Atlanta Braves Announcing Picks for 2016 Arizona Fall League
Today begins the roll-out of Arizona Fall League announcements, including team assignments and rosters. Which Braves’ minor leaguers are going this year?
Only one Top 100 Braves prospect is heading to the desert for November, but he’s a big one…though he doesn’t look that big standing next to his teammates.
MLB has just announced that Ozzie Albies will headline the Braves’ contingent that will help form the Salt River Rafters in the 2016 edition of the Arizona Fall League.
Albies is quoted as still looking forward to the possibility of a call-up to Atlanta next month, but still sees this opportunity as part of the process – the process of working hard and being patient.
"“If I don’t get the callup, I’ll keep playing hard and open the new season in the new stadium with the Braves,” Albies said. “I will work harder in the offseason to have a great Spring Training again, to make things finally happen.“I am patient, I am patient. I’m playing this game for me and my family. I have my goals and I want to reach my goals. I’m not going to step back. I’m going to go aggressively for it.”"
About the AFL
There are six teams in the Arizona Fall League, and each year five major league clubs are assigned to supply roughly eight players apiece to that club. This is certainly a unique format, intended to allow some prospects a chance to see what they can do against some stiffer competition.
More from Tomahawk Take
- Braves News: How the Braves got their name, mailbag, more
- Atlanta Braves Mailbag: New Year’s Edition
- Braves News: Atlanta makes a pair of trades, prospect debuts, more
- Atlanta Braves History: How the Red Stockings became the Braves
- Braves News: Atlanta Braves acquire Eli White from the Texas Rangers
Atlanta has been assigned to the Easter Division’s Salt River Rafters this fall, along with the Diamondbacks (no jokes, please!), Rockies, Tigers, and Brewers.
The rest of the Braves’ contingent to join Albies (2B/AA) is currently slated to be these players:
- 2B Travis Demeritte (A+)
- RHP Chris Ellis (AAA)
- RHP Akeel Morris (AA)
- OF Dustin Peterson (AA)
- RHP Evan Phillips (AA)
- RHP Brad Roney (AAA)
- C Kade Scivicque (AA)
That’s a pretty strong group with some excellent talent. Probably the best group I can recall from Atlanta in a number of years.
Next: Looking for a Kemp Deflator
Play begins on October 11st and runs through a Championship game on November 19th.