2018 Arizona Fall League Media Guide Is Published by the Communications Department
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The Hidden Gem of Baseball 2018 information guide THE FIRST PLACE TO FIND THE GAME’S FUTURE STARS Find your favorite Arizona Fall League ™ players on reflective chrome cards in Bowman Chrome, available now! Fine Bowman and Topps products at local hobby stores, Target, Walmart and Topps.com facebook.com/bowmanbaseball @bowmancards @topps ® & © 2018 THE TOPPS COMPANY, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. TOPPS, BOWMAN AND BOWMAN CHROME ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF THE TOPPS COMPANY, INC. Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. OFFICIALLY LICENSED PRODUCT OF MLBP. Visit MLB.com Offi cially licensed product of Major League Baseball Players Association. Visit MLBPlayers.com. Topps does not, in any manner, TM make any representations as to whether its cards will attain any future value. 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CONTENTS Q & A ...............................................2-5 Scottsdale Scorpions .........99-118 MLB All-Stars ................194-195 Organization Assignments ................3 Surprise Saguaros .........119-138 MLB Awards & Leaders ...196-198 Fall League Staff ................................5 2017 Review .......................... 139-166 Single-Season Leaders ....198-201 Schedule .........................................6-7 Top Prospects Team .......140-143 Rookies of the Year ........202-203 Lists ..............................................8-11 Fall Back Team ...................... 143 Managers & Coaches .....204-205 Player Notebooks ....................... 12-17 Statistics ........................144-166 Trainers & Umpires ........206-208 Pace of Play ......................................18 Records .................................. 167-188 All-Time Field Staffs ......209-217 Teams ...................................... 19-138 History ................................... 189-336 Hall of Fame ..................218-219 Glendale Desert Dogs ........20-37 Joe Black MVP Award ........... 190 Current Administrators ..220-221 Mesa Solar Sox ..................39-58 Stenson Award ..................... 191 Season Summaries ........222-272 Peoria Javelinas .................59-78 2017 AFL, 2018 MLB ............ 192 All-Time MLB Roster ......273-336 Salt River Rafters ...............79-98 2017 Award Winners ............ 193 Photo: Daniel Kurish 2017 Champion pEoRia JaVELinaS AFL CHAMPS THROUGH THE YEARS Year Champion Manager Year Champion Manager 2017 Peoria Javelinas Luis Salazar (ATL) 2004 Phoenix Desert Dogs Dean Treanor (MIA) 2016 Mesa Solar Sox Ryan Christenson (OAK) 2003 Mesa Solar Sox Pat Kelly (ATL) 2015 Scottsdale Scorpions Matt Quatraro (CLE) 2002 Peoria Javelinas John Russell (MIN) 2014 Salt River Rafters Andy Haines (MIA) 2001 Phoenix Desert Dogs Thad Bosley (OAK) 2013 Surprise Saguaros Gary Kendall (BAL) 2000 Grand Canyon Rafters Butch Wynegar (TEX) 2012 Peoria Javelinas Dusty Wathan (PHI) 1999 Mesa Solar Sox Chris Cron (CWS) 2011 Salt River Rafters Stu Cole (COL) 1998 Sun Cities Solar Sox Fredi Gonzalez (MIA) 2010 Scottsdale Scorpions Randy Knorr (WSH) 1997 Peoria Javelinas Mike Scioscia (LAD) 2009 Peoria Javelinas David Bell (CIN) 1996 Scottsdale Scorpions George Hendrick (STL) 2008 Phoenix Desert Dogs Stan Cliburn (MIN) 1995 Mesa Saguaros Bruce Kimm (CHC) 2007 Phoenix Desert Dogs Rafael Santana (CWS) 1994 Peoria Javelinas John Stearns (CIN) 2006 Phoenix Desert Dogs Tony DeFrancesco (OAK) 1993 Tempe Rafters Tim Johnson (MON) 2005 Phoenix Desert Dogs Scott Little (LAD) 1992 Sun Cities Solar Sox Jerry Royster (LAD) CREDITS The 2018 Arizona Fall League Media Guide is published by the communications department. Editor: Paul Jensen. Associate Editors: Daniel Kurish, Forest Stulting. Graphic design: Brad Woodward. Printing: Ben Franklin Press, Tempe, Arizona. Statistics: Courtesy of MLB. mlbfallball.com u Facebook.com/mlbfallball u Twitter.com/mlbazfallleague the hidden gem of baseball 1 ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE AFL Q & A Q: What is the Arizona Fall League (AFL)? A: Major League Baseball created the Arizona Fall League in 1992 to serve as an off-season “graduate school” for top prospects. The AFL often is known as a showcase league because its players have the opportunity to display their skills for baseball scouts, general managers and farm directors. For baseball fans, it’s a six-week Valley of the Sun homestand featuring many of the game’s elite prospects. Q: What is the genesis of the Arizona Fall League? A: Long-time baseball executive, current special assistant to the president of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Phoenix resident Roland Hemond is considered the “Architect of the Fall League.” His dream to create a six-week off-season league for baseball’s top prospects in Arizona each fall became reality when the Arizona Fall League began play in 1992 after he spent two years selling the concept to baseball’s hierarchy — first general managers, then owners. After veteran baseball front-office executive Mike Port shepherded the Fall League through its maiden voyage in 1992, former Cincinnati Reds traveling secretary and Triple-A Columbus Clippers executive Steve Cobb was hired as the Fall League’s director. Former Angels and Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi has added oversight of the Arizona Fall League to his duties as Major League Baseball’s Senior Director, Baseball and Softball Development. Q: Who oversees the Arizona Fall League? A: Major League Baseball owns and operates the Arizona Fall League. Steve Cobb has been the director since 1993. The league’s oversight committee currently is comprised of five club front office executives: Jeff Bridich (Rockies), David Forst (Athletics), Michael Hill (Marlins), Dayton Moore (Royals) and Mark Shapiro (Blue Jays). Q: How many players have appeared in the Arizona Fall League? A: Nearly 4,800 players have appeared in the Arizona Fall League. Over 2,900 (60 percent) have reached the major leagues. Q: How are the teams assembled? A: Each MLB organization sends seven prospects to the Arizona Fall League. Five-organization groupings comprise the six teams. Q: What contributions have the Fall League made to baseball off the field? A: Forty-two former AFL managers, coaches or players were MLB managers, including 14 during the 2018 season — Jeff Banister (Rangers), Mickey Callaway (Mets), Kevin Cash (Rays), Craig Counsell (Brewers), Terry Francona (Indians), John Gibbons (Blue Jays), A.J. Hinch (Astros), Gabe Kapler (Phillies), Torey Lovullo (D-backs), Mike Matheny (Cardinals), Don Mattingly (Marlins), Bob Melvin (Athletics), Mike Scioscia (Angels) and Mike Shildt (Cardinals). Approximately 200 former AFL managers and coaches have coached. in the major leagues.The AFL also has furthered the careers of numerous athletic trainers, umpires and administrators. Q: What impact has the Arizona Fall League had on Major League Baseball? A: As the Arizona Fall League stages its 27th season in 2018, the contribution the league has made to major-league baseball is undeniable. There have been 278 ex-Fall Leaguers named to major league all-star teams, including 40 (11 starters) in 2018. Former Fall Leaguers also have won numerous MLB awards, including 17 MVPs (Ryan Braun, Kris Bryant, Josh Donaldson, Jason Giambi, Josh Hamilton, Bryce Harper, Ryan Howard, Joe Mauer, Andrew McCutchen, Justin Morneau, Dustin Pedroia, Buster Posey, Albert Pujols, Jimmy Rollins, Giancarlo Stanton, Mike Trout, Joey Votto), 6 Cy Young Award winners (Jake Arrieta, Chris Carpenter, Roy Halladay, Dallas Keuchel, Max Scherzer, Brandon Webb), 4 World Series MVPs, 9 All-Star Game MVPs, 29 rookies-of-the-year, 12 batting champions, 15 hits leaders, 13 RBI leaders, 12 home-run leaders, 14 stolen-base leaders, 95 Silver Sluggers and 83 Gold Gloves. Q: What is the league’s schedule? A: The six AFL teams play six days per week during the six weeks prior to Thanksgiving (October 9-November 17). Q: When are daily start times? A: First pitch for day games is 12:35 p.m. and 6:35 p.m. for night contests. Exceptions are noted on the schedule. 2 2018 ArizonA F All leAgue inFormAtion guide ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE 2018 ORGANIZATION ASSIGNMENTS EAST DIVISION Mesa Solar Sox Salt River Rafters Scottsdale Scorpions (Sloan Park) (Salt River Fields) (Scottsdale Stadium) u Boston Red Sox u Arizona Diamondbacks u Cincinnati Reds u Chicago Cubs u Colorado Rockies u Houston Astros u Detroit Tigers u Miami Marlins u New York Mets u Los Angeles Angels u Minnesota Twins u Philadelphia Phillies u Oakland Athletics u Washngton Nationals u San Francisco Giants Manager Manager Manager Lou Marson (LAA) Tommy Watkiins (MIN) Willie Harris (SF) Pitching Coach Pitching Coach Pitching Coach Jorge Cordova (DET) Dave Burba (COL) Derrin Ebert (CIN) Don Schulze (OAK) Hitting Coaches Aaron Fultz (PHI) Hitting Coaches Luis Ordaz (WSH) Hitting Coaches Nelson Paulino (BOS) Shelley Duncan (ARI) Ryan Ellis (NYM) Troy Snitker (HOU) Jesus Feliciano (CHC) Trainers Trainers Melissa Hampton (MIA) Trainers Jonathan Fierro (CHC) Mike Powell (ARI) John Gregorick (HOU) Michael Hefta (PHI) Shane Zdebiak (OAK) Strength & Conditioning Coach Strength & Conditioning Coach Strength & Conditioning Coach Jacob Dean (MIN) Andy King (SF) Dallas Lopez (CHC) WEST DIVISION Glendale Desert Dogs Peoria Javelinas Surprise Saguaros (Camelback Ranch-Glendale) (Peoria Sports Complex) (Surprise Stadium) u Baltimore Orioles u