2023 Arizona Fall League: Surprise Saguaros Roster Analysis
The 30th season of the Arizona Fall League is nearly here. On Friday, the league released its preliminary rosters for the upcoming season, which begins on Oct. 2 and runs through the championship game, which will be held on Nov. 11 at Scottsdale Stadium. The annual Fall Stars Game will be played on Nov. 5 at Sloan Park.
In addition to the traditional six-week slate, the AFL this year will feature two special site days. On Oct. 14, all three games will played at Goodyear Ballpark, the spring training home of the Guardians and Reds. Two weeks later, two of the league’s games (Salt River vs. Glendale and Peoria vs. Mesa) will be held at Hohokam Stadium, in Mesa.
This year’s rosters include nine of Baseball America’s current Top 100 prospects, led by White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery, who ranks No. 14.
Roster Analysis
The Surprise roster features prospects from the Rangers, Royals, Reds, Brewers and Blue Jays.
Top 100 Prospects: Ricky Tiedemann, LHP, Blue Jays (34)
Other Intriguing Prospects: Tiedemann is the lone Top 100 Prospect on this roster, and he has a case for the best pitching prospect in the league. The lefthander was limited by injuries to just 40 innings this season, but he was filthy when he got on the mound. With a mix of three plus or better pitches, he has the power to overwhelm the opposition any time he takes the hill.
Reds righthander Zach Maxwell has one of the best fastballs in the minor leagues, and the pitch was getting noticed as early as minor league spring training. The pitch sits in the upper 90s and features more than 20 inches of induced vertical break that helps him get plenty of whiffs both in and out of the zone. Maxwell backs the fastball primarily with a high-80s slider. That combination helped him strike out 96 hitters in 61.1 innings.
Rangers prospect Abimelec Ortiz had an outstanding season split between Low-A Down East and High-A Hickory. The hulking Ortiz got vision-correction surgery over the offseason and made some mechanical changes, which led to excellent results. Ortiz slammed 33 home runs while hitting for both average and power at both stops. There are questions about his ultimate defensive value, but his offensive outburst made him one of the minor leagues’ biggest breakout stars this summer.
Rangers shortstop Cam Cauley will flash intriguing tools on both sides of the ball, including a whip-quick bat and excellent defense up the middle. There’s still plenty of polish to be applied, but he’s got an intriguing foundation upon which to build as he moves up the ladder.
Roster
| Pitchers | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2023 Level |
| Bratt, Mitch | TEX | L | L | 6’1 | 190 | 7/3/2003 | Newmarket, Canada | Hickory (A+) |
| Cerantola, Eric | KC | R | R | 6’5 | 225 | 5/2/2000 | Montreal, Canada | NW Arkansas (AA) |
| Hernandez, Joseph | MIL | R | R | 5’11 | 150 | 6/15/2000 | Cotui, Dominican Republic | Wisconsin (A+) |
| Hoopii-Tuionetoa, Anthony | TEX | R | R | 6’2 | 190 | 8/11/2000 | Wailuku, HI | Hickory (A+) |
| Hubbart, Bryce | CIN | L | L | 6’1 | 181 | 6/28/2001 | Peoria, IL | Daytona (A) |
| Kaufman, Rylan | KC | L | L | 6’4 | 225 | 6/23/1999 | Gavelston, TX | NW Arkansas (AA) |
| Kent, Zak | TEX | R | R | 6’3 | 208 | 2/24/1998 | Henrico, VA | Round Rock (AAA) |
| King, Justin | MIL | L | L | 6’1 | 215 | 12/19/1997 | Lloydminster, Canada | Wisconsin (A+) |
| Larkin, Conor | TOR | R | R | 6’1 | 205 | 3/17/1999 | Lima, PA | Vancouver (A+) |
| Maxwell, Zach | CIN | R | R | 6’6 | 275 | 1/26/2001 | Nashville, TN | Dayton (A+) |
| Moore, Andrew | CIN | L | R | 6’5 | 205 | 8/11/1999 | Stockbridge, GA | Dayton (A+) |
| Palmer, Trent | TOR | R | R | 6’1 | 230 | 4/2/1999 | Rochester, MN | Dunedin (A) |
| Sandridge, Jayvien | CIN | L | L | 6’5 | 220 | 2/11/1999 | Hagerstown, MD | Chattanooga (AA) |
| Seminaris, Adam | MIL | R | L | 6’0 | 191 | 10/19/1998 | Pomona, CA | Biloxi (AA) |
| Slaten, Justin | TEX | R | R | 6’4 | 222 | 9/15/1997 | Longview, TX | Round Rock (AAA) |
| Smith, Shane | MIL | R | R | 6’4 | 235 | 4/4/2000 | Danvers, MA | Biloxi (AA) |
| Spiers, Carson | CIN | R | R | 6’3 | 205 | 11/11/1997 | Greenville, SC | Chattanooga (AA) |
| Stadler, Fitz | TOR | R | R | 6’9 | 230 | 4/2/1997 | Glenview, IL | New Hampshire (AA) |
| Teodo, Emilliano | TEX | R | R | 6’0 | 165 | 2/14/2001 | Barahona, Dominican Republic | Hickory (A+) |
| Tiedemann, Ricky | TOR | L | L | 6’4 | 220 | 9/18/2002 | Long Beach, CA | New Hampshire (AA) |
| Van Eyk, CJ | TOR | R | R | 6’1 | 198 | 9/15/1998 | Tampa, FL | New Hampshire (AA) |
| Wallace, Jacob | KC | R | R | 6’1 | 190 | 8/13/1998 | Lawrence, MA | NW Arkansas (AA) |
| Way, Beck | KC | R | R | 6’4 | 200 | 8/6/1999 | Harrisburg, PA | New Hampshire (AA) |
| Yeager, Justin | MIL | L | R | 6’4 | 215 | 1/20/1998 | Woodridge, IL | Biloxi (AA) |
| Zerpa, Angel | KC | L | L | 6’0 | 220 | 9/27/1999 | Valle de la Pascua, Venezuela | Omaha (AAA) |
| Catchers | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2023 Level |
| Hicks, Liam | TEX | L | R | 5’11 | 185 | 6/2/1999 | Toronto, Canada | Frisco (AA) |
| Trautwein, Michael | CIN | L | L | 6’1 | 205 | 9/13/1999 | Johns Creek, GA | Chattanooga (AA) |
| Infielders | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2023 Level |
| Brown Jr., Eric | MIL | R | R | 5’10 | 190 | 12/19/2000 | Tucson, AZ | Biloxi (AA) |
| Callahan, Austin | CIN | L | R | 6’3 | 215 | 6/6/2001 | Fremont, NE | Chattanooga (AA) |
| Clarke, Wes | MIL | R | R | 6’0 | 228 | 10/13/1999 | Richmond, VA | Biloxi (AA) |
| Cauley, Cam | TEX | R | R | 5’10 | 170 | 2/6/2003 | Houston, TX | Hickory (A+) |
| Loftin, Nick | KC | R | R | 5’11 | 180 | 9/25/1998 | Corpus Christi, Texas | Omaha (AAA) |
| Palmegiani, Domiano | TOR | R | R | 6’0 | 195 | 1/24/2000 | Caracas, Venezuela | Buffalo (AAA) |
| Wilson, Peyton | KC | S | R | 5’8 | 180 | 10/1/1999 | Hoover, AL | NW Arkansas (AA) |
| Outfielders | Team | B | T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Birthplace | 2023 Level |
| Brown, Dasan | TOR | R | R | 5’11 | 185 | 9/25/2001 | Oakville, Canada | Vancouver (A+) |
| Cross, Gavin | KC | L | L | 6’1 | 210 | 2/13/2001 | Bristol, TN | NW Arkansas (AA) |
| Hurtubise, Jacob | CIN | L | R | 6’0 | 180 | 12/11/1997 | Indianapolis, IN | Louisville (AAA) |
| Mendez, Hendry | MIL | L | L | 6’2 | 175 | 11/7/2003 | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | Wisconsin (A+) |
| Ortiz, Abimelec | TEX | L | L | 6’0 | 230 | 2/22/2002 | Bayamón , Puerto Rico | Hickory (A+) |
| Osuna, Alejandro | TEX | L | L | 6’0 | 185 | 10/10/2002 | Ahome, SI, Mexico | Hickory (A+) |
| Robertson, Will | TOR | L | L | 6’0 | 215 | 12/26/1997 | Loose Creek, MO | New Hampshire (AA) |
