2017 Arizona Fall League Rosters: Glendale Desert Dogs

SEE ALSO: 2017 AFL Rosters

GLENDALE DESERT DOGS
Pitchers	Pos	DOB	B-T	Ht.	Wt.	Org
Isaac Anderson	RHP	9-4-92	R-R	6-2	185	Dodgers
Argenis Angulo	RHP	2-26-94	R-R	6-3	220	Indians
Trevor Bettencourt	RHP	7-21-94	R-R	6-0	195	Phillies
Michael Boyle	LHP	4-12-94	R-L	6-3	200	Dodgers
Sean Brady	LHP	6-9-94	L-L	6-0	175	Indians
J.T. Brubaker	RHP	11-17-93	R-R	6-4	175	Pirates
Garrett Cleavinger	LHP	4-23-94	R-L	6-1	210	Phillies
Dylan Covey	RHP	8-14-91	R-R	6-2	195	White Sox
Luke Eubank	RHP	2-24-94	R-R	6-0	180	Indians
Matt Foster	RHP	1-27-95	R-R	6-0	195	White Sox
Jace Fry	LHP	7-9-93	L-L	6-1	190	White Sox
Elniery Garcia	LHP	12-24-94	L-L	6-0	175	Phillies
J.D. Hammer	RHP	7-12-94	R-R	6-3	215	Phillies
Taylor Hearn	LHP	8-30-94	L-L	6-5	210	Pirates
Mitch Keller	RHP	4-4-96	R-R	6-3	195	Pirates
Leandro Linares	RHP	1-27-94	R-R	6-3	205	Indians
Andrew Sopko	RHP	8-7-94	R-R	6-2	205	Dodgers
Shea Spitzbarth	RHP	10-9-94	R-R	6-1	195	Dodgers
Brandon Waddell	LHP	6-3-94	L-L	6-3	180	Pirates
Connor Walsh	RHP	10-18-92	L-R	6-2	180	White Sox
Catchers	Pos	DOB	B-T	Ht.	Wt.	Org
Edgar Cabral	C	9-12-95	R-R	5-11	210	Phillies
Will Smith	C	3-28-95	R-R	6-0	192	Dodgers
Seby Zavala	C	7-28-93	R-R	5-11	205	White Sox
Infielders	Pos	DOB	B-T	Ht.	Wt.	Org
Bobby Bradley	1B	5-29-96	L-R	6-1	225	Indians
Zach Green	3B/1B	3-7-94	R-R	6-3	210	Phillies
Kevin Kramer	2B	10-3-93	L-R	6-1	190	Pirates
Tyler Krieger	2B	1-16-94	B-R	6-2	170	Indians
Danny Mendick	INF	9-28-93	R-R	5-10	190	White Sox
Francisco Mejia	C/3B	10-27-95	B-R	5-10	180	Indians
Cole Tucker	SS	7-3-96	B-R	6-3	195	Pirates
Outfielders	Pos	DOB	B-T	Ht.	Wt.	Org
Matt Beaty	OF	4-28-93	L-R	6-0	210	Dodgers
Yusniel Diaz	OF	10-7-96	R-R	6-1	195	Dodgers
Logan Hill	OF	5-26-93	R-R	6-3	230	Pirates
D.J. Peters*	OF	12-12-95	R-R	6-6	225	Dodgers
Tito Polo	OF	8-23-94	R-R	5-10	195	White Sox
Cornelius Randolph	OF	6-2-95	L-R	5-11	205	Phillies
Ka’ai Tom*	OF	5-29-94	L-R	5-9	185	Indians
*Indicates taxi squad member Manager: Shawn Williams (Phillies) Pitching Coaches: Connor McGuiness (Dodgers), Matt Zaleski (White Sox) Hitting Coaches: Kevin Howard (Indians), Keoni DeRenne (Pirates)

THE STARS: The best position prospect on the team is Indians C Francisco Mejia. However, Mejia is listed as an infielder on Glendale’s roster, and the plan is for him to play the infield—primarily at third base—in the AFL. Mejia is the No. 18 prospect on our midseason Top 100 and the top-ranked catching prospect in baseball, and while the Indians will continue to keep Mejia behind the plate long-term, the AFL will give him exposure to a new position. The Indians have previously had internal discussions about getting Mejia experience at third base, though he’s only played catcher this year. He’s also a likely September callup . . . . Teams shy away from sending their top pitching prospects to the AFL, but Pirates RHP Mitch Keller (No. 15 on the midseason Top 100) will be there. Keller missed a month in June with a back injury, so the AFL will give him an opportunity to build innings from his 110 this year after throwing 124.1 last year. That gives him a better chance to handle a full season’s workload next year, when he’s likely to open in Triple-A and reach Pittsburgh at some point in 2018.

INTERESTING: Dodgers OF Yusniel Diaz has handled the jump to Double-A Tulsa well since arriving there at the beginning of August. He’s still just 20 years old . . . Managers voted Dodgers C Will Smith the best defensive catcher in the high Class A California League . . . Indians 1B Bobby Bradley has some of the biggest raw power in the minor leagues, and with a hot streak in a league typically thin on pitching, he could easily go on a power tear in the AFL.

REHABBING: Phillies LHP Elniery Garcia wasn’t injured, but he missed nearly all of the 2017 season due to an 80-game suspension when he tested positive for anabolic steroids. He’s returned to make four starts at Double-A Reading this month, so the AFL will help him make up for lost innings during the regular season.