Arizona Fall League 2019: Players to Watch (Part 1)
The Arizona Fall League has become a renowned proving ground for baseballs’s future elite. Last year, the AFL was a veritable circus, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and Pete Alonso on display, as well as players who climbed the prospect ladder as those three monsters graduated to MLB stardom – Luis Robert, Cristian Pache, Nate Pearson along with other prospects that finished in the Top 100.
In bygone years, the AFL played host to early coming out parties for the likes of Mike Trout, Derek Jeter, Albert Pujols, Mike Piazza, Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts, while also serving as a petri dish for baseball-adjacent experiments like Michael Jordan and Tim Tebow.
In 2019, we’re sure to see some similar storylines play out. Below I’ve listed one player from each team in the Arizona Fall League, why I’m excited about them, and their performances from this past minor league season.
JO ADELL, OF, MESA SOLAR SOX (LAA)
Adell has done nothing but hit and demonstrate the ability to hit for power. In the upper levels of the minors this year he hit .289 with 8 home runs and 7 stolen bases over 70 games after returning from an injury that sidelined him from part of spring training until late May. He is the highest ranked prospect in the Arizona Fall League this year.
ALEX KIRILLOFF, 1B/OF, SALT RIVER RAFTERS (MIN)
Kirilloff has always been a terrific hitter and one that projects to be a future middle of the lineup hitter with the chance to be a future All-Star for quite some time. He has a sweet swing from the left side that allows him to hit for both average (.317 Career) and power (4 straight games with a Homerun in the playoffs this year). He unfortunately has had to battle through injuries for most of his young career but has shown the ability to persevere and play even better when healthy.
JOEY BART, C, SCOTTSDALE SCORPIONS (SF)
Joey Bart has been everything that the Giants expected and more when they drafted him with the 2nd overall pick in June of 2018. He was one of the most impressive players in spring training with the Giants and there were some thoughts that he might’ve had a chance to make it to the majors before he got hurt in the middle of April and missed all of May. He played in 22 games at AA near the end of the season and put up an impressive slash line of .316/.368/.544.
JARRED KELENIC, OF, PEORIA JAVELINAS (SEA)
Kelenic was the first high school player taken in the 2018 MLB Draft, 6th overall by the New York Mets and was traded in the off-season to the Seattle Mariners as part of the deal that sent Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to the Mets. This season Kelenic has not disappointed as he went on to hit .291/.364/.540 with 23 Home Runs and 20 Stolen Bases across three full season levels as a teenager. He is one of the youngest players in the Arizona Fall League and could be a potential superstar.
DYLAN CARLSON, OF, GLENDALE DESERT DOGS (STL)
When Dylan Carlson first came onto the scene he was somewhat of an under the radar prospect despite being drafted in the first round by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2016. At AA this season he showed all five Tools and was named the Texas League Player of the Year as well as Baseball America’s AA Player of the Year. This season he hit .292/.372/.542 with 26 home runs and 20 stolen bases over 126 games between AA and AAA.
LUIS GARCIA, SS, SURPRISE SAGUAROS (WSH)
Luis Garcia started the 2019 season as the youngest player in AA at age 19 and struggled a bit early on but was able to make adjustments and improve as the season went on. In fact through the first 2 months of the season Garcia only hit .218 with 6 extra base hits in his first 50 games but was able. Most people would have thought he was overmatched and needed to be sent down but in June he hit .312 with 7 extra base hits in 25 games and ended the season hitting .280 from that June on. He will be one of the younger players in the Arizona Fall League but knowing that Washington isn’t afraid to be aggressive with promoting players they believe in (ex. Juan Soto), Luis Garcia could be in the majors at some point next season.
On another note, I’d like to take a moment to extend a personal thank to all the fans who following my coverage of the Midwest League, as well as amateur baseball. I hope to provide you with more player info as we continue to see who heats up the desert this fall.
