2019 Arizona Fall League Rosters Announced

The Arizona Fall League is almost back, and the rosters this year are as excellent as ever. This year’s initial player group features 22 of Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects, led by Angels outfielder Jo Adell, who checks in at No. 2 overall behind Rays wunderkind Wander Franco.

Adell is followed by Astros righthander Forrest Whitley (8), who is looking to match his performance from last season in the AFL, when he was far and away the best pitcher in the league and looked ready to help the big league club in the playoffs.

The Twins, Giants, Phillies and Mariners are each sending their top two prospects to the AFL. Alex Kirilloff (16) and Royce Lewis (20) head a strong Salt River group, which also features Diamondbacks hit machine Geraldo Perdomo, slugging Rays catcher Ronaldo Hernandez and Marlins Cuban import Victor Victor Mesa.

Scottsdale (which will play its home games at Salt River this season) is topped by San Francisco’s dynamic duo of Joey Bart (17) and Heliot Ramos (65), who have each found their way to Double-A Richmond after seasons shortened by injuries.

The Scorpions also boast a pair of prominent Phillies in slugger Alec Bohm (35) and fireballer Spencer Howard (66). Bohm has moved from low Class A to Double-A in a season’s time and sandwich a Futures Game appearance in the middle, while Howard has cut through his competition at both high Class A and Double-A in a season truncated by shoulder soreness in the earlygoing.

Surprise’s top stars are the Mariners outfielders Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez, who have helped revitalize a once-moribund system. Kelenic, in his first full pro season and with a new organization after headlining an offseason trade that sent Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to the Mets, has rocketed from low Class A to Double-A and is on the verge of a 20-homer, 20-steal season.

Rodriguez has some of the loudest tools in the minors, and only a lengthy injury delay kept him from shooting even higher on the Top 100. The Fall League could serve as a major coming-out party for the 18-year-old.

Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson, who has produced one of the best seasons in the minors and slugged his way to Triple-A as a 20-year-old is the marquee addition to the Glendale roster, which also includes Reds top prospect Jonathan India.

The league begins a little earlier this year, with Opening Day on Sept. 18, but the bounty of prospects in baseball’s best kept secret remains as strong as ever.

Find our team-by-team roster analysis here: 

• Glendale Desert Dogs
• Mesa Solar Sox
• Peoria Javelinas
• Salt River Rafters
• Scottsdale Scorpions
• Surprise Saguaros

The rosters are below.

Glendale Desert Dogs

Mesa Solar Sox

Peoria Javelinas

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Salt River Rafters

Scottsdale Scorpions

Surprise Saguaros