The New York Yankees will be well represented at the 2015 Arizona Fall League, as six of the team’s prospects will take part in the league this upcoming fall.
The #Yankees are sending Chaz Hebert, Tyler Webb, Gary Sanchez, Eric Jagielo, Tyler Wade and Dustin Fowler to the AFL, I’m told.
— Josh Norris (@jnorris427) September 1, 2015
The Arizona Fall League was created in 1992, and its sole purpose is serve as an “offseason graduate school” for some of the games’ top prospects, as it allows the players to gain some extra playing time and a quality experience along the way. As teams select players to attend and participate, most of the rosters consist of Double-A and Triple-A players, but teams can elect to send as many as two players who play below the Double-A level.
With regards to the Arizona Fall League, the league is broken down into six teams, with each team having five major league affiliates. The Yankees are an affiliate of the Surprise Saguaros, which also consists of the Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, and the Texas Rangers. The Saguaros play their home games at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Surprise, Arizona.
The Yankees only elected to send six players thus far, but still have room for two more pitchers if they choose to add them on. Chad Jennings of LoHud.com notes that maybe Jacob Lindgren could be added to the roster, as the team could look to get him some more work during this offseason.
Here is a little more information on the guys who the Yankees are sending to the Arizona Fall League this season:
Chaz Hebert– Hebert is a 22-year-old left-handed pitcher who is currently in Triple-A in the Yankees organization. The former 2011 27th round draft choice from Breaux Bridge High School in Los Angeles rose through the organization this season, making his way from Single-A to the team’s Triple-A roster. In his 25 games in 2015 (19 starts) the left-hander has a 10-7 record with a 2.58 ERA in 129 innings pitched.
Tyler Webb– Webb is another left-handed pitcher in the Yankees organization, as he has spent his entire 2015 season as a reliever for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 25-year-old was selected by the Yankees in the 10th round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of the University of South Carolina, and has been strictly a reliever for the club, posting a 2-3 record with a 2.84 ERA in 25 appearances this season.
Gary Sanchez– With this list of prospects, Gary Sanchez is the guy that most Yankees fans should know about already.
Ranked as the Yankees’ seventh best prospect according to MLB Pipeline, the 22-year-old has been on a fast track to the major leagues, but with the catching depth the team currently has, it’s been hard for Sanchez to crack the major league roster. In split time between Double-A and Triple-A this season, Sanchez has posted a slash line of .274/.330/.485 to go along with 18 home runs and 62 RBIs in 93 games.
Eric Jagielo– Rated right behind Sanchez on the Yankees top prospect list is Eric Jagielo, a young third basemen who the club feels has a lot of upside. Jagielo, the Yankees’ first round pick in the 2013 MLB draft (26th overall), is currently with the team’s Double-A affiliate, but fans might not have to wait long before this young man is with the big league club.
For the Trenton Thunder this season, the 23-year-old has posted a slash line of .284/.347/.495, and also has 9 home runs and 35 RBIs in 58 games. This is Jagielo’s second season in Double-A, as he appeared in 85 games for the Thunder last season.
Tyler Wade– Tyler Wade is only 20-years-old, but he already ranks #11 on the Yankees top prospect list.
The left-handed hitting shortstop/second baseman is a former 2013 fourth round draft choice by the club, and already has found himself playing at the Double-A level. Speed is an asset that Wade possesses, as he has stolen at least 20 bases in each of the last two seasons.
Between High-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton this season, Wade has posted a slash line of .258/.322/.332 with a career-high 32 stolen bases. Defense has been an issue for Wade, who has 30 errors this season, but the Yankees are hopeful he can fix his defensive woes and impact the big league club at some point.
Dustin Fowler– Fowler has not yet reached the Double-A level, but that didn’t stop the Yankees from sending him to the Arizona Fall League this season.
Fowler was selected by the club in the 18th round of the 2013 MLB Draft, and has seen playing time as both an outfielder and a designated hitter. Fowler mostly plays centerfield, but has the ability to shift over to right field if needed.
In split time between Single-A Charleston and High-A Tampa in 2015, Fowler has a slash line of .302/.339/.403 in 118 games. Fowler’s stolen base numbers have drastically gone up so far this season, as he has swiped a career-best 30 stolen bases thus far. According to MLB Pipeline, Fowler is the Yankees’ #20 ranked prospect.
The Arizona Fall League is tentatively scheduled to start on October 13 this season. The schedule has each team playing mostly everyday throughout the month of October into the middle of November.
