Arizona Fall League

Showcasing Stars, Before They Are Stars

Imagine getting to see Derek Jeter, Albert Pujols or Alfonso Soriano play up close and personal in front of only 1,000 fans, and having it only cost you six dollars for a ticket. Well, if you have had the privilege of seeing an Arizona Fall League baseball game, you might not have to imagine that.

For 15 years, fans of the Arizona Fall League have been given a preview of baseball’s next best players. This league is often the final step that many prospects have to take before becoming big leaguers.

Who Plays In the AFL

Every year, six teams made up of baseball’s finest prospects make Arizona their home from October to mid-November. Each major league ball club provides the AFL teams with six minor leaguers. Most of these players are at the AA or AAA level. Each team is allowed to send one player who has not yet reached these two minor league levels.

AFL Alums Making Big Impact

Of course, the AFL is not a threat to take fans away from the World Series, but it is a way for fans to follow some of the brightest young stars in the game, before they hit the big stage. Just a year ago, the name Troy Tulowitzki didn’t mean much to the average baseball fan, but for those who paid attention to the AFL, they knew the Rockies’ shortstop was a star in the making. There were 101 AFL alums on the eight teams who made the postseason this year. Along with Tulowitzki, last years’ AFL featured Milwaukee Brewers’ third baseman and fellow Rookie of the Year Award contender, Ryan Braun, Hunter Pence of the Houston Astros, Kevin Kouzmanoff of the San Diego Padres, and Mark Reynolds of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

2007 AFL Class

The AFL is once again loaded with talent this season. Plenty of the players participating in this year’s AFL will certainly have a say in whether or not their franchises are still alive come next October. The headliners for this season include: Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria, the third overall pick in 2006 amateur draft, and Seattle Mariners catcher, Jeff Clement, the third overall pick in the 2005 amateur draft.

Plenty of People Still Missing Out

It is quite a shame that the Arizona Fall League receives such little attention. It is an easy way for baseball fanatics to take a look into the future. Part of being a baseball fan is knowing what kind of talent your team has “down on the farm.” And there is no better way of measuring your team’s top prospects than seeing how they perform against the best in the minor leagues. Even though the AFL plays until well after the World Series is over, there is never much fan interest, even in the Arizona area. Not much more than 1,000 fans attend each game. That is why the AFL remains one of baseball’s hidden treasures.

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