Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the autumn in Arizona, United States, at six different baseball complexes. The Arizona Fall League attracts many of the top prospects in Minor League Baseball.
Structure
Each August, MLB 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 two players below Double-A. Foreign players are allowed, as long as the player is not on his native country's primary protected player list. 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 with a championship game between the winners of the East and West divisions. Beginning in 2019, the AFL season will run from mid-September to the end of October to allow players to avoid downtime after the conclusion of the MiLB campaign and pitchers more continuous rest in preparation for the following year's playing schedule. Additionally on September 5, 2019, both MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association approved a rule change that allowed players on the 40-man roster to report to the AFL in October.The Arizona Fall League teams are each affiliated with five separate Major League teams; each affiliated 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.
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 second professional baseball league, when he played for the Scottsdale Scorpions. Likewise, Tim Tebow played for the Scorpions during his transition to professional baseball. Other notable ballplayers who have played in the Arizona Fall League include Derek Jeter, Dustin Pedroia, Mike Piazza, Albert Pujols, Jimmy Rollins, Bryce Harper, David Wright, Aaron Judge, Nomar Garciaparra, Mike Trout and Mookie Betts.Current teams
Championship history
Most Valuable Player award
First presented in 2002 and named for Joe Black of the Brooklyn Dodgers, the award honors the 1952 National League Rookie of the Year.| Year | Player | Organization | Position | Team | Ref |
| 2002 | Kansas City Royals | 1B | Scottsdale Scorpions | ||
| 2003 | Chicago Cubs | OF | Mesa Solar Sox | ||
| 2004 | Detroit Tigers | DH | Grand Canyon Rafters | ||
| 2005 | New York Yankees | 3B | Grand Canyon Rafters | ||
| 2006 | Toronto Blue Jays | 1B | Phoenix Desert Dogs | ||
| 2007 | Chicago Cubs | OF | Mesa Solar Sox | ||
| 2008 | Atlanta Braves | P | Mesa Solar Sox | ||
| 2009 | Oakland Athletics | OF | Phoenix Desert Dogs | ||
| 2010 | Seattle Mariners | 2B | Peoria Javelinas | ||
| 2011 | Colorado Rockies | 3B | Salt River Rafters | ||
| 2012 | Texas Rangers | 1B | Surprise Saguaros | ||
| 2013 | Chicago Cubs | 3B | Mesa Solar Sox | ||
| 2014 | New York Yankees | 1B | Scottsdale Scorpions | ||
| 2015 | Chicago White Sox | OF | Glendale Desert Dogs | ||
| 2016 | New York Yankees | SS | Scottsdale Scorpions | ||
| 2017 | Atlanta Braves | OF | Peoria Javelinas | ||
| 2018 | Milwaukee Brewers | 2B | Peoria Javelinas | ||
| 2019 | Minnesota Twins | SS | Salt River Rafters |
Stenson Award
The Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award was created in 2004, in memory of Dernell Stenson, an outfielder for the Scottsdale Scorpions, who was killed in a carjacking on November 5, 2003. The award is voted on by the managers and coaches of the six Arizona Fall League teams.| Year | Player | Organization | Position | Team | Ref |
| 2004 | Kansas City Royals | 3B | Phoenix Desert Dogs | ||
| 2005 | Oakland Athletics | OF | Phoenix Desert Dogs | ||
| 2006 | San Francisco Giants | IF | Scottsdale Scorpions | ||
| 2007 | Chicago Cubs | OF | Mesa Solar Sox | ||
| 2008 | Philadelphia Phillies | IF | Mesa Solar Sox | ||
| 2009 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 1B | Peoria Javelinas | ||
| 2010 | Washington Nationals | 3B | Scottsdale Scorpions | ||
| 2011 | Miami Marlins | OF | Surprise Saguaros | ||
| 2012 | Washington Nationals | P | Salt River Rafters | ||
| 2013 | Boston Red Sox | 3B | Surprise Saguaros | ||
| 2014 | Seattle Mariners | 3B | Surprise Saguaros | ||
| 2015 | Milwaukee Brewers | IF | Surprise Saguaros | ||
| 2016 | Miami Marlins | C | Mesa Solar Sox | ||
| 2017 | Seattle Mariners | OF | Peoria Javelinas | ||
| 2018 | Cole Tucker | Pittsburgh Pirates | SS | Surprise Saguaros | |
| 2019 | Cincinnati Reds | C | Glendale Desert Dogs |
Hall of Fame
The Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame was created in 2001. The AFL has had over 1,200 players who came through the league reach Major League Baseball. Additionally, 18 former AFL Managers/players have gone on to manage a Major League club after managing in the league. To be considered by the selection committee, a player must be recognized at Major League Baseball level as a Rookie of the Year, a Most Valuable Player, an All-Star, or a Gold Glove or Silver Slugger Award winner.| Year | Inductee | AFL Year | AFL Team | Role |
| 2001 | 1992 | Scottsdale Scorpions | Manager | |
| 2001 | 1994 | Scottsdale Scorpions | Shortstop | |
| 2001 | 1994 | Chandler Diamondbacks | Shortstop | |
| 2001 | 1992 | Sun Cities Solar Sox | Catcher | |
| 2002 | 1994 | Peoria Javelinas | First baseman | |
| 2002 | 1994 | Maryvale Saguaros | Manager | |
| 2003 | 1992 | Scottsdale Scorpions | Outfielder | |
| 2003 | 1996 | Peoria Javelinas | First baseman | |
| 2003 | 1997 | Peoria Javelinas | Manager | |
| 2004 | 1993 | Tempe Rafters | Outfielder | |
| 2004 | 2000 | Maryvale Saguaros | Manager | |
| 2004 | 2000 | Scottsdale Scorpions | Third baseman | |
| 2005 | 1992 | Scottsdale Scorpions | Pitcher | |
| 2005 | 1992 1994 | Grand Canyon Rafters Scottsdale Scorpions | Coach Manager | |
| 2006 | 1998 | Grand Canyon Rafters | Pitcher | |
| 2006 | 1992 | Grand Canyon Rafters | Manager | |
| 2006 | 1998 | Grand Canyon Rafters | Second baseman | |
| 2007 | 1995 | Sun Cities Solar Sox | Outfielder | |
| 2007 | 1995-1996 | Sun Cities Solar Sox | First baseman | |
| 2007 | 1994 | Tempe Rafters | Manager | |
| 2007 | 1998 | Phoenix Desert Dogs | Outfielder | |
| 2008 | 2000 | Maryvale Saguaros | Shortstop | |
| 2008 | 1993 | Tucson Javelinas | Catcher | |
| 2009 | 1994 | Sun Cities Solar Sox | Outfielder | |
| 2010 | 1996 | Phoenix Desert Dogs | Pitcher | |
| 2010 | 2000 | Grand Canyon Rafters | Shortstop | |
| 2011 | 2004 | Phoenix Desert Dogs | First baseman | |
| 2011 | 1996 | Sun Cities Solar Sox | First baseman | |
| 2012 | 1993 1995 | Sun Cities Solar Sox Peoria Javelinas | Pitcher | |
| 2012 | 2002 | Peoria Javelinas | Third baseman | |
| 2012 | 1992 1993 | Sun Cities Solar Sox Tucson Javelinas | Coach | |
| 2013 | 1995 | Tempe Rafters | Outfielder | |
| 2013 | 1999 | Maryvale Saguaros | Manager | |
| 2013 | 2004 | Scottsdale Scorpions | Shortstop | |
| 2014 | 2001 | Maryvale Saguaros | Outfielder | |
| 2014 | 2002–2003 | Mesa Solar Sox | Outfielder | |
| 2015 | 2007 | Phoenix Desert Dogs | Outfielder | |
| 2016 | Max Scherzer | 2007 2008 | Scottsdale Scorpions Phoenix Desert Dogs | Pitcher |
| 2016 | Mike Trout | 2011 | Scottsdale Scorpions | Outfielder |
| 2016 | David Wright | 2003 | Peoria Saguaros | Third baseman |
| 2018 | Ted Barrett | 1993–1995 | N/A | Umpire |
| 2018 | Jeff Nelson | 1996 | N/A | Umpire |
| 2018 | Buster Posey | 2009 | Scottsdale Scorpions | Catcher |
| 2019 | Steve Cobb | 1994–2018 | N/A | Arizona Fall League director |