Anyone who has ever attended the annual Arizona Fall League in the greater Phoenix area knows that those selected to participate are generally the best of the best from each of the 30 MLB team’s farm systems. Simply put, you will not find a better group of likely future major leaguers at any one place at any one time – period.

Granted, not every player selected for Minor League Baseball’s most prestigious league will make it to the Show, but a good many of them will. In fact, for those who are on Twitter, the Arizona Fall League – affectionately referred to as the AFL – has its own Twitter account (@MLBazFallLeague) that gives frequent updates on accomplishments of former AFL players. regardless of team affiliation or year of AFL participation. It doesn’t take long to realize (and recognize) that many or these former AFL stars are also some of the games’ biggest stars – past and present – such as Derek Jeter, Dustin Pedroia, Mike Piazza, Albert Pujols, Jimmy Rollins, Bryce Harper, David Wright, Mitch Haniger, and Mike Trout. Even former NBA superstar Michael Jordan participated in the AFL in 1994 while in the Chicago White Sox farm system, although he never made it to the Major Leagues.

To the surprise of no one, Dodgers top prospect Cody Bellinger absolutely tore it up during last year’s Arizona Fall League, including this monster two-run home run in the league’s Fall Stars Game.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Founded in 1992, the premise behind the AFL is to give MLB teams the ability to closely monitor their top prospects right here in the United States, as opposed to the winter leagues in the Dominican Republic, Mexico and the Caribbean. Now this certainly isn’t to say that these other off-season leagues are any less valuable in player development, they most certainly are. It is simply a matter of geographical convenience and the ability to provide immediate top level medical care in the event of an injury for the games’ top prospects, many of whom are MLB’s top (and most expensive) draft picks.

Selection for the AFL occurs each August when MLB clubs hold a draft to determine the players who will participate in the prestigious league. Most are from the Double-A and Triple-A levels, however each club can opt to send two players from below the Double-A level. Foreign players are also permitted to attend, as long as they are not on their native country’s primary protected player list.

The league is designed for the games’ top prospects to refine their skills and perform in live-game settings in front of major and minor league baseball scouts and team executives, who attend nearly every AFL game. Play begins shortly after the conclusion of the MLB regular season in early October and runs through mid-November, when a championship game is held between the winners of the East and West divisions. There is also an annual ‘Fall Stars Game’ midway through the six-week AFL season in which top performers from the first half are selected for an East versus West All Star Game.

The Dodgers announced on Tuesday that they will be sending third baseman Matt Beaty, outfielder Yusniel Diaz, catcher Will Smith and right-handers Michael Sopko and Shea Spitzbarth from the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, and outfielder DJ Peters, right-hander Isaac Anderson and left-hander Michael Boyle from the Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes to the AFL’s Glendale Desert Dogs.

Beaty was recently named Texas League Player of the Year. The 24-year-old Snellville, Georgia native and Dodgers 2015 12th-round draft pick out of Belmont University had a very impressive slash-line of .324 / .379 / .504 with 14 home runs and 30 doubles in 110 games with the Drillers this season. He played 50 games at first base and 44 games at third base.

Peters was just named the California League’s Most Valuable Player. The 21-year-old Glendora, California native and lifelong Dodger fan was selected by his favorite team in the fourth round of the 2016 draft out of Western Nevada College.

Glendora’s DJ Peters, who was named as the Cal League MVP last week, will be one of eight Dodger prospects representing the franchise in the prestigious 2017 Arizona Fall League. AFL play begins on October 10.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

“It’s obviously a tremendous honor for Michael, DJ, and Isaac to be selected to the 2017 AFL,” said Rancho Cucamonga Quakes manager Drew Saylor. “It’s a collection of the games’ top minor league talent competing on the same field. It will be a great experience for them and hopefully it will springboard them into a strong 2018 season.”

Low Single-A Great Lakes Loons pitching coach Connor McGuiness will serve as a pitching coach for Glendale Desert Dogs, which includes prospects from the Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates. The Desert Dogs will play their home games at Camelback Ranch, the spring training home of the Dodgers and White Sox.

From a fan perspective,  the AFL is arguably the best minor league viewing experience out there. The relatively small crowds offer fans a great opportunity to meet and get autographs and photos from the best minor leaguers in the game. But while the crowds may be small, the passion and enthusiasm most certainly is not. Additionally, the cost to attend AFL games make it the best value in town and well worth scheduling a short vacation to the Valley of the Sun.

As they say, “Minor Leagues, Major Fun.”

2017 AFL Schedule