon RaftersSecond baseman
2007 Jermaine Dye 1995Sun Cities Solar SoxOutfielder
2007 Derrek Lee 1995-1996Sun Cities Solar SoxFirst baseman
2007 Ken Macha 1994Tempe RaftersManager
2007 Torii Hunter 1998Phoenix Desert DogsOutfielder
2008 Jimmy Rollins 2000Maryvale SaguarosShortstop
2008 Eric Wedge 1993Tucson JavelinasCatcher
2009 Brian Giles 1994Sun Cities Solar SoxOutfielder
2010 Chris Carpenter 1996Phoenix Desert DogsPitcher
2010 Michael Young 2000Grand Canyon RaftersShortstop
2011 Ryan Howard 2004Phoenix Desert DogsFirst baseman
2011 Paul Konerko 1996Sun Cities Solar SoxFirst baseman
2012 Derek Lowe 1993
1995
Sun Cities Solar Sox
Peoria Javelinas
Pitcher
2012 Mark Teixeira 2002Peoria JavelinasThird baseman
2012 Ron Washington 1992
1993
Sun Cities Solar Sox
Tucson Javelinas
Coach
2013 Darin Erstad 1995Tempe RaftersOutfielder
2013 Bob Melvin 1999Maryvale SaguarosManager
2013 Dustin Pedroia 2004Scottsdale ScorpionsShortstop
2014 Carl Crawford 2001Maryvale SaguarosOutfielder
2014 Matt Holliday 2002–2003Mesa Solar SoxOutfielder
2015 Andrew McCutchen 2007Phoenix Desert DogsOutfielder
2016 Max Scherzer 2007
2008
Scottsdale Scorpions
Phoenix Desert Dogs
Pitcher
2016 Mike Trout 2011Scottsdale ScorpionsOutfielder
2016 David Wright 2003Peoria SaguarosThird baseman
2018 Ted Barrett 1993–1995 N/A Umpire
2018 Jeff Nelson 1996 N/A Umpire
2018 Buster Posey 2009 Scottsdale Scorpions Catcher
2019 Steve Cobb 1994–2018 N/A Arizona Fall League director
Ref: 2001–2013 2014 2015 2016 20182019

See also

References

  1. "About: History". Arizona Fall League official website. MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  2. "MLB Moves Up Arizona Fall League Schedule for 2019," BallparkDigest.com, Wednesday, March 20, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2019
  3. Kubatko, Roch. "Orioles recall Austin Hays," Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), Saturday, September 7, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2019
  4. "Tim Tebow makes Arizona Fall League debut, crashes into wall". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  5. Norris, Josh (September 21, 2020). "Arizona Fall League Cancels 2020 Season". Baseball America. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  6. "Desme Wins AFL MVP Award". CBS Sports. November 23, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2010. See Grant Desme, the 2009 recipient.
  7. "Brewers' Keston Hiura Arizona Fall League MVP". MLB.com. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  8. Baker, Geoff (November 23, 2010). "Can Dustin Ackley buck the Arizona Fall League MVP curse? The bar has been set pretty low". The Seattle Times Company. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  9. "Yankees' Bird named Arizona Fall League MVP". MLB.com. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  10. "Yankees teenage prospect Gleyber Torres named 2016 Arizona Fall League MVP". CBS Sports. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  11. "Braves' Acuna caps breakout with MVP award". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  12. William Boor (October 26, 2019). "Gleyber, Acuña, Hiura ... now Royce Lewis". MLB.com. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  13. Dernell Stenson Stats. Baseball Almanac website. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
  14. "Stenson Award". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
  15. "Mariners prospect Patrick Kivlehan wins AFL's Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  16. "Yadiel Rivera wins Fall League Stenson Award". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  17. Kramer, Daniel (November 19, 2016). "Nola wins Fall League's Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award". MLB.com. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  18. Gilbert, Steve (November 17, 2018). "Pirates' Cole Tucker wins AFL Stenson award". MLB.com. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  19. Jesse Sanchez (October 26, 2019). "Reds' Stephenson earns AFL's Stenson Award". MLB.com. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.