WASHINGTON -- Nationals outfield phenom Victor Robles headlines the group of high-end talent headed to the Arizona Fall League this October. Robles, the fifth-ranked prospect in the Majors according to MLBPipeline.com, is the highest-rated player to appear on an AFL roster, which were revealed Tuesday.
Robles will be one of the seven Nationals to play for the Mesa Solar Sox during the six-week league. He'll be joined by right-handers Dakota Bacus, Jimmy Cordero, Kyle McGowin and Austen Williams, catcher Taylor Gushue and infielder Kelvin Gutierrez.
2017 Arizona Fall League rosters
Robles, 20, has continued to skyrocket up prospect rankings during the past year while impressing in the Minors. After beginning the season at Class A Potomac, Robles was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg and has continued to excel. In 32 games, he has batted .323/.396/.492 for a .888 OPS and eight stolen bases. He played in the 2017 SiriusXM Futures Game in July in Miami and drove in a run.
The AFL is usually seen as a final step for prospects who are near the Majors. Last season, the Nationals sent outfielder Andrew Stevenson -- currently their No. 7 prospect -- to play there, and he finished as the AFL's hits leader. He would go on to make his Major League debut this season.