MLB announces 2022 Arizona Fall League rosters
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Major League Baseball today announced the rosters and coaching staffs of the 2022 Arizona Fall League (AFL). Six of MLB Pipeline’s top 25 prospects, and 16 of the top 100, highlight this year’s rosters, headlined by MLB Pipeline No. 6 prospect 3B Jordan Walker (St. Louis Cardinals) and Arizona Diamondbacks No. 1 overall prospect and the No. 6 overall pick of the 2021 MLB Draft OF Jordan Lawlar (No. 13 MLB Pipeline).
Walker and Lawlar will be paired on the Salt River Rafters, following quality offensive Minor League seasons for both players (.300+ BA, 16+ HR, .900+ OPS). At the conclusion of the 2022 MiLB season, both Lawlar and Walker finished at their team's respective Double-A club, with Lawlar promoted on three different occasions throughout the season. Walker has ties to the diversity development pipeline programs led by MLB and USA Baseball, notably the Breakthrough Series and DREAM Series. Two other Cardinals prospects from MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 also will play in the AFL – SS Masyn Winn (No. 54) and RP Tink Hence (No. 95).
The AFL will also feature the 2021 MLB Draft No. 1 Overall Pick Henry Davis (Pittsburgh Pirates), the University of Louisville product who has played at four different levels of the Minors this year and slashed a combined .265/.387/.459 with eight homers. Davis, MLB Pipeline's No. 20 prospect, will be joined by two other Top 100 Prospects from the Pirates organization: Quinn Priester (No. 47), and Fall League returnee Nick Gonzales (No. 97).
Below is a complete list of AFL Players in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects (_listed in order)_:
6. Jordan Walker - 3B, Salt River Rafters (STL) 51. Brennen Davis - OF, Mesa Solar Sox (CHC)
13. Jordan Lawlar - OF, Salt River Rafters (ARI) 54. Masyn Winn - SS, Salt River Rafters (STL)
18. Noelvi Marte - SS, Glendale Desert Dogs (CIN) 69. Andy Pages - OF, Glendale Desert Dogs (LAD)
20. Henry Davis - C, Surprise Saguaros (PIT) 76. Matt McLain - SS, Glendale Desert Dogs (CIN)
23. Robert Hassell III - OF, Peoria Javelinas (WSH) 87. Jackson Merrill - SS, Peoria Javelinas (SD)
24. Zac Veen - OF, Salt River Rafters (COL) 95. Tink Hence - RP, Salt River Rafters (STL)
42. Jasson Dominguez - OF, Mesa Solar Sox (NYY) 97. Nick Gonzales - 2B, Surprise Saguaros (PIT)
47. Quinn Priester - SP, Surprise Saguaros (PIT) 98. Zack Gelof - 3B, Mesa Solar Sox (OAK)
The AFL is comprised of six teams, with each Major League organization sending seven (7) top prospects to fill the rosters. The AFL teams and their MLB affiliates will be as follows for the 2022 Fall League season:
- Glendale Desert Dogs (Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins)
- Mesa Solar Sox (Chicago Cubs, Miami Marlins, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Rays)
- Peoria Javelinas (Cleveland Guardians, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Washington Nationals)
- Salt River Rafters (Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays)
- Scottsdale Scorpions (Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants)
- Surprise Saguaros (Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers)
The AFL’s six coaching staffs will be managed by the following individuals, all of whom are currently Minor League Managers: Justin Jirschele (Glendale; Chicago White Sox), Bobby Crosby (Mesa; Oakland Athletics), Reid Brignac (Peoria; New York Mets), Warren Schaeffer (Salt River; Colorado Rockies), Matt Tuiasosopo (Scottsdale; Atlanta Braves) and Mickey Storey (Surprise; Houston Astros).
MLB also announced that after testing this season in the Minor Leagues, the following new playing rules will be implemented in the Arizona Fall League: pitch timer, restriction on defensive positioning, larger bases and the Automatic Ball-Strike System (“ABS”) Challenge. This Challenge System, which allows hitters, pitchers, and catchers to challenge an umpire's call at the plate with the ABS System, only will be tested at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick and Chase Field.
Below is a summary of new playing rules that will be used during the Arizona Fall League:
- Pitch Timer: After successful testing in MiLB that reduced game times on average by 26 minutes, the Major League rule recently approved by the Competition Committee will be implemented to enforce time limits between delivery of pitches, inning breaks, and pitching changes.
- Defensive Positioning: As recently approved by the Major League Competition Committee, the defensive team must have a minimum of four players on the infield, each of whom must have both feet completely in front of the outer boundary of the infield, and two infielders must be positioned entirely on each side of second base.
- Larger Bases: To reduce player injuries and collisions – and create shorter distances between bases to impact the success rate of stolen base attempts - the size of first, second, and third base will be increased from 15 inches square to 18 inches square.
- ABS Challenge: The Automatic Ball-Strike (“ABS”) Challenge System that began in the Florida State League in 2022 will be implemented on the experimental level at the Arizona Fall League for games played at Salt River Fields and Chase Field. Batters, Pitchers, and Catchers will have the opportunity to challenge an umpire's ball or strike call if they feel it is incorrect. All challenges will be evaluated by the ABS system to determine the outcome. Both teams are allowed three challenges and will be awarded their challenge back if correct.
The 2022 AFL season is set to open on Monday, October 3rd, with additional season highlights including:
The new Chase Field Tripleheader on Saturday, October 15th
The annual Fall Stars Game on Sunday, November 6th, which will now be preceded by the inaugural AFL Home Run Derby on Saturday, November 5th. Both events will take place at Sloan Park. The Fall Stars Game will air LIVE on MLB Network.
The AFL Championship Game will be played on Saturday, November 12th at Scottsdale Stadium on Saturday, November 12th, LIVE on MLB Network.
Tickets for the Arizona Fall League can now be purchased online through the AFL website HERE or at the box office on any game-day.