The 2024 Arizona Fall League (AFL) season kicks off on October 7. The AFL is a fall league that typically features many top prospects across Major League Baseball, and the 2024 rosters are littered with big names. Here’s a look at 20 names we’re keying in on, starting with the bats.
10 Hitters to Watch
| Name | Position | AFL Team | MLB Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryce Eldridge | 1B | Scottsdale | San Francisco |
| Cole Young | SS | Peoria | Seattle |
| Colson Montgomery | SS | Glendale | Chicago (AL) |
| Denzel Clarke | OF | Mesa | Athletics |
| Jac Caglianone | 1B | Surprise | Kansas City |
| Kemp Alderman | OF | Peoria | Miami |
| Leodalis De Vries | SS | Peoria | San Diego |
| Ryan Ritter | SS | Salt River | Colorado |
| Xavier Isaac | 1B | Mesa | Tampa Bay |
| Zyhir Hope | OF | Glendale | Los Angeles (NL) |
The Arizona Fall League is notorious for housing Minor Leaguers — and young Major Leaguers — who’ve missed significant time and need to make it up. Several notable players fit that bill, including Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter, who dominated in the AFL last fall but played only 39 games this past year, and Mets infielder Jett Williams.
But aside from those players, there are names who could further push their stock up.
Jac Caglianone might be the most well-known prospect in the Arizona Fall League. Caglianone hit 35 home runs at the University of Florida this past spring but didn’t have the same level of success in the Minors. He struck out 26 times — the same amount of times he struck out at Florida in 2024 — in High-A and posted a .690 OPS.
Caglianone was a noted chaser at Florida, something that can be exploited as he moves up.
Then, there are the big name prospects who excelled in the Minors. Cole Young posted a .369 OBP in Double-A this season and may be the future leadoff hitter for the Mariners. Bryce Eldridge cracked 52 extra-base hits in 2024 and moved from Low-A to Triple-A. And don’t forget about Leo De Vries, who posted a .802 OPS as a 17-year-old.
Plenty of players may or will play in the MLB next season will be in the AFL. Cardinals infielder Thomas Saggese, who made his MLB debut in 2024, will play for Glendale. As are Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand, two Reds infielders who exhausted their rookie eligibility but missed significant time this past year. In McLain’s case, he missed all of 2024.
But as for prospects who’ve yet to debut but may in 2025, watch for Colson Montgomery.
Montgomery played in the Arizona Fall League in 2023 and will return in 2024. Last season, it was to make up for lost time after he played just 64 games. Montgomery played 130 games in 2024 with Charlotte (AAA) but struck out 163 times (28.6% K%) and posted a .710 OPS.
Montgomery didn’t hit above .200 from June through August but did better in September (.264 AVG, .815 OPS, six XBH). He’s got a big left-handed bat and showed good pitch recognition in Triple-A, staying back on the breaking balls and hitting for power. The White Sox prospect has a path to play in Chicago in 2025.
Another name who could contribute in the Majors next year is Athletics outfielder Denzel Clarke. Clarke has tantalizing tools, including plus speed – he stole 36 bases in Midland (AA) in 2024 — and a penchant for getting on base. The 24-year-old can also has a career .359 OBP. Clarke profiles as a potential everyday outfielder, likely at center.
Lastly, some notes on Zyhir Hope and Xavier Isaac. Hope is a raw prospect who can mash, likely why the Dodgers grabbed him from the Cubs in the Michael Busch trade. Isaac, meanwhile, has plus power and could profile as a future 30-home run hitter.
10 Pitchers to Watch
| Name | AFL Team | MLB Team |
|---|---|---|
| CJ Weins | Scottsdale | Detroit |
| Coleman Crow | Peoria | Milwaukee |
| Connor Phillips | Glendale | Cincinatti |
| Gabriel Hughes | Salt River | Colorado |
| Grant Taylor | Glendale | Chicago (AL) |
| Griff McGarry | Glendale | Philadelphia |
| Matt Cronin | Salt River | Washington |
| Micah Dallas | Mesa | Athletics |
| Peyton Pallette | Glendale | Chicago (AL) |
| Tyler Baum | Mesa | Athletics |
There’s not a ton of premium pitchers heading to the Arizona Fall League, at least compared to hitters. However, there are still some notable names to watch.
One of those names is Grant Taylor, a 2023 second-round pick by the White Sox. Taylor missed all of LSU’s 2023 season thanks to Tommy John surgery and only threw 19.1 IP this year. However, Taylor looked electric when on the mound. The right-handed pumped a fastball that was hitting 97 MPH, received rave reviews on his cutter, and can throw a curveball from an over-the-top delivery.
Taylor struck out 32 over those 19.1 IP.
Joining Taylor on the Glendale roster is fellow White Sox pitching prospect Peyton Pallette. Pallette, a 2022 second-round pick, struck out 95 over 82.1 IP in 32 outings (12 starts). At 6’1”, Pallette can gas up a fastball and hit the upper-90s. However, he’s not shown durability in his time in the Minors and profiles more as a high-leverage reliever than a starter.
Gabriel Hughes, aside from Taylor, may be the most interesting pitcher in the 2024 Arizona Fall League. Hughes missed all of 2024 thanks to Tommy John surgery but will look to get on track in the AFL. He’s an interesting prospect; he struck out 83 over 66.2 IP in 2023 and flashed movement on his fastball, including a fastball with cut as seen below.
His command will dictate what kind of pitcher Hughes will be. If he can stay healthy, the former first-round pick could still be a mid-rotation starter.
Coleman Crow, acquired by the Brewers in the Adrian Houser/Tyrone Taylor trade last winter, will pitch in real games for the first time since early 2023. Crow didn’t show off an intimidating fastball but has a couple of very good breaking balls in his arsenal.
There are also some notable names who could be relievers in 2025. Former top prospect Griff McGarry saw his stock drop after he walked 36 over 31.2 IP and moved to the Lehigh Valley (AAA) bullpen. Former UNC starter Tyler Baum rebounded in 2023 after a rough 2022 (47 BB over 27 IP) but didn’t do well in Triple-A. Baum walked 11 and gave up 11 earned runs in the hitter-friendly PCL over 10.2 IP.
Matt Cronin (54 K over 44.1 IP) and Micah Dallas (52 K over 49.2 IP) are among other interesting relievers in the AFL.
Lastly, CJ Weins could join the Tigers’ deep bullpen soon. Weins struck out 71 over 49 innings last season, thanks to a fastball with pop that tops out at 96 MPH, coupled with a cutter, changeup, and slider.