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Arizona Fall League Preview – Top MLB Prospects of the Glendale Desert Dogs

By Richard Haake
Arizona Fall League Glendale Desert Dogs

We are getting close to that time of year! Arizona Fall League time! For those who are not familiar with the Arizona Fall League, this is when each MLB team sends their top-performing prospects as well as players who could get a major bump in 2024 to Arizona to compete against their elite peers. There are six teams in the AFL with names like the Scottsdale Scorpions, Surprise Saguaros, Salt River Rafters, and more.

On each of these six teams are players sent from five different MLB-level organizations. For example, the Mesa Solar Sox have players sent from the Orioles, Cubs, Astros, Athletics, and Yankees. In this article, I am going to highlight who to watch for each team in this season’s Arizona Fall League. Let’s dive into the Glendale Desert Dogs roster.

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Arizona Fall League Preview: Glendale Desert Dogs

(Bos, CHW, LAD, MIN, NYM)

Jake Eder, LHP CHW

(14 GS, 56.2 IP, 70 K, 6.35 ERA)

One of the biggest names on the pitching side for the Desert Dogs has to be Jake Eder of the Chicago White Sox. The left-hander came to the White Sox via trade this season and hasn’t had the easiest go of it to start. The 24-year-old is in his first season back from Tommy John surgery and has struggled with command and control giving up 5.7 BB/9. The one stat that has stayed consistent with Jake Eder has been his big strikeout upside. In 56.2 inning pitched this season Eder held a 11.1 K/9. This move to the AFL roster seems like the White Sox want to get Eder more game-action with the intent to get him ready to debut in 2024.

 

Ronan Kopp, LHP LAD

(30 GP, 21 GS, 72.1 IP, 107 K, 2.99 ERA)

This is one of my main must-watch guys for the Desert Dogs pitching-wise this fall as Ronan Kopp has been a beast this season. Across 30 games this season (21 starts) Kopp has an impressive 13.3 K/9 as a 20-year-old in High-A Great Lakes.

Kopp has been effective this season, limiting hits and showing off the big strikeout upside you want to see but the command and control need work. It seems the Dodgers are trying to get more opportunities for Ronan Kopp to cut down the walks and go into 2024 starting in Double-A Tulsa if all goes well. Keep your eyes on Ronan Kopp for dynasty purposes as he is a young up-and-comer in the Dodgers organization that could get a massive bump in 2024.

 

Nathan Hickey, C BOS

(98 GP, .265/.362/.496, 19 HR, 65 RBI, 3 SB)

This season has been solid for Nathan Hickey who rose from High-A and finished the season in Double-A Portland. Hickey’s steady rise seems to be catching some steam and the assignment to the AFL puts Hickey on the fast track for a potential debut in 2024. With Kyle Teel looking like the long-term face behind the plate for the Red Sox, this opens up possibilities for Nathan Hickey to build value and be a solid backup for Teel or a potential trade candidate with the new GM. Either way, Hickey slugged 15 home runs once he got to Portland in 80 games played and could get to 20-plus homers with a solid average and OBP at the next level. Someone to keep your eye on in 20-30-team dynasty leagues.

Kevin Parada, C NYM

(105 GP, .248/.324/.428, 14 HR, 54 RBI, 1 SB)

This is one of the few “big-name” prospects on the Desert Dogs line-up. Kevin Parada had an up-and-down season moving from High-A Brooklyn to Double-A Binghamton to finish the season. In his time in Brooklyn Parada had a 7.9% walk rate while only striking out 25.1% of the time. Things started to click in June and July for Parada where he slashed .274/.341/.438 before going down with an injury that kept him to only four games in August. With the small sample size results in Double-A being “so-so” it’s no surprise to see the Mets send Parada to the AFL to get his confidence back and see if he can finish on a high note before pushing for an MLB debut in 2024.

 

Brainer Bonaci, INF BOS

(79 GP, .297/.354/.464, 11 HR, 45 RBI, 7 SB)

The 2023 season was a big year for Brainer Bonaci who took big steps forward in his development. The 20-year-old finished his season in Double-A Portland where he had a solid 12.5% walk rate and a 23.6% strikeout rate in the 72 plate appearances he had. Bonaci’s approach at the plate has been one of the best I’ve seen this season and he is setting himself up to climb rankings over the off-season. The Red Sox were not afraid to reward Ceddanne Rafaela with a call to the major leagues this season at just 22 years old as they start to turn over their aging line toward the future.

I would not be surprised if this is a way for the Red Sox to get more eyes on Bonaci and push him toward the majors in 2024 or establish trade value for the coming off-season. Either way, Brainer Bonaci is a solid target in 20-team dynasty leagues and up.

Yeiner Fernandez, C/2B LAD

(99 GP, .273/.360/.375, 6 HR, 50 RBI, 4 SB)

If under-the-radar prospects are one of your favorite things to do in your dynasty leagues then take a look at Yeiner Fernandez. In High-A, Fernandez had a quietly solid season, slashing .273/.360/.375 while walking 10.9% and only striking out 12.9% in 99 games played. In the short three-year career Fernandez has shown an advanced eye at the plate and a propensity to get on base at an above-average clip. The Dodgers are known for their player development so it shouldn’t come as a surprise a gem like this slipping through the dynasty manager’s fingers just don’t miss a chance to pounce with a hot fall league performance.

Colson Montgomery, SS CHW

(64 GP, .287/.456/.484, 8 HR, 37 RBI, 2 SB)

Let’s look at this assignment for what it is. Colson Montgomery missed a big chunk of time in 2023 and the White Sox want him to get all the at-bats he can going into the off-season. Now this narrative works but let me put this nugget into your head. This might be the White Sox looking at Montgomery as a potential replacement for Tim Anderson if they don’t want to pick up his final club option for the 2024 season. Now Montgomery is not the only White Sox infielder on this AFL team trying to stake his claim but he’s definitely made a good case in a short sample size.

This season Montgomery hit .345/.537/.552 with three home runs, and a 24.4% walk rate paired with a stellar 18.3% strikeout rate in 17 games played at High-A Winston. Once he was promoted to Double-A Birmingham Montgomery walked 15% while only striking out 21.6%. Keep your eyes on Montgomery this fall and next spring as things could be shaken up in Chi Town.

Bryan Ramos, INF CHW

(81 GP, .264/.358/.450, 15 HR, 50 RBI, 4 SB)

This season has been solid for Bryan Ramos who played the majority of the season in Double-A  Birmingham. In his 77 games with the Barons Ramos slashed .271/.369/.457 with 14 home runs, 48 RBIs, and four stolen bases. Ramos continued to have a solid strikeout rate at 21.9% while improving his plate discipline and raising his walk percentage to a career-high 11.1%. As mentioned in my blurb on Montgomery there could be some new faces in the White Sox opening day roster in 2024 and Bryan Ramos could most certainly be playing this fall for an invite and roster spot. Bryan Ramos is a well-balanced hitter who could fair well in my opinion at second base. This season the White Sox played Ramos mostly at third base with the Barons so it will be interesting to see how many positions he is played at this fall.

Jacob Burke, OF CHW

(85 GP, .294/.392/.439, 6 HR, 40 RBI, 19 SB)

One of the most exciting players to watch this season in High-A Winston Salem for me this season was Jacob Burke. From the first at-bat to the final Jacob Burke grinded every chance he could drawing full counts and getting a pitch to hit. In his 50 games played in High-A Burke slashed .281/.377/.394 with two home runs, 40 runs scored, 18 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases. It genuinely felt like he was on base making things happen constantly. Burke had an 8.9% walk rate while with the High-A Dash and had a 22% strikeout rate. Burke gives me a lot of Andrew Benintendi vibes but needs to get more power to hit his ceiling. It will be interesting to see if the White Sox promote Burke to Double-A to start the season in 2024.

Kala’i Rosario, OF MIN

(118 GP, .252/.364/.467, 21 HR, 94 RBI, 2 SB)

The Twins are sending several interesting prospects to the AFL this season one of which is Kala’i Rosario. The 20-year-old outfield prospects put together a solid season in High-A slashing .252/.364/.467 while slugging 21 home runs and driving 94 RBIs in 530 plate appearances. Rosario raised his walk percentage to a career-high 14.2% while lowering his strikeout rate by 3% this season to 29.6%. Clearly, there is still room for improvement but Rosario is heading in the right direction and if he has a strong Arizona Fall League performance don’t be surprised if he starts rocketing up dynasty rankings.

Corey Rosier, OF BOS

(116 GP, .285/.351/.431, 7 HR, 41 RBI, 49 SB)

Keep Corey Rosier on your dynasty radars as this might be one of the last opportunities to snag him before the fall league kicks off. This season Rosier played the majority of his season in Double-A Portland where he slashed .285/.349/.439 with 64 runs scored and swiped 49 bags in 56 attempts. Rosier was a solid contributor at the plate striking out only 21.5% of the time while walking a career-low 8.3%. The Red Sox promoted Rosier to Triple-A to finish the season and this seems like an opportunity for Rosier to give the Red Sox an idea of how long he could be spending in Worcester to start the year in 2024.

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