The Arizona Fall League was founded in 1992 and is operated by Major League Baseball as an off-season prospect league. Players from each MLB organization are assigned to participate by their parent club. At least 6 players are sent from each team, these prospects mostly consist of upper-level minor leaguers (AA and AAA) but each club can send up to two players from lower levels.
The league is located in the Phoenix, Arizona area with stadiums in Scottsdale, Mesa, Glendale, Peoria, and Surprise. Games begin shortly after the conclusion of the minor league regular season, in mid-September, and conclude at the end of October.
History
The AFL was created in 1992 by Major League Baseball as an alternative to foreign winter ball leagues. It provided a “controlled” environment for young players to continue to develop and compete. The AFL was a much safer alternative to sending prized prospects to Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, where players could not be easily tracked and monitored.
AFL Layout
There are six teams in the Arizona Fall League. The teams are: Mesa Solar Sox, Salt River Rafters, Scottsdale Scorpions, Glendale Desert Dogs, Peoria Javelinas, and Surprise Saguaros. Each of these six teams is affiliated with five MLB clubs that will supply players for the AFL season. Affiliations are as follows:
AFL WEST
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AFL EAST
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Each AFL team has a 35-player active roster. Additionally, clubs can send extra players that will be placed on reserve or the “taxi squad” and are eligible to play on Wednesdays and Saturdays only. MLB clubs will also send coaches and trainers to the AFL to fill out the staff for each AFL team.
Players
There are a few main reasons that players will be selected to participate in the AFL. MLB clubs might send a budding star that they would like to have play against the highest level of competition, or a player that was injured during the regular MiLB season to get extra game action, or simply to see if how marginal/older minor league player stacks up against better players before deciding to trade/move on from him or offer him a longer contract.
According to the AFL’s website, the 2019 MLB All-Star Game included 43 players that played in the AFL and nearly 60 % of AFL players end up making it to the major leagues. The AFL has also produced 321 All-Stars, 19 MVPs, 6 Cy Young Awards, and 30 Rookies of the Year.
Summary
The AFL is a proving ground for minor league players. It provides them an opportunity to compete and compare themselves to some of the most talented players in all of the minor leagues.
The league is heavily scouted and a great way for players to be noticed by other teams and the wider baseball world. The stars of tomorrow can often be found competing in the Arizona Fall League.
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