Arizona Fall League to Welcome 9 of MLB’s Top 100 Prospects

Aug 6, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view as a Kansas City Royals player applies chalk from a rosin bag on his bat in the on deck circle against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Fall League rosters have been announced, and nine players that will be taking the field come October are on MLB Pipeline’s top 100 list. For those unfamiliar with the Fall League, it lasts for five weeks, spanning much of the MLB playoffs. There are six teams, comprised of conglomerates of some of the best farmhands in baseball.

This season’s pairings are as follows:

Glendale Desert Dogs: Astros, Phillies, Dodgers, White Sox, Pirates

Peoria Javelinas: Braves, Orioles, Reds, Padres, Mariners

Salt River Rafters: Diamondbacks, Rockies, Mets, Blue Jays, Nationals

Surprise Saguaros:Royals, Brewers, Yankees, Cardinals, Rangers

Scottsdale Scorpions: Red Sox, Indians, Tigers, Twins, Giants

Mesa Solar Sox: A’s, Cubs, Angels, Rays, Marlins

Glendale and Surprise stand out at first blush, with the Desert Dogs hoarding four of baseball’s top 10 farm teams to form what could be a superpower of a squad. The Saguaros, with St. Louis’ always steady farm system, the Brewers, who acquired some talent from Houston at the trade deadline, and the Rangers, who have one of the better systems in baseball–one that allowed them to land Cole Hamels and still have enough left over–should be a formidable bunch as well.

We’ll debate which team is best at a later date, but for now let’s take a look at the nine top-ranked players that will be in Arizona.

Next: The Minors' Home Run Leader

Mar 16, 2014; Kissimmee, FL, USA; A Houston Astros hat sits on a wall during the game against the Washington Nationals at Osceola County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports

# 98 A.J. Reed, 1B–Houston Astros

With Chris Carter struggling at the plate all season, it seemed like the perfect time for Jon Singleton to take the reigns at first in Houston, but alas he didn’t fare much better than the gentle giant, batting just .205 over 53 plate appearances. While contributions from Carter or Singleton would be nice this season, it’s A.J. Reed that is making his case to be the future first baseman of the club.

Reed started the season in High-A Lancaster where he hit .346, coupled with a ridiculous .449 on-base percentage (OBP) over 82 games. Reed has since been promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi in the Texas League, and has continued to swing the bat extremely well, batting .344 with a .416 OBP. The 22-year-old slugger has combined for 34 home runs between the two stops, tops in the minors, while driving home an astounding 121.

Reed was selected in the second round of the 2014 draft by Houston out of Kentucky, where he also spent some time on the mound. If a game gets out of hand in Arizona, we’ll all be hoping for Reed to take the mound one more time.

Reed will be on the Glendale Desert Dogs.

Next: The Other Shortstop the A's Traded

Mar 31, 2015; Port Charlotte, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Daniel R. Robertson (80) runs home after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning against the Boston Red Sox at Charlotte Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

# 86 Daniel Robertson, SS–Tampa Bay Rays

Last season the Oakland Athletics notably traded their top prospect, Addison Russell, to the Cubs for Jeff Samardzija. Russell is in the bigs now, and the man that took over his spot as the A’s shortstop of the future (for a very brief time) was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in the off-season in the deal that sent catcher John Jaso and shortstop Daniel Robertson to Tampa in exchange for Ben Zobrist and Yunel Escobar. In true Oakland fashion, both Escobar (Tyler Clippard trade) and Zobrist (Royals deadline deal) were flipped.

Now with the Montgomery Biscuits, the Rays’ Double-A affiliate, Robertson is putting together another solid season in the minors. Batting .280 with a .370 OBP, the 21-year-old Robertson will be making his second consecutive Fall League appearance.

Robertson’s numbers are a little down from last season when he played in the hitter-friendly confines of the California League, where he mashed 15 home runs a season ago, but he’s missed time this year after breaking his hamate bone in early June which kept him out of action until late July.

For Robertson, this will be a good opportunity to gets some extra reps in in preparation for next season. Robertson will be on the Mesa Solar Sox.

Next: 2012 First Rounder

Mar 3, 2014; Surprise, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers outfielder

against the Cleveland Indians in a spring training game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

#71 Lewis Brinson, OF–Texas Rangers

After including OF Nick Williams in the Cole Hamels deal, Lewis Brinson shot up the Rangers’ top prospect rankings, landing as their number four prospect behind 3B Joey Gallo, fellow outfielder Nomar Mazara, and 2015’s 4th overall pick pitcher Dillon Tate.

Selected in the first round of the 2012 draft, Brinson is still just 21-years-old and made his Triple-A debut for the Round Rock Express on Monday. While he went hitless in that game, he did draw two walks, but in last night’s contest against the Nashville Sounds (A’s), Brinson went 2-for-4 with a walk, one RBI and three runs scored.

Brinson started the season in High-A High Desert, playing in 64 games before being called up to Double-A Frisco. Between all three stops, Brinson is batting a combined .324 with a .394 OBP to go along with 19 homers and 66 RBI.

Brinson also missed some time this season, so this will be an opportunity for him to get a full season in, while potentially making an early claim on a roster spot for next season. Brinson will be spending his time in Arizona with the Surprise Saguaros.

Next: Cleveland's #2 Prospect

Aug 18, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; The glove and hat of Cleveland Indians starting pitcher

(28) rest on the third base wall prior to a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

#38 Clint Frazier, OF–Cleveland Indians

Frazier, another former first round selection at fifth overall in 2013, has spent his season in High-A of the Carolina League with the Lynchburg Hillcats. His on-base percentage of .373 is good for third in the league, while his 15 home runs rank him second, two behind Nellie Rodriguez currently of the Akron RubberDucks, another Indians affiliate. Rodriguez played in 108 games for Lynchburg to start this year, and his home run total is standing strong even after his promotion.

Frazier is no stranger to the strikeout, doing so 161 times last season in 120 games (474 at-bats). That rate has dropped this season, as the centerfield prospect has whiffed just 120 times over 479 at-bats, going from a rate of 33.9% to 25%. With fewer strikeouts and more walks to his credit this season, the 20-year old Frazier has already surpassed last season’s home run goal by two. Given his age, there is still plenty of time for Frazier to mature at the plate and become a solid power-hitting outfielder.

Whether that is in center remains to be seen, as MLB Pipeline notes, “the Tribe has stockpiled a large group of center field prospects, which could lead Frazier to eventually slide over to right field.”

Frazier will be joining a fellow Cleveland farmhand as the top two prospects on the Scottsdale Scorpions.

Next: A Newly Acquired Outfielder

Mar 19, 2014; Peoria, AZ, USA; A Milwaukee Brewers hat sits in the dugout against the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Sports Complex. The Brewers won 9-7. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

#35 Brett Phillips, OF–Milwaukee Brewers

Phillips was acquired from the Houston Astros as part of the deal that sent Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers to Houston, and he is the player that has the most upside in that return. Phillips is a terrific defender with a cannon for an arm, and his bat really started to come around last year between time with Quad Cities (A Ball) and Lancaster (High-A).

While the statistics between this year and last are easily comparable, Phillips has struggled since joining the Brewers’ Double-A affiliate, the Biloxi Shuckers. Phillips has seen his batting average drop from .321 in 31 games with Houston’s Double-A affiliate to .250 in 23 games with the Shuckers. On the bright side, Phillips is walking more often (14 to 8 in 54 fewer at-bats) which is keeping his OBP comparable (.361 to .372) to where it had been.

Phillips has hit 16 homers this season, after hitting 17 a year ago, but none have come with Biloxi. Last season Phillips was named the Astros’ Minor League Player of the Year, and overall his stats are even better this time around. The 21-year-old 2012 6th rounder is a name to keep an eye out for in the coming year.

You can catch Phillips with the Surprise Sanguaros, manning the outfield with Lewis Brinson.

Next: A Second Cleveland Outfielder

May 10, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; A general view of Cleveland Indians second baseman

(22) jersey after defeating the Minnesota Twins 8-2 at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

#29 Bradley Zimmer, OF–Cleveland Indians

Cleveland’s top prospect Bradley Zimmer, will join fellow Indians’ prospect Clint Frazier on the Scottsdale Scorpions. Ranked as the #7 outfield prospect in baseball, Zimmer has hit .286 with a .382 OBP between his stops in High-A Lynchburg (78 games) and Double-A Akron (43 games), totaling 16 homers and 63 RBI while crossing the plate 83 times. To go along with some solid power numbers for a 22-year old, Zimmer has also swiped 43 bags, and has been thrown out just 7 times.

MLB Pipeline has this to say: “Zimmer has a polished set of tools and is capable of impacting the game in many ways. His smooth left-handed swing and advanced understanding of the strike zone allow him to make contact well. He has some loft in his swing that will likely translate to more home run power as he gets stronger.

Zimmer’s speed is enhanced by his keen instincts, making him an asset both on the basepaths and in the outfield. The Indians believe he can stay in center field, but his strong arm will fit well in right field if he does have to move.”

Next: Pirates To Display Outfield Depth

#25 Austin Meadows, OF–Pittsburgh Pirates

2013’s ninth overall selection Austin Meadows is still just 20-years-old and has spent his season in High-A with the Bradenton Marauders, batting a solid .307 to go along with a .357 OBP, 7 homers and 54 RBI. Meadows played in just 45 games in 2014, missing time with a hamstring injury, but this season he’s has played in 121 games, and will be seeing even more as a part of the Glendale Desert Dogs with Arizona Fall League teammate A.J. Reed.

With a slew of outfielders in Pittsburgh, there is no need to rush Meadows to the Majors in a certain timeframe. This AFL trip will be used to help refine the smooth left-handed stroke that Meadows possesses as well as catch up on time lost last season. There is no rush for Meadows to develop, but having him at the ready in the next couple of years certainly isn’t a bad idea either.

Bernie Pleskoff of MLB.com released his “10 Arizona Fall League Players to Watch” list earlier today, and Austin Meadows, along with Reed, Zimmer, Phillips and the top-ranked prospect on this list made his top ten.

Next: Hey, A Pitcher!

Aug 15, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; A detailed view of a baseball glove and St. Louis Cardinals hat in the dugout during the game between the Cardinals and the Miami Marlins at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

#18 Alex Reyes, RHP–St. Louis Cardinals

Of course the only pitcher on this list is a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cards have baseball’s best team ERA at 2.66–a feat accomplished without Adam Wainwright for much of the season–and lead the second-place Pirates by nearly a half run. How do they do it? By churning out arms like it’s nobody’s business.

Alex Reyes is the Cardinals’ top prospect, and the number four right-handed pitching prospect in the minors. Standing six-foot-three at 185 pounds, the 21-year-old has spent the majority of his time this season split between High-A and Double-A, accumulating an ERA total of 2.53 with a 1.18 WHIP. Reyes has totaled 96 innings pitched this season, and has struck out 146 in that span, for a ridiculously high rate of 13.7 strikeouts per nine innings. In seven Double-A starts, that mark has seen a bit of an increase, too, as Reyes is K’ing 14.4 per nine with Springfield.

Pipeline rates both his fastball (70) and curveball (60) as well above average. The heater will average between 93-95 but can reach triple digits, while his curve sits in the upper 70s. His control has been a little bit of an issue, as the right-hander has allowed 46 base on balls this season, or 4.4 per nine innings, which is a bit high. Coupled with that strikeout rate however, it’s hard to be too upset. Reyes will be with the Surprise Sanguaros with outfielders Brett Phillips of the Brewers and Lewis Brinson of the Rangers.

Next: Phillies To Show Off Their Gem

Jul 13, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; USA infielder

(top) turns a double play over World infielder

in the 4th inning during the All Star Futures Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

#5 J.P.Crawford, SS–Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies are in the midst of a complete overhaul after trading some of their aging assets over the past year, but one player that has been on their farm since being drafted #16 overall in 2013 is shortstop J.P.Crawford.

Currently in Double-A Reading with the Fightin’ Phils, Crawford has at the very least hit for average at every stop he’s made thus far, batting a cumulative .293 since draft day. This season the Phillies’ top prospect is batting .295 overall, but .272 with Reading. While Crawford has some pop for a shortstop, power isn’t necessarily his strong suit just yet, hitting six homers this year and eleven in 2014.

Where the 20-year-old does excel is his eye at the dish. Over his Minor League career, Crawford has drawn 158 walks compared to striking out a total of 160 times. With Reading, the walks have outweighed the punch-outs, 47 to 42 over 331 at-bats. With Jimmy Rollins out of town, the Phillies will need a shortstop. While Crawford is certainly the long-term solution, a 2016 opening day nod may be a bit of a stretch. No matter when he arrives, the City of Brotherly Love has a lot to look forward to.

Crawford will be on the Desert Dogs with Reed and Meadows, leaving that team looking absolutely stacked.

Next: Jays Add Speed From the Minors