Arizona Fall League Heads to Camelback Ranch – Glendale
October 16, 2009
Glendale, Arizona — The prestigious Arizona Fall League comes to Camelback Ranch-Glendale on Saturday night, November 14 when the Mesa Solar Sox face the Peoria Javelinas at 6:35 p.m.
Photo by Ron Vesely
Major League Baseball created the ArizonaFall League in 1992 to serve as an off-season “graduate school” for top prospects. The league is known as a showcase. Players have the opportunity to display their skills for baseball scouts, general managers, and farm directors.
For baseball fans, it’s a 40-day Valley homestand featuring many of baseball’s elite prospects.
Major League Baseball owns and operates the Arizona Fall League. Steve Cobb is in his 17th year as executive director. The league’s oversight committee is comprised of three team general managers — Josh Byrnes (Arizona Diamondbacks), Tony Reagins (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim), and Mark Shapiro (Cleveland Indians) — in addition to long-time baseball executive Terry Ryan who currently serves the Minnesota Twins as special advisor to the general manager.
Each major-league organization sends seven players to the Fall League. Five-organization groupings comprise the six teams.
Who Will Be Playing At Camelback Ranch – Glendale On November 14?
The visiting Mesa Solar Sox are comprised of prospects from the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and Minnesota Twins.
The Peoria Javelinas, the designated “home” team at Camelback Ranch – Glendale, field players from the Dodgers and White Sox in addition to the Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Seattle Mariners.
Dodgers and White Sox Prospects At Camelback Ranch – Glendale
Dodgers prospects playing for the Javelinas are RHP Javy Guerra, RHP Eric Krebs, OF Andrew Lambo, C Lucas May, C Jessie Mier, LHP Aaron Miller, IF Russ Mitchell, OF Trayvon Robinson, and RHP Travis Schlichting.
White Sox prospects with the Javelinas are RHP Justin Cassel, OF Jordan Danks RHP Matt Long, RHP Jacob Rasner, IF C.J. Retherford, RHP Sergio Santos, and IF Dayan Viciedo.
Arizona Fall League Contributions To Major League Baseball
Over 1,700 former Fall Leaguers have reached the major leagues. They include 141 all-stars, 6 most valuable players, 3 Cy Yound Award winners, 18 rookies-of-the-year, 3 World Series MVPs, 6 All-Star Game MVPs, 40 Silver Sluggers, 33 Gold Glovers, 8 batting champions, and single-season leaders in hits (12), RBI (5), home runs (2), and stolen bases (9).
Off the field, 24 former AFL managers and players have become major-league managers. Over 100 former AFL managers and coaches have coached in the major leagues, including 64 in 2009. Eight ex-AFL trainers were head trainers in the major leagues in 2009. Twenty-nine umpires were in the major leagues in 2009 as well. Forty-three percent of all MLB umpires received specialized training in the Arizona Fall League before reaching the major leagues. And, 76 former AFL administrators are present or past full-time employees in the baseball industry.
Tickets
Tickets for the November 14 game at Camelback Ranch – Glendale are priced at $6 for adults, $5 for seniors (55+) and youth (17 and under), and $3 for groups of 20 or more.
For group tickets and information, call 602-681-9362. Tickets may be purchased on game day at Camelback Ranch – Glendale beginning one hour prior to game time. There are no advance ticket sales. All seating is general admission except for groups.
Gates open one hour prior to first pitch.
