One Thing About Every Top International Player Playing in the Arizona Fall League

The Arizona Fall League (AFL) is a place for young players to continue to develop or for players who missed time with injuries to get back on track. Each Major League Baseball team sends seven of its top prospects to participate. The AFL is also host to young international talent. This year, 50 international players will take part in the desert league.

The AFL has six teams, each made up of prospects from five MLB clubs.

Glendale Desert Dogs: Cardinals, Dodgers, Phillies, Reds, White Sox

Mesa Solar Sox: Angels, Athletics, Cubs, Rays, Red Sox

Peoria Javelinas: Braves, Brewers, Mariners, Marlins, Padres

Salt River Rafters: Diamondbacks, Nationals, Rockies, Twins, Yankees

Scottsdale Scorpions: Blue Jays, Giants, Mets, Pirates, Tigers

Surprise Saguaros: Astros, Guardians, Orioles, Rangers, Royals

Venezuela 

C Moises Ballesteros (Cubs): Ballesteros starred on Venezuelan national youth teams before signing with the Cubs as an international prospect. The 20-year-old is MLB Pipeline’s No. 44 prospect and already in Triple-A.

IF Daniel Vazquez (Royals): Vazquez is the No. 23 prospect in the Royals organization. His defense is his strong suit as he looks to make his way to the big leagues.

C Ethan Salas (Padres): Salas is the No. 19 overall prospect in baseball and the Padres No.1 prospect. He signed with the club as an international prospect in 2023.

OF Luis Lara (Brewers): Lara is the Brewers’ No. 17 prospect. Like Jackson Chourio, he skipped over the complex league and went straight to Single-A.

IF Danny De Andrade (Twins): The 20-year-old shortstop signed in 2021 with a $2.2 million bonus. His 2024 season was cut short with an ankle injury.

C Josue Briceño (Tigers): Briceno was Born in Miguel Cabrera’s hometown of Maracay, Venezuela. He is the Tigers’ No. 9 prospect.

RHP Luinder Avila (Royals): The Royals signed Avila as a 16-year-old in the 2018 international signing period. He reached Triple-A this year.

Other Venezuelan Players: RHP Jose Acuña (Reds), RHP Kelvin Ramírez (Dodgers), RHP Luis Rujano (Cubs), RHP Luis Pacheco (Yankees), C Rafael Flores (Yankees), RHP Saul Garcia (Mets), C Geovanny Planchart (Pirates), IF Adrian Pinto (Blue Jays), LHP Juan Rojas (Orioles), IF Max Acosta (Rangers)

Dominican Republic:

SS Leodalis De Vries (Padres): De Vries was the top 2024 international prospect. At just 17 years old, he has already reached Single-A, skipping rookie ball. He is the No. 28 overall prospect.

RHP Carlos Lagrange (Yankees): The right-hander played in just nine games this season but can reach triple digits with his fastball. He is the Yankees’ No. 20 prospect.

C Thayron Liranzo (Tigers): Liranzo was sent to the Tigers as part of the deal that sent Jack Flaherty to Los Angeles. He is the Tigers’ No. 6 prospect and one of the best catching prospects in baseball.

IF Eddison Paulino (Blue Jays): Paulino signed as a 16-year-old and reached Double-A this season. He is the Blue Jays’ No. 17 prospect. He was originally signed by the Red Sox.

RHP Jose Fleury (Astros): The Astros No. 10 prospect is only 22 and reached Double-A this year. He signed for just $10,000 during the 2021 international signing period.

IF Juan Baez (Brewers): The 19-year-old is the Brewers’ No. 27 prospect after reaching Single-A this season. He hit .272 at the level in 81 games. 

Other Dominican Players: RHP Jerming Rosario (Dodgers), RHP Alexander Alberto (Rays), RHP Wander Guante (Athletics), RHP Luis German (Padres), RHP Alfred Morillo (Diamondbacks), OF Juan Guerrero (Rockies),  RHP Rayner Castillo (Tigers), RHP Jawilme Ramírez (Mets), RHP Eddy Yean (Pirates), RHP Leandro Lopez (Rangers), RHP Luis Mey (Reds)

Cuba:

LHP Kendry Rojas (Blue Jays): Rojas is the only Cuban-born player in the Arizona Fall League to be in an organization’s Top 30. He is the Blue Jays’ No. 11 prospect.

RHP Lazaro Estrada (Blue Jays): Lazaro signed with the organization in 2018. He is still looking for a way to get into the big leagues.

Netherlands:

RHP Arji Fransen (Reds): Fransen is the only Dutch player in the AFL. He is currently in Triple-A in the Reds organization.

Taiwan:

RHP Wen-Hui Pan (Phillies): One of just two players in the AFL, he is the No. 20 prospect in the Phillies organization. He had a 1.29 ERA in 14 games in High-A.

LHP Yu-Min Lin (Diamondbacks): The 21-year-old starting pitcher reached Triple-A this year and is the Diamondbacks’ No.7 prospect. He played in the U-32 World Cup in 2021 before signing with the team.

Panama:

C Leonardo Bernal (Cardinals): Bernal is the Cardinals’ No. 9 prospect and is the only player born in Panama participating in the AFL. The 20-year-old is in Double-A.

Puerto Rico: 

SS Edwin Arroyo (Reds): Arroyo is the No. 65 overall prospect in baseball and reached Double-A this year. In four games at the level, he had six hits, a home run, and five RBIs.

RHP Carlos Torres (Rockies): Torres was drafted in 2022 and had a 3.51 ERA in 18 games during the 2024 minor league season.

Mexico:

LHP Sammy Natera Jr. (Angels): Natera was drafted by the Angels in 2022. He played in just five games last season due to injury.

OF Alejandro Osuna (Rangers): The 21-year-old outfielder is the No. 16 prospect in the Rangers organization. He hit a career-high 18 home runs in 2024.

Canada:

OF Denzel Clarke (Athletics): Clarke was drafted out of Canada in 2021 and played on the nation’s U-18 team. He is the No. 10 prospect for the organization and is in Double-A.

RHP Adam Maier (Braves): The right-hander is the Braves No. 17 prospect. He was drafted in 2022 but made his debut in rookie ball just this season due to injuries.

3B/1B David McCabe (Braves): McCabe is the Braves No. 13 prospect and is currently in Double-A. He played just 35 games last season.

Korea: 

RHP Jun-Seok Shim (Marlins): Shim did not pitch in the 2024 minor league season, but in 2023, he played four games, holding a 3.38 ERA in the Florida Complex League. He was sent to Miami as part of the Bryan De La Cruz deal.

Bahamas:

OF Kristian Robinson (Diamondbacks): Signed in 2017, Robinson has reached Double-A. At 23, he had 11 home runs and 42 RBIs in 2024.

Australia:

RHP Brandan Bidois (Pirates): Bidois played in the Australian Baseball League before signing with the Pirates. He made one Triple-A appearance last season.

Photo Credit: Leandro Lopez #46 of the Surprise Saguaros pitches during the game between the Surprise Saguaros and the Mesa Solar Sox at Sloan Park on Monday, October 7, 2024 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images)