Phillies confirm names of prospects playing in Arizona Fall League this year

With the minor league seasons officially wrapped up and the MLB regular season just days away from doing the same, it means it's time for the Arizona Fall League (AFL). Every organization will send minor leaguers to make up the rosters for six teams that play out an abbreviated season and playoffs in the desert.

The Philadelphia Phillies will join forces with the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox to make up the roster for the Glendale Desert Dogs team. The Phillies are sending nine players to Arizona this year, including six prospects in their MLB Pipeline Top 30 rankings.

Used as a "finishing school," the development league has seen plenty of future stars participate over the years so organizations can see their top prospects matched up against other top young talent. However, other players are sent to log more playing time after injury-shortened seasons. The regular season schedule gets underway on Oct. 7. and runs through Nov. 14, with the finals on Nov. 16. The schedule includes a home run derby and "Fall Stars" game.

Phillies confirm names of prospects playing in Arizona Fall League this year

Here's the list of who's confirmed to be heading to the desert:

• Bryan Rincon, SS (No. 10)
• Gabriel Rincones Jr. OF (No. 11)
• Wen-Hui Pan, RHP (No. 20)
• Griff McGarry, RHP (No. 21)
• Christian McGowan, RHP (No. 22)
• Otto Kemp, 3B/2B (No. 28)
• Jordan Dissin, C
• Tristan Garnett, LHP
• Wesley Moore, LHP

The Phillies are also sending BlueClaws manager Greg Brodzinski as a coach for the Desert Dogs and Fightin Phils athletic trainer Meaghan Flaherty to join the team's support staff.

Six Phillies Top 30 prospects heading to the Arizona Fall League

Bryan Rincon (No. 10) only played in 35 games this season, mainly for the High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws, after being sidelined with a hamstring injury until late August. He got off to a slow start, but the 20-year-old shortstop hit .275 with a .920 OPS in 11 games in May before going on the IL.

Gabriel Rincones Jr. (No. 11) suffered a torn thumb ligament in late April that saw him miss two months of action and was away from the Double-A Fightin Phils for close to three months. The outfielder hit .263 with an .843 OPS and 11 home runs in 59 Double-A games. This will be the 23-year-old's second year playing in the AFL.

Even though Wen-Hui Pan (No. 20) didn't begin his season until late June after dealing with a broken finger, he impressed once he got on the mound. In 29 1/3 innings between the Complex League, Single-A and High-A, the right-hander registered a 2.15 ERA and a 29.2 percent strikeout rate over 18 appearances.

Right-hander Griff McGarry has seen his stock fall this season. He started the season as the Phillies' No. 11 prospect but ends the season at No. 21. The 25-year-old pitched 30 2/3 innings for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, working out of the bullpen for the first time, with a 4.70 ERA and unsightly 10.57 BB/9.

No. 22 prospect Christian McGowan, 24, battled multiple injuries this season and only threw 40 1/3 innings, mostly in Double-A. The right-hander logged 47 strikeouts but a 5.36 ERA and 1.59 WHIP.

In his third season playing in the Phillies organization, third baseman Otto Kemp (No. 28) progressed from Single-A all the way to Triple-A this year. In 123 games across all four levels, the 25-year-old hit .285 with an. 881 OPS, 16 home runs and 20 stolen bases.

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