Arizona Fall League

Arizona Fall League

Arizona Fall League logo
Sport Baseball
Founded 1992
No. of teams 6
Country USA
Most recent
champion(s)		 Mesa Solar Sox (4)
Most titles Glendale Desert Dogs (6)
Official website Official website

The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball[1] which operates during the autumn in Arizona, United States, at six different baseball complexes.[1] The Arizona Fall League attracts many of the top prospects in minor league baseball.

Structure

Each August, Major League Baseball 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 MLB's regular season in early October and ends in mid-November with a championship game between the winners of the East and West divisions.

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 2016, former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow played. In 1994, the league got worldwide attention as Michael Jordan's second professional baseball league, when he played for the Scottsdale Scorpions. 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 and Tyler Naquin.

Current teams

Division Team Major League Affiliates City Stadium Capacity
East Mesa Solar Sox Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Miami Marlins, Oakland A's, Toronto Blue Jays Mesa, Arizona Sloan Park 15,000
Salt River Rafters Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers Scottsdale, Arizona Salt River Fields at Talking Stick 11,000
Scottsdale Scorpions Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants Scottsdale, Arizona Scottsdale Stadium 11,200
West Glendale Desert Dogs Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Nationals Glendale, Arizona Camelback Ranch 10,300
Peoria Javelinas Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays Peoria, Arizona Peoria Sports Complex 10,714
Surprise Saguaros Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers, Surprise, Arizona Surprise Stadium 11,000

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

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.[2]

Joe Black MVP Award winners
Year Player Organization Position Team Ref
2002 Harvey, KenKen Harvey Kansas City RoyalsFirst basemanScottsdale Scorpions
2003 Dubois, JasonJason Dubois Chicago CubsOutfielderMesa Solar Sox
2004 Shelton, ChrisChris Shelton Detroit TigersDesignated hitterGrand Canyon Rafters
2005 Duncan, EricEric Duncan New York YankeesThird basemanGrand Canyon Rafters
2006 Cannon, ChipChip Cannon Toronto Blue JaysFirst basemanPhoenix Desert Dogs
2007 Fuld, SamSam Fuld Chicago CubsOutfielderMesa Solar Sox
2008 Hanson, TommyTommy Hanson Atlanta BravesPitcherMesa Solar Sox
2009 Desme, GrantGrant Desme Oakland AthleticsOutfielderPhoenix Desert Dogs
2010 Ackley, DustinDustin Ackley Seattle MarinersSecond basemanPeoria Javelinas[3]
2011 Arenado, NolanNolan Arenado Colorado RockiesThird basemanSalt River Rafters
2012 McGuiness, ChrisChris McGuiness Texas RangersFirst basemanSurprise Saguaros
2013 Bryant, KrisKris Bryant Chicago CubsThird basemanMesa Solar Sox
2014 Bird, GregGreg Bird New York YankeesFirst basemanScottsdale Scorpions[4]
2015 Engel, AdamAdam Engel Chicago White SoxOutfielderGlendale Desert Dogs
2016 Torres, GleyberGleyber Torres New York YankeesShortstopScottsdale Scorpions[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,[6] 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.[7]

Stenson Award Winners
Year Player Organization Position Team Ref
2004 Teahen, MarkMark Teahen Kansas City RoyalsThird basemanPhoenix Desert Dogs[7]
2005 Ethier, AndreAndre Ethier Oakland AthleticsOutfielderPhoenix Desert Dogs[7]
2006 Frandsen, KevinKevin Frandsen San Francisco GiantsInfielderScottsdale Scorpions[7]
2007 Fuld, SamSam Fuld Chicago CubsOutfielderMesa Solar Sox[7]
2008 Donald, JasonJason Donald Philadelphia PhilliesInfielderMesa Solar Sox[7]
2009 Mitchell, RussRuss Mitchell Los Angeles DodgersFirst basemanPeoria Javelinas[7]
2010 Lombardozzi Jr., SteveSteve Lombardozzi Jr. Washington NationalsThird basemanScottsdale Scorpions[7]
2011 Mattison, KevinKevin Mattison Miami MarlinsOutfielderSurprise Saguaros[7]
2012 Kimball, ColeCole Kimball Washington NationalsPitcherSalt River Rafters[7]
2013 Cecchini, GarinGarin Cecchini Boston Red SoxThird basemanSurprise Saguaros[7]
2014 Kivlehan, PatrickPatrick Kivlehan Seattle MarinersThird basemanSurprise Saguaros[8]
2015 Rivera, YadielYadiel Rivera Milwaukee BrewersInfielderSurprise Saguaros[9]
2016 Nola, AustinAustin Nola Miami MarlinsCatcherMesa Solar Sox [10]

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 Baker, DustyDusty Baker 1992Scottsdale ScorpionsManager
2001 Garciaparra, NomarNomar Garciaparra 1994Scottsdale ScorpionsShortstop
2001 Jeter, DerekDerek Jeter 1994Chandler DiamondbacksShortstop
2001 Piazza, MikeMike Piazza 1992Sun Cities Solar SoxCatcher
2002 Giambi, JasonJason Giambi 1994Peoria JavelinasFirst baseman
2002 Manuel, JerryJerry Manuel 1994Maryvale SaguarosManager
2003 Green, ShawnShawn Green 1992Scottsdale ScorpionsOutfielder
2003 Helton, ToddTodd Helton 1996Peoria JavelinasFirst baseman
2003 Scioscia, MikeMike Scioscia 1997Peoria JavelinasManager
2004 Anderson, GarretGarret Anderson 1993Tempe RaftersOutfielder
2004 Peña, TonyTony Peña 2000Maryvale SaguarosManager
2004 Pujols, AlbertAlbert Pujols 2000Scottsdale ScorpionsThird baseman
2005 Percival, TroyTroy Percival 1992Scottsdale ScorpionsPitcher
2005 Francona, TerryTerry Francona 1992
1994		Grand Canyon Rafters
Scottsdale Scorpions		Coach
Manager
2006 Halladay, RoyRoy Halladay 1998Grand Canyon RaftersPitcher
2006 Little, GradyGrady Little 1992Grand Canyon RaftersManager
2006 Soriano, AlfonsoAlfonso Soriano 1998Grand Canyon RaftersSecond baseman
2007 Dye, JermaineJermaine Dye 1995Sun Cities Solar SoxOutfielder
2007 Lee, DerrekDerrek Lee 1995-1996Sun Cities Solar SoxFirst baseman
2007 Macha, KenKen Macha 1994Tempe RaftersManager
2007 Hunter, ToriiTorii Hunter 1998Phoenix Desert DogsOutfielder
2008 Rollins, JimmyJimmy Rollins 2000Maryvale SaguarosShortstop
2008 Wedge, EricEric Wedge 1993Tucson JavelinasCatcher
2009 Giles, BrianBrian Giles 1994Sun Cities Solar SoxOutfielder
2010 Carpenter, ChrisChris Carpenter 1996Phoenix Desert DogsPitcher
2010 Young, MichaelMichael Young 2000Grand Canyon RaftersShortstop
2011 Howard, RyanRyan Howard 2004Phoenix Desert DogsFirst baseman
2011 Konerko, PaulPaul Konerko 1996Sun Cities Solar SoxFirst baseman
2012 Lowe, DerekDerek Lowe 1993
1995		Sun Cities Solar Sox
Peoria Javelinas		Pitcher
2012 Teixeira, MarkMark Teixeira 2002Peoria JavelinasThird baseman
2012 Washington, RonRon Washington 1992
1993		Sun Cities Solar Sox
Tucson Javelinas		Coach
2013 Erstad, DarinDarin Erstad 1995Tempe RaftersOutfielder
2013 Melvin, BobBob Melvin 1999Maryvale SaguarosManager
2013 Pedroia, DustinDustin Pedroia 2004Scottsdale ScorpionsShortstop
2014 Crawford, CarlCarl Crawford 2001Maryvale SaguarosOutfielder
2014 Holliday, MattMatt Holliday 2002–2003Mesa Solar SoxOutfielder
2015 McCutchen, AndrewAndrew McCutchen 2007Phoenix Desert DogsOutfielder
2015 Utley, ChaseChase Utley 2002Grand Canyon RaftersSecond Baseman
Ref: 2001–2013 2014 2015

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "About: History". Arizona Fall League official website. MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Desme Wins AFL MVP Award". CBS Sports. November 23, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2010. See Grant Desme, the 2009 recipient.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ "Yankees' Bird named Arizona Fall League MVP". MLB.com. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Yankees teenage prospect Gleyber Torres named 2016 Arizona Fall League MVP". CBS Sports. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  6. ↑ Dernell Stenson Stats. Baseball Almanac website. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Stenson Award". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Mariners prospect Patrick Kivlehan wins AFL's Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Yadiel Rivera wins Fall League Stenson Award". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  10. ↑ Kramer, Daniel (November 19, 2016). "Nola wins Fall League's Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award". MLB.com. Retrieved November 19, 2016.

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