Published On: October 7th, 2026

AFL Games began last week in Arizona

Rochester, Minn. – Major League Baseball announced their 2026 Arizona Fall League Rosters, with thirty-two Northwoods League Alumni being selected to this prestigious prospect showcase. Prior NWL alums like Bryson Stott (Wisconsin Rapids ’17), Caleb Durbin (Rockford ’19, Fond du Lac ’20 & ’21), Drake Baldwin (K-Town ’20, Madison ’21) and Jakob Marsee (Great Lakes ’20, Kokomo ’21, Traverse City ’22) have all participated in the AFL within the last five years and have gone on to star in Major League Baseball.

There are six teams in the Arizona Fall League: the Scottsdale Scorpions, Mesa Solar Sox, Salt River Rafters, Glendale Desert Dogs, Peoria Javelinas and Surprise Saguaros. These club names were picked by Major League Baseball as reflective of the Southwestern desert traditions in the state.

Each September, Major League clubs determine the players who will go to Arizona. Each Major League Baseball team sends seven top prospects to the Arizona Fall League. The games are played in six total ballparks that house MLB Spring Training, with select events in additional ballparks.

The roots of the Arizona Fall League go back three decades, when the Major Leagues wanted to create an easily accessed offseason league. With the Arizona Fall League, managers, coaches, scouts, and league officials can be under direct guidance of league and club personnel in league-affiliated ballparks and premier training facilities. The AFL is designed to serve as the ‘finishing school’ of the minor leagues for players, coaches, umpires, and aspiring employees.

How good are the players in the Arizona Fall League? Over 35 percent of all players named to the 2026 MLB All Star Game in Atlanta were AFL alums. Ten out of 20 players in the starting lineups for that game (starting pitchers and DH included) played in the Arizona Fall League.

The former Northwoods League players and their AFL team are as follows:

Glendale Desert Dogs (7)

Atlanta Braves

RHP Logan Samuels (Willmar Stingers 2022) High-A

Chicago White Sox

RHP Nick Altermatt (Mankato MoonDogs 2022) Triple-A

RHP Jonathan Clark (Mankato MoonDogs 2021) Double-A

C Grant Magill (Rockford Rivets 2021) Double-A

Miami Marlins

LHP Emmett Olson (La Crosse Loggers 2021) Double-A

RHP Tristan Stevens (Rochester Honkers 2018) Double-A

OF Max Williams (Mankato MoonDogs 2023) Double-A

  • Marlins #27 Prospect

Mesa Solar Sox (6)

Athletics

C Cole Conn (Eau Claire Express 2022, 2023) Triple-A

  • Athletics #21 Prospect

LHP Tucker Novotny (Minnesota Mud Puppies 2021/Willmar Stingers 2022) High-A

Chicago Cubs

RHP Dominick Reid (Wausau Woodchucks 2023) High-A

  • Cubs #28 Prospect

C Miguel Useche (Traverse City Pit Spitters 2021/Kenosha Kingfish 2023) Double-A

Los Angeles Angels

INF Jake Munroe (Madison Mallards 2024) Double-A

  • Angels #20 Prospect

INF Ryland Zaborowski (La Crosse Loggers 2021) High-A

Peoria Javelinas (5)

Baltimore Orioles

RHP Braxton Bragg (Traverse City Pit Spitters 2020) Double-A

Cincinnati Reds

INF Carter Graham (Eau Claire Express) Double-A

  • Reds #22 Prospect

RHP Trent Hodgdon (Madison Mallards 2022) High-A

San Diego Padres

INF Justin DeCriscio (Mankato MoonDogs 2022/La Crosse Loggers 2023) Double-A

Seattle Mariners

LHP Calvin Schapira (Rockford Rivets 2023) High-A

Salt River Rafters (4)

Colorado Rockies

INF Jack O’Dowd (Fond du Lac Dock Spiders 2022) Double-A

New York Yankees

INF Core Jackson (Battle Creek Battle Jacks 2022) Double-A

  • Yankees #11 Prospect

INF Kyle West (Green Bay Rockers 2023) High-A

Washington Nationals

RHP Owen Puk (Waterloo Bucks 2022) Low-A

Scottsdale Scorpions (4)

Detroit Tigers

RHP Logan Berrier (Green Bay Rockers 2022) High-A

RHP Preston Howey (Wisconsin Rapids Rafters 2022) High-A

RHP Maddox Long (Green Bay Rockers 2023, 2025) High-A

Tampa Bay Rays

OF Brendan Summerhill (Traverse City 2022, 2023/Rockford Rivets 2023) High-A

  • Rays #28 Prospect

Surprise Saguaros (6)

Cleveland Guardians

RHP Aidan Major (Wausau Woodchucks 2022) High-A

RHP Cam Schuelke (Traverse City Pit Spitters 2021) Double-A

New York Mets

RHP Ryan Lambert (Minnesota Mud Puppies 2022, 2023) Triple-A

Philadelphia Phillies

RHP Keegan Batka (Battle Creek Battle Jacks 2022) High-A

C Luke Davis (La Crosse Loggers 2024) High-A

Texas Rangers

C Julian Brock (La Crosse Loggers 2021) Triple-A

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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 33rd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history with 26 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, over 435 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (BAL) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (NYM).

 

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