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Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League logo
Sport Baseball
Founded 1992
No. of teams 6
Country Flag of the United States United States
Current champions Phoenix Desert Dogs
Official website Official website

The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes. The Arizona Fall League attracts many of the top prospects in minor league baseball.

Structure[]

Each August, Major League Baseball clubs hold a position draft to determine the players who will go to Arizona. Most are Double-A and Triple-A Minor League players. Each club can opt to send one player considered a Single-A player. Only one foreign player is allowed, but only if that player does not come from a region that participates in winter ball. The league is designed for these prospects to refine their skills and perform in game settings in front of major and minor league baseball scouts and team executives, who are in attendance at almost every game. Play begins shortly after the end of MLB's regular season in early October, and ends in mid-November.

The Arizona Fall League teams are not exclusive affiliates of any one team; instead, each Major League team provides seven players who team up to fill the 35-man roster of each team. Additionally, teams may elect to send Taxi Squad players who are only eligible on Wednesdays and Saturdays. MLB teams also provide managers, coaches, and trainers. The affiliations generally change every year.

Notable players[]

A number of famous ballplayers have had stints in the Arizona Fall League. In 1994, the league got worldwide attention as Michael Jordan's first professional baseball league, when he played for the Scottsdale Scorpions. Other notable ballplayers who have played in the Arizona Fall League include David Wright, Derek Jeter, Albert Pujols, and Ryan Braun.

Current teams July 1 2023[]

Division Team City Stadium Capacity
East Mesa Solar Sox Mesa, Arizona HoHoKam Park 12,632
Phoenix Desert Dogs Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix Municipal Stadium 8,775
Scottsdale Scorpions Scottsdale, Arizona Scottsdale Stadium 11,200
West Peoria Javelinas Peoria, Arizona Peoria Sports Complex 12,882
Salt River Scottsdale, Arizona Scottsdale Stadium 11,200
Surprise Rafters Surprise, Arizona Surprise Stadium 10,500

Championship history[]

Championship history[edit][]

From 1992 to 2021, the first-place teams from both divisions met for the league championship. Originally a best-of-three series, it was played as a single game from 2001 to 2021.

As of the 2022 season, divisions have been eliminated. The top three teams in the final regular season standings qualify for the postseason. The second- and third-place teams meet in a play-in semi-final game, with the winner facing the first-place team in the championship game.

The Peoria Javelinas have won the most championships, seven. The most consecutive championships is five, accomplished by the Phoenix Desert Dogs during 2004–2008. No championship game was held in 2020, as the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mikesosh.jpg|right|thumb|Mike Scioscia was manager of the 1997 champion Peoria Javelinas. link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bob_Melvin_2012.jpg|right|thumb|Bob Melvin was manager of the 1999 runner-up Maryvale Saguaros.

Season Game date Champion Score Runner-Up Ref.
1992 December 7–9 Sun Cities Solar Sox 2–1 (games) Phoenix Saguaros
1993 December 3–5 Tempe Rafters 2–1 (games) Tucson Javelinas
1994 December 2–3 Peoria Javelinas 2–0 (games) Mesa Saguaros
1995 December 1–3 Mesa Saguaros 2–1 (games) Sun Cities Solar Sox
1996 December 7–8 Scottsdale Scorpions 2–0 (games) Mesa Saguaros
1997 November 21–23 Peoria Javelinas 2–1 (games) Grand Canyon Rafters
1998 November 20–21 Sun Cities Solar Sox 2–0 (games) Grand Canyon Rafters
1999 November 19–20 Mesa Solar Sox 2–0 (games) Maryvale Saguaros
2000 November 17–18 Grand Canyon Rafters 2–0 (games) Phoenix Desert Dogs
2001 November 17 Phoenix Desert Dogs 12–8 Grand Canyon Rafters
2002 November 23 Peoria Javelinas 7–1 Scottsdale Scorpions
2003 November 15 Mesa Solar Sox 7–2 Mesa Desert Dogs
2004 November 20 Phoenix Desert Dogs 6–2 Scottsdale Scorpions
2005 November 12 Phoenix Desert Dogs 9–3 Surprise Scorpions
2006 November 18 Phoenix Desert Dogs 6–2 Grand Canyon Rafters
2007 November 17 Phoenix Desert Dogs 7–2 Surprise Rafters
2008 November 22 Phoenix Desert Dogs 10–4 Mesa Solar Sox
2009 November 21 Peoria Javelinas 5–4 Phoenix Desert Dogs
2010 November 20 Scottsdale Scorpions 3–2 Peoria Javelinas
2011 November 19 Salt River Rafters 9–3 Surprise Saguaros
2012 November 17 Peoria Javelinas 4–3 Salt River Rafters
2013 November 16 Surprise Saguaros 2–0 Mesa Solar Sox
2014 November 15 Salt River Rafters 14–7 Peoria Javelinas
2015 November 21 Scottsdale Scorpions 6–4 Surprise Saguaros
2016 November 19 Mesa Solar Sox 6–1 Surprise Saguaros
2017 November 18 Peoria Javelinas 8–2 Mesa Solar Sox
2018 November 17 Peoria Javelinas 3–2 (10) Salt River Rafters
2019 October 26 Salt River Rafters 5–1 Surprise Saguaros
2020 None (season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
2021 November 20 Mesa Solar Sox 6–0 Surprise Saguaros
2022 November 12 Surprise Saguaros 7–6 Glendale Desert Dogs
2023 November 11 TBD 0–0 TBD

Hall of Fame[]

Twenty-three former Arizona Fall League players have been recognized for their achievements in Major League Baseball since the creation of the Hall of Fame in 2001.[1] To be considered by the selection committee, a player must be recognized by Major League Baseball as an MVP, Rookie of the Year, All-Star, Gold Glove, or Silver Slugger.

2001

2002

2003

  • Shawn Green, 1993 Scottsdale Scorpions
  • Todd Helton, 1996 Peoria Javelinas
  • Mike Scioscia, 1997 Peoria Javelinas

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Most Valuable Player award[]

Template:Also First presented in 2002 and named for Joe Black of the Brooklyn Dodgers, the award honors the 1952 National League Rookie of the Year.[2]

References[]

  1. "Hall of Fame." Arizona Fall League. Retrieved on 24 August 2009.
  2. Desme Wins AFL MVP Award. CBS Sports (November 23, 2009). Retrieved on 2010-01-30. See Grant Desme, the 2009 recipient.

External links[]

Template:Arizona Fall League

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