Phoenix, ARIZ. -- The Arizona Fall League, known throughout professional baseball as a finishing school for Major League Baseball's elite prospects, opens its 20th anniversary season on Tuesday, Oct. 9 with three games -- Scottsdale Scorpions @ Phoenix Desert Dogs (12:35 p.m. MST), Surprise Saguaros @ Peoria Javelinas (12:35 p.m. MST) and Mesa Solar Sox @ Salt River Rafters (6:35 p.m. MST).

The six-team league, owned and operated by Major League Baseball, plays six days per week (Monday- Saturday) at six spring-training stadiums -- Mesa Hohokam Stadium (Solar Sox), Peoria Sports Complex (Javelinas), Phoenix Municipal Stadium (Desert Dogs), Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale Stadium (Scorpions) and Surprise Stadium (Saguaros).

The popular seventh annual Rising Stars Game is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 3 at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. The league's championship game is slated for Saturday, Nov. 17 at Scottsdale Stadium.

The Salt River Rafters are the defending league champion.