BALTIMORE -- The Orioles will send seven players to the Arizona Fall League -- including three of the club's top prospects -- to get some extra work in against some of baseball's best and brightest youngest players.
The rosters, officially unveiled on Tuesday afternoon, include pitchers Tanner Scott (Baltimore's No. 6 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com), Keegan Akin (No. 8) and Andrew Faulkner. Infielders Ryan Mountcastle (No. 3) and Steve Wilkerson will also play, with a spot for another position player and pitcher still to be named to the club's Salt River team.
The AFL has a total of six teams, with five organizations represented on each. Every MLB team is required to send at least six players from its organization. It's considered a step up from the Minor Leagues and is littered with organizations' top prospects and guys they think can help the big league club sooner rather than later. Notable absences for the O's include top pitching prospect Hunter Harvey, who the organization wanted to have a normal offseason.
2017 Arizona Fall League rosters
Scott will be making his third trip to the AFL. The lefty, who can hit triple digits on the radar gun, has been working in three-inning stints for Double-A Bowie on five days' rest. He has a 2.28 ERA in 67 innings with 83 strikeouts and 44 walks.
Akin, the Orioles' second-round Draft pick in '16, started his first full season with Class A Advanced Frederick. He's had some ups and downs, but has pitched to a 3.26 ERA over his last 10 starts before hitting the seven-day disabled list.
Faulkner, who joined the organization earlier this year in a deal with the Rangers, has thrown well for Triple-A Norfolk. The 24-year-old has a 2.50 ERA in 36 innings with 32 strikeouts.
Mountcastle, who has always shown promise offensively, has recently made the switch from shortstop to third base and the AFL should allow him to get some more reps in. The 20-year-old hit .314 in 88 games with Frederick before being promoted to Double-A.
Wilkerson, 25, started the season at Frederick but was promoted after 41 games. The utility infielder has hit .295/.357/.423 in 66 games for Bowie.