The Arizona Fall League begins Saturday! Here's what you need to know

After a scintillating regular season that saw historic performances across the Minors, the prospect action keeps on coming.

Saturday marks Opening Day for the Arizona Fall League, which will enjoy its 34th season of action across the desert. The premier prospect circuit offers the game’s up-and-coming talent a chance to put their skills on display. Some players will be making up for lost time during the 2026 campaign. All of them will be setting the stage for ‘27.

Just a year ago, Kevin McGonigle was MLB’s No. 2 prospect and the star of the show for the Scottsdale Scorpions, hitting .362 with a 1.210 OPS en route to winning league MVP honors. The Tigers infielder is a lock to be a top 2 finisher in the American League’s Rookie of the Year Award race and he led the junior circuit in bWAR (7.1) during his age-21 campaign.

But it’s not just the highly ranked prospects who benefit from extra reps in the desert. This time last year, Owen Ayers was unranked on the Cubs’ Top 30 Prospects list -- after winning the AFL’s Breakout Player of the Year, he now checks in at No. 2 on Chicago's list and at No. 89 overall across baseball. (The previous three winners of that award went on to make their Major League debut the following year.)

Take a glimpse at the league’s lineage and it’s easy to see why eyes will be on Arizona this fall. Nolan Arenado, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Kris Bryant are among the circuit’s former MVPs. Aaron Judge, Mike Trout and Bryce Harper got at-bats in the desert before emerging as the sport’s elite. Of the 18 position players who started this year’s Midsummer Classic, 10 are counted as AFL alumni.

This year, there’s a 17-year-old (Angeibel Gomez, MLB’s No. 81 prospect) and a 29-year-old (Tyler LaPorte, a four-year independent league veteran). There’s a Major League All-Star, in rehabbing Giants closer Randy Rodriguez. There are 15 members of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list on hand, which matches the high mark over the past four years.

Mix it all up and you have one of the most hotly anticipated years of fall ball in recent memory.

Here are Saturday's star-studded Opening Day matchups to kick things off:

3:30 p.m. ET - Salt River vs. Glendale: Arizona’s Demetrio Crisantes (MLB No. 72) and New York’s Dax Kilby (MLB No. 83) could serve as the Fall League’s most electric double play tandem during their time with Salt River. Glendale is the only club this year to feature four Top 100 prospects in their lineup, led by Eduardo Quintero (MLB No. 18) and MLB Pipeline All-Prospect second team selection Caleb Bonemer (MLB No. 27), who will be getting his feet wet in center field during his time in the desert.

6:30 p.m. ET - Surprise vs. Scottsdale: There could be six Top 100 prospects in the lineup to open the year as two of the most formidable squads square off out of the chute. Sebastian Walcott (MLB No. 9) played in just one AFL contest last year before departing early due to injury, but he’s back in 2026 as the top-ranked player on the circuit. Zyhir Hope (MLB No. 26) -- who starred for Glendale in ‘24 -- was the headlining return of this summer’s Tarik Skubal blockbuster and could firmly put himself on Detroit’s big league radar as soon as next year with a strong fall.

9:30 p.m. ET - Mesa vs. Peoria: Arjun Nimmala (MLB No. 35) enjoyed an epic September heater that saw him sock seven homers in eight games, helping to lead his Double-A Rocket City squad to a championship. Now the Angels’ top-ranked prospect after his Trade Deadline acquisition in the José Soriano deal, he leads Mesa against Orioles 2025 first-round pick Ike Irish (MLB No. 97) and Peoria. Irish missed the final two months of the year due to a torn left meniscus.

The Fall League teams and their MLB affiliations are as follows:

Glendale Desert Dogs: Braves, Dodgers, Marlins, Pirates, White Sox
Mesa Solar Sox: Angels, Athletics, Blue Jays, Cubs, Red Sox
Peoria Javelinas: Cardinals, Mariners, Orioles, Padres, Reds
Salt River Rafters: D-backs, Nationals, Rockies, Twins, Yankees
Scottsdale Scorpions: Astros, Brewers, Giants, Rays, Tigers
Surprise Saguaros: Guardians, Mets, Phillies, Rangers, Royals

Top 100 prospects in the Arizona Fall League

9. Sebastian Walcott, SS/3B, Rangers (Surprise)
18. Eduardo Quintero, OF, Dodgers (Glendale)
26. Zyhir Hope, OF, Tigers (Scottsdale)
27. Caleb Bonemer, OF, White Sox (Glendale)
35. Arjun Nimmala, SS, Angels (Mesa)
45. Bryce Rainer, SS, Tigers (Scottsdale)
57. Tate Southisene, SS, Braves (Glendale)
58. Aidan Miller, SS, Phillies (Surprise)
62. Nathan Flewelling, C, Rays (Scottsdale)
65. Jarlin Susana, RHP, Nationals (Salt River)
72. Demetrio Crisantes, 2B, D-backs (Salt River)
81. Angeibel Gomez, OF, Royals (Surprise)
83. Dax Kilby, SS, Yankees (Salt River)
84. Charles Davalan, OF/INF, Dodgers (Glendale)
97. Ike Irish, OF/1B, Orioles (Peoria)

How to watch:

Fans can once again watch their favorite prospects all fall via MLB.com streams. The entire 90-game regular season will be available to stream completely free along with the AFL Home Run Derby, Fall Stars Game, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Championship Game. Additionally, the Fall Stars Game and Championship Game will be broadcast on MLB Network. All contests will have Gameday available as well.

• Explore Arizona Fall League ballparks

Important dates:

Oct. 3: Opening Day, starting at 3:30 p.m. ET
Oct. 10: Kino Sports Complex (Tucson) tripleheader, starting at 3:30 p.m. ET
Oct. 17: Goodyear Ballpark tripleheader, starting at 3:30 p.m. ET
Nov. 7: Home Run Derby, Salt River Fields, 8:30 p.m. ET
Nov. 8: Fall Stars Game, Salt River Fields, 8 p.m. ET
Nov. 12: Quarterfinals, Sloan Park, starting at 3:30 p.m. ET
Nov. 13: Semifinals, Peoria Sports Complex, starting at 3:30 p.m. ET
Nov. 14: Championship Game, Peoria Sports Complex, 8 p.m. ET