In this article, we will explore Arizona Fall League from different perspectives and in various contexts. Arizona Fall League is a topic that has sparked interest and debate over time, and its relevance continues to be evident today. Through this article, we will delve into the multiple aspects that Arizona Fall League encompasses, addressing its implications, its history, its impact on today's society, as well as the possible perspectives offered by experts and scholars on the subject. Likewise, we will examine different opinions and points of view in relation to Arizona Fall League, with the purpose of providing the reader with a complete and enriching vision on this topic.
The Arizona Fall League (AFL) is an off-season sports league owned and operated by Major League Baseball (MLB) which operates during the autumn in Arizona, United States, at six different baseball complexes. Arizona Fall League rosters are filled by many of the top prospects in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) who are assigned by their parent clubs.
Structure
The six teams of the AFL are organized in two three-team divisions. Each AFL team is affiliated with five teams in Major League Baseball (MLB), and each MLB team provides seven players from their Minor League Baseball affiliates, yielding 35-man rosters. Specific players are invited (not assigned) to play in the AFL by their parent club. The league provides an environment for top prospects to advance their development, in a setting that MLB governs and monitors, as opposed to other offseason leagues (such as the Puerto Rican Winter League) located outside of the contiguous United States.
Player eligibility has changed over time; as of 2008, each MLB organization could only provide one player below the Double-A level, and before 2019 there were service-time limits for any players on the 40-man roster of an MLB team, but as of 2021 all players within an MLB organization are eligible.Free agents are not eligible. The seven players each MLB organization provides consist of four pitchers and three position players. Positional needs for each AFL team (e.g. catchers) are coordinated between player development directors of the affiliated MLB organizations via a "position draft". An MLB organization can assign more than three position players; such players serve as a taxi squad for the AFL team and are limited to playing two games each week.
Play generally begins after the conclusion of the World Series and runs until mid-November, although play continued into early December for the first five seasons that the league operated. Each team plays approximately 30 games; schedule length has varied somewhat during the league's history. Following the end of the league's regular season, the two division winners meet in a championship game.
Players wear uniforms of their respective MLB parent club, along with an AFL team-specific hat. The league had its own team-specific uniforms before 1998 and in 2019. The manager, pitching coach, and hitting coach of each AFL team are provided by MLB organizations on a rotating basis.
Each team plays home games at its own ballpark, each of which currently has a seating capacity in excess of 10,000 spectators. For the 2019 season, only four venues were used due to ballpark renovation work.
The league has organized an annual all-star game since 2006. Initially known as the "Rising Stars Showcase", it has been branded as the "Fall Stars Game" since at least 2013. Included in the 2022 season was the Homerun derby. Players for the game are selected by league staff, scouting and farm directors, and MLB.com writers.
History
The league's inaugural season was 1992, during which each team played a 54-game schedule that ended in early December. The divisions and teams that season were:
Northern division: Grand Canyon Rafters, Scottsdale Scorpions, Sun Cities Solar Sox
The league's first game was played on October 6, 1992, with the Grand Canyon Rafters defeating the Scottsdale Scorpions, 6–4.
Before the 1994 season, the Javelinas relocated from Tucson to Peoria, to limit travel distances to the Phoenix metropolitan area. All teams have been located in greater Phoenix since then.
Since 1995, when the Diamondbacks became the Desert Dogs, no team has changed its nickname. However, each team has changed its location at least once during its history. The most recent change was by the Desert Dogs, who moved from Phoenix to Glendale in 2013.
For the 1998 season, organizers rostered players onto each Arizona Fall League team from a single division in MLB:
Results for each team since the league's inaugural 1992 season are listed below. Teams are listed by their nicknames only, independent of location, as various team locations have changed over time. Tie games are not listed, as they are excluded from winning percentage calculations, which determine division standings. The best winning percentage for a season was by the Saguaros who went 26–10 (.722) in 2011, while the worst was by the Saguaros in 2002 with a record of 11–32 (.256).
Through 1997, teams were organized into Northern and Southern divisions. For the 1998 season, American and National divisions were designated. From 1999 to 2021, the divisions were named East and West, except for four seasons (2003–2005 and 2008) when American and National naming was again used.
As of the 2022 season, divisions have been eliminated. The top three teams in the final regular season standings qualify for the postseason. The second- and third-place teams meet in a play-in semi-final game, with the winner facing the first-place team in the championship game.
Division winners appear in bold type from 1992 to 2021; beginning with 2022, the top three teams that qualify for the postseason appear in bold type. Tie-breaking procedures (such as between the Saguaros and Javelinas in 2021 for the West division title) are unclear.
Year
Desert Dogs
Javelinas
Rafters
Saguaros
Scorpions
Solar Sox
Ref.
Record
Finish
Record
Finish
Record
Finish
Record
Finish
Record
Finish
Record
Finish
1992
20–33 (.377)
3rd South
25–26 (.490)
2nd South
26–27 (.491)
2nd North
33–18 (.647)
1st South
25–28 (.472)
3rd North
28–25 (.528)
1st North
1993
28–21 (.571)
2nd South
32–17 (.653)
1st South
26–22 (.542)
1st North
17–32 (.347)
3rd South
22–27 (.449)
2nd North
21–27 (.438)
3rd North
1994
20–30 (.400)
2nd South
32–19 (.627)
1st North
19–31 (.380)
3rd South
32–18 (.640)
1st South
26–25 (.510)
2nd North
22–28 (.440)
3rd North
1995
23–28 (.451)
2nd South
28–23 (.549)
2nd North
22–28 (.440)
3rd South
33–18 (.647)
1st South
16–34 (.320)
3rd North
30–21 (.588)
1st North
1996
26–25 (.510)
2nd South
25–26 (.490)
2nd North
22–29 (.431)
3rd South
27–24 (.529)
1st South
29–22 (.569)
1st North
25–26 (.490)
3rd North
1997
21–24 (.467)
2nd South
28–17 (.622)
1st North
29–16 (.644)
1st South
15–30 (.333)
3rd South
20–25 (.444)
3rd North
22–23 (.489)
2nd North
1998
21–22 (.488)
3rd AL
23–21 (.523)
2nd AL
26–18 (.591)
1st AL
19–25 (.432)
3rd NL
20–23 (.465)
2nd NL
22–22 (.500)
1st NL
1999
25–19 (.568)
2nd East
17–27 (.386)
3rd West
17–27 (.386)
2nd West
17–27 (.386)
1st West
25–19 (.568)
3rd East
31–13 (.705)
1st East
2000
25–16 (.610)
1st East
19–22 (.463)
2nd West
20–21 (.488)
1st West
19–22 (.463)
3rd West
25–16 (.610)
2nd East
14–26 (.350)
3rd East
2001
25–16 (.610)
1st East
21–10 (.677)
2nd West
26–15 (.634)
1st West
12–29 (.293)
3rd West
22–19 (.537)
2nd East
17–24 (.415)
3rd East
2002
25–19 (.568)
2nd East
26–17 (.605)
1st West
20–23 (.465)
2nd West
11–32 (.256)
3rd West
29–15 (.659)
1st East
19–24 (.442)
3rd East
2003
18–13 (.581)
1st NL
9–22 (.290)
3rd NL
13–18 (.419)
2nd NL
17–16 (.515)
3rd AL
16–15 (.516)
2nd AL
20–13 (.606)
1st AL
2004
21–15 (.583)
1st NL
16–21 (.432)
2nd NL
18–17 (.514)
3rd NL
17–17 (.500)
2nd AL
21–15 (.583)
1st AL
14–22 (.389)
3rd AL
2005
22–10 (.688)
1st NL
17–14 (.548)
2nd NL
16–16 (.500)
3rd NL
8–23 (.258)
3rd AL
17–15 (.531)
1st AL
15–17 (.469)
2nd AL
2006
20–11 (.645)
1st East
14–18 (.438)
3rd West
16–16 (.500)
1st West
15–17 (.469)
2nd West
15–17 (.469)
3rd East
15–16 (.484)
2nd East
2007
20–11 (.645)
1st East
17–15 (.531)
2nd West
19–13 (.594)
1st West
10–22 (.313)
3rd West
16–16 (.500)
2nd East
14–17 (.452)
3rd East
2008
18–18 (.500)
1st NL
16–22 (.421)
2nd NL
12–26 (.316)
3rd NL
26–12 (.684)
2nd AL
14–22 (.389)
3rd AL
26–12 (.684)
1st AL
2009
19–13 (.594)
1st East
18–14 (.563)
1st West
16–16 (.500)
2nd West
14–18 (.438)
3rd West
15–16 (.484)
2nd East
13–18 (.419)
3rd East
2010
11–17 (.393)
3rd East
20–10 (.667)
1st West
17–12 (.586)
2nd West
9–22 (.290)
3rd West
20–12 (.625)
1st East
13–17 (.433)
2nd East
2011
14–22 (.389)
3rd West
16–19 (.457)
2nd West
22–16 (.579)
1st East
26–10 (.722)
1st West
14–22 (.389)
3rd East
17–20 (.459)
2nd East
2012
13–15 (.464)
3rd West
19–13 (.594)
1st West
17–13 (.567)
1st East
17–14 (.548)
2nd West
15–16 (.484)
2nd East
10–20 (.333)
3rd East
2013
13–16 (.448)
2nd West
12–19 (.387)
3rd West
19–12 (.613)
2nd East
18–12 (.600)
1st West
10–21 (.323)
3rd East
19–11 (.633)
1st East
2014
14–15 (.483)
3rd West
15–14 (.517)
1st West
17–11 (.607)
1st East
16–15 (.516)
2nd West
12–20 (.375)
3rd East
15–14 (.517)
2nd East
2015
13–15 (.464)
2nd West
12–15 (.444)
3rd West
16–13 (.552)
2nd East
19–11 (.633)
1st West
18–12 (.600)
1st East
9–21 (.300)
3rd East
2016
17–15 (.531)
2nd West
14–15 (.483)
3rd West
15–15 (.500)
2nd East
17–14 (.548)
1st West
13–18 (.419)
3rd East
16–15 (.516)
1st East
2017
16–14 (.533)
2nd West
18–12 (.600)
1st West
13–15 (.464)
2nd East
13–17 (.433)
3rd West
12–17 (.414)
3rd East
16–13 (.552)
1st East
2018
12–18 (.400)
2nd West
21–9 (.700)
1st West
16–14 (.533)
1st East
11–19 (.367)
3rd West
14–15 (.483)
3rd East
15–14 (.517)
2nd East
2019
14–15 (.483)
2nd West
14–15 (.483)
3rd West
17–11 (.607)
1st East
17–12 (.586)
1st West
12–17 (.414)
3rd East
15–13 (.536)
2nd East
2021
17–13 (.567)
3rd West
17–12 (.586)
2nd West
10–20 (.333)
3rd East
17–12 (.586)
1st West
12–18 (.400)
2nd East
15–13 (.536)
1st East
2022
15–13 (.536)
2nd
14–14 (.500)
3rd
12–18 (.400)
6th
19–10 (.655)
1st
13–16 (.448)
5th
13–15 (.464)
4th
2023
12–18 (.400)
6th
15–14 (.517)
2nd
14–16 (.467)
5th
19–11 (.633)
1st
15–14 (.517)
3rd
14–16 (.467)
4th
Championship history
From 1992 to 2021, the first-place teams from both divisions met for the league championship. Originally a best-of-three series, it was played as a single game from 2001 to 2021.
As of the 2022 season, divisions have been eliminated. The top three teams in the final regular season standings qualify for the postseason. The second- and third-place teams meet in a play-in semi-final game, with the winner facing the first-place team in the championship game.
The Peoria Javelinas have won the most championships, seven. The most consecutive championships is five, accomplished by the Phoenix Desert Dogs during 2004–2008. No championship game was held in 2020, as the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award was created in 2004, in memory of Dernell Stenson, an outfielder for the Scottsdale Scorpions (Cincinnati Reds), 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.
In 2021, the league added several awards: pitcher, hitter, reliever, breakout player, and defensive player of the year. Winners are listed in the below table with their position and major-league organization.
The Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame was created in 2001. The AFL has had over 1,200 former players reach Major League Baseball. Additionally, 18 former AFL managers or 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 the major league level as a Rookie of the Year, a Most Valuable Player, an All-Star, or a Gold Glove or Silver Slugger Award winner. Through 2019, there were 46 inductees to the hall.
Through the 2021 edition, East and West have each won 7 of their 14 contests. The 2008 edition was staged as National vs. American, with the National team prevailing. No game was held in 2020, as the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Only one game, the 2007 edition, has gone into extra innings.