The Arizona Fall League (AFL) rosters have been announced, and nine players from the Philadelphia Phillies organization will be heading to the desert for some extra baseball this year.
Starting Monday, October 2, Phillies players will play for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the month-long, six-team league featuring some of the top minor league talent. They'll be joining prospects from the division rival Washington Nationals along with the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels.
Heading to Arizona with the players are Single-A Clearwater Threshers manager Marty Malloy and Threshers Strength and Conditioning Coach Joseph Miranda.
Announcing the 2023 Scottsdale Scorpions! #AFL23 pic.twitter.com/4FgznX7ZUr
— MLB's Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) September 22, 2023
Caleb Ricketts, C
Catcher Caleb Ricketts, 23, split time primarily between Low-A, playing for Malloy in Clearwater, and High-A with the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. The 2022 seventh-round pick and the Phillies' No. 15 prospect, by MLB Pipeline, had an impressive slash line of .368/.390/.547 in 23 games with the Threshers but came back down to earth with a .218/.287/.300 line in 44 games in High-A.
Oliver Dunn, 2B
Infielder Oliver Dunn, 26, spent his full season with the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils after coming over from the Yankees organization on waivers in the offseason. He put up some solid numbers with a .271 batting average and .902 OPS in 119 games. He found his power stroke with 21 home runs, 78 RBI and stole 16 bags.
Matt Kroon, 3B
Matt Kroon, 26, played all over the diamond this year but spent most of his time at third base for the Fightin Phils before a brief stint with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in Triple-A. The former 18th-round pick hit .319/.387/.493 with eight home runs and 22 steals in Double-A. He didn't have any problems in his 14 games with the IronPigs, slashing .414.500.759 with three long balls and four stolen bases while playing the outfield.
Gabriel Rincones Jr., OF
Gabriel Rincones Jr., 22, was a third-round pick last year and ranks as MLB Pipeline's No. 9 Phillies prospect. In his first season of professional ball, the talented corner outfielder slashed .248/.351/.427 in 120 games with the Threshers and BlueClaws. He hit 15 home runs, drove in 60, scored 81 times and swiped 32 bags.
Andrew Baker, RHP
An 11th-round pick in 2021, Andrew Baker, 23, made 41 appearances out of the bullpen in Double-A this season and struck out a whopping 64 batters for a 14.05 K/9. He struggled with control, however, issuing 48 free passes for a 10.54 BB/9 and ended up with an 8.12 ERA.
Jordi Martinez, LHP
Reliever Jordi Martinez, 23, threw 57 1/3 innings in 47 appearances between Jersey Shore and Reading this season. He finished with a solid 3.92 ERA and 69 strikeouts to 27 walks.
Christian McGowan, RHP
Following his return from Tommy John surgery, starter Christian McGowan, 23, only made nine starts with 38 innings pitched this year but finished up with an appearance with the IronPigs in Triple-A. The Phillies want to get their No. 14 prospect some more work now that he's back on the mound.
Mitch Neunborn, RHP
Mitch Neunborn, 26, made 10 starts and 16 appearances in High-A. The Johannesburg, South Africa native has a 3-4 record with a 3.37 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 54 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings.
Dominic Pipkin, RHP
Dominic Pipkin, 23, only threw 25 innings this season after starting the year on the IL. Between Rookie Ball, Low-A and High-A, the former ninth-round pick from 2018 finished with a 5.40 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 30 strikeouts.