Each fall, major league teams send a gaggle of minor leaguers, some top prospects and some not, to the Southwest for the Arizona Fall League. It’s a chance for more experience and more exposure for minor league players. Some are eligible for the Rule 5 draft, and a solid performance by the player could lead to expanded opportunities. Potentially, anyway.

So let’s take a look at former Valley Leaguers who are slated to attend, by Arizona League team roster…

Surprise

  • Alaska Abney (Charlottesville 2019), Cleveland Guardians, RHP: In High A and Double-A in 2024, Abney went a combined 6-0, 1.95, with 34 hits, 21 walks, and 52 K’s in 55 1/3 innings.
  • Anthony Simonelli (Winchester 2018), Kansas City Royals, RHP: From Winchester, Simonelli went 5-3, 2.93 combined at Double-A and Triple-A in 2024, with a whopping 87 K’s in 73 2/3 innings.

Scottsdale

  • None

Salt River

  • Evan Justice (Charlottesville 2017), Colorado Rockies, LHP: Justice has pitched in the major leagues in parts of two seasons. I imagine he is in the AFL to get some more innings after recovering from injuries.

Peoria

  • Landon Harper (Strasburg 2021), Atlanta, RHP: In High-A and Double-A in 2024, Harper went a combined 5-3, 2.43, with 59 hits, 14 walks, and 64 K’s in 77 2/3 innings.
  • Hayden Harris (Front Royal 2018), Atlanta, LHP: Combined at Double-A and Triple-A, Harris went 3-4, 4.64 in 42 2/3 innings, with 42 hits, 25 walks, and a whopping 69 K’s.
  • Justin King (New Market 2018), Miami Marlins, LHP: King got a new lease on his career after getting released by the Brewers after a stint at Double-A Biloxi. The Marlins scooped him up, and sent his straight back to the Southern League, where he went 2-2, 2.55, with a ridiculous 32 K’s in 17 2/3 innings.
  • Gabe Mosser (Waynesboro 2017), San Diego Padres, LHP: Mosser went 7-7, 5.40, with 103 K’s in 133 innings at Triple-A El Paso in 2024.

Mesa

  • Jack Hartman (New Market 2017), Tampa Bay Rays, RHP: Hartman threw at three different levels in 2024, overall going 4-2, 3.27 in 44 innings, with 15 walks and 50 K’s.
  • Jackson Lancaster (New Market 2021), Tampa Bay Rays, LHP: Lancaster has a very lively left arm; he struck out 42 batters in 29 innings at High-A Bowling Green in 2024. Lancaster is pictured batting as the featured image in this post, and I named him the 5th best hitter in the league in 2021.

Glendale

  • Christian McGowan (Strasburg 2019), Philadelphia Phillies, RHP: McGowan is also coming back from an injury, but he did strike out 39 batters in 34 innings at Double-A Reading.
  • Greg Brodzinski (Charles Town 2014), Philadelphia Phillies, Coaching Staff: Brodzinski was named the South Atlantic League Manager of the Year in 2024.