Arizona Fall League rosters revealed
Nationals' 2010 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Harper, rumored to debut in the AFL this fall, was not included among the league's preliminary rosters.
The AFL is an annual winter league run by Major League Baseball that often showcases the top talent from all 30 organizations -- Stephen Strasburg and Buster Posey were among the impact players to see time in Arizona last fall.
The league consists of six teams and is owned and operated by Major League Baseball. Each big league club is required to provide seven players to the league, which kicks off on Oct. 12 in the Phoenix area. The fifth annual "Rising Stars Game" will be played Nov. 6 at Surprise Stadium.
Ackley (Peoria Javelinas) and Sanchez (Mesa Solar Sox) are among the most notable names going to Arizona this autumn. Freddie Freeman, who was selected Tuesday as the International League's Rookie of the Year, will join the Phoenix Desert Dogs following an expected promotion to Atlanta on Wednesday. He's among the Braves' top prospects after hitting .319 with 18 homers and 87 RBIs in 127 games at Triple-A Gwinnett.
Ackley will be joined in the infield by Jose Iglesias, a Cuban defector who debuted in the AFL last year, and Koby Clemens, the power-hitting son of Roger Clemens who has 24 homers and 80 RBIs as a Texas League All-Star with Corpus Christi this year.
Major League veteran Brandon Wood will join the Solar Sox along with Cubs prospect Josh Vitters, the No. 3 overall selection in the 2007 Draft.
The Twins send a solid group to Peoria, including top prospect Ben Revere and pitchers Dave Bromberg, Kyle Waldrop and Tyler Robertson. Padres prospect Brad Brach, who leads the California League with 40 saves, will also join Peoria.
Other notable players heading West: 2007 sixth-round pick Matt Rizzotti, a two-time Eastern League All-Star with Philadelphia, will join Mesa along with former Dodgers fourth-rounder Andrew Lambo, now with Pittsburgh. ... Boston's Ryan Lavarnway, with 21 homers and 93 RBIs at two levels, will catch for Peoria. ... Switch-hitting Indians second baseman Cord Phelps will also join the Javelinas. ... Padres right-hander Craig Italiano, a 2005 second-round pick, will join the Saguaros along with White Sox '09 first-rounder Josh Phegley, who will split time behind the plate with Reds '07 first-round pick Devin Mesoraco. ... Dodgers coach Don Mattingly will manage the Desert Dogs, a team that includes Dodgers farmhands. ... Kyle Skipworth, the No. 6 overall pick in 2008 by Florida, will split catching duties with former '07 second-round pick, Austin Romine, one of the Yankees' prized backstops. ... Ivan De Jesus, the Dodgers' second-round pick in 2005 who broke his leg last year, will join Phoenix. ... Grant Green, the A's first-round pick in '09, was a Futures Game and California League All-Star in 2010; he'll head to Phoenix. ... A's slugger Michael Taylor, traded in the Roy Halladay deal, joins Phoenix. He posted huge offensive years in 2008 and '09. ... Rex Brothers, Colorado's top pick last year, will pitch for Scottsdale alongside fellow Rockies prospect Bruce Billings. ... Nationals catcher Derek Norris, voted MiLB.com's top Class A hitter in 2009, will join the Scorpions. ... Giants prospect Brandon Belt, one of only two Minor Leaguers with at least 20 homers, doubles and steals, will also head to Scottsdale. ... Eric Hosmer, the No. 3 overall pick in 2008, will represent Kansas City with Surprise.
"As we approach our 19th season, the Arizona Fall League is proud of its continuing contributions to the development of the sport's most outstanding young players," said AFL director Steve Cobb. "Just nine months ago, players like Ike Davis, Jason Heyward, Chris Heisey, Mike Leake, Buster Posey, Mike Stanton, Drew Storen, Stephen Strasburg, Jose Tabata and many others were polishing their skills in Arizona for the six weeks prior to Thanksgiving and just months before they became household names to baseball fans across America."
Danny Wild is an editor for MLB.com.