2009 AFL Roster Breakdown

The Arizona Fall League Rosters have been released. Let's take a mini breakdown of the teams (and remember, Futures Game scouting reports are on this site, so check out those for these players).

Mesa Solar Sox (Marlins, Cubs, Red Sox, Twins, Angels)

• Youngest Player: Starlin Castro (Cubs), Mike Stanton (Marlins): 19
• Oldest Player: Jay Buente (Marlins), Garrett Parcell (Marlins), Dustin Richardson (Red Sox): 25
• Most Intriguing Pitcher: Andrew Cashner (Cubs): The former 1st round pick out of TCU will look to continue his sprint to the Cubs with this audition. He is 2-3, 2.58 across two levels.
• Most Intriguing Position Player: Stanton. A strong fall league may put him in position to start for the Marlins next season due to their payroll situation.
• Futures Game Alum: Castro, Stanton, Rene Tosoni (Twins)
• TK's Seen Play: John Gaub (Marlins, unimpressed), Jay Voss (Marlins, unimpressed), Matt Dominguez (Marlins, believe below average starter is ceiling at 3B), Ryan Kalish (Red Sox, solid starter), Bryan Peterson (Marlins, 4th OF)

Peoria Javelinas (Brewers, Mariners, White Sox, Dodgers, Tigers)

• Youngest Player: Carlos Triunfel (Mariners): 19
• Oldest Player: A ton of 24 year olds
• Most Intriguing Pitcher: Phillipe Aumont (Mariners): Another former 1st round pick, the behemoth (6-7, 220) has moved to the pen under the new regime and a strong showing here could propel him to the Mariners pen next season if he shows command.
• Most Intriguing Position Player: Triunfel, Lorenzo Cain (Brewers): Both these prospects lost a lot of time due to injury and it will be interesting to see how they perform here. Also have to mention Dustin Ackley (Mariners).
• Futures Game Alum: Dayan Viciedo (White Sox), Scott Sizemore (Tigers).
• TK's Seen Play: None

Peoria Saguaros (Padres, Astros, Indians, Braves, Reds)

• Youngest Player: Freddie Freeman (Braves): 19
• Oldest Player: Evan Englebrook (Astros): 27
• Most Intriguing Pitcher: Mike Minor (Braves): Will be interesting to see how a guy who was thought to be a signability pick holds his own against this level of competition.
• Most Intriguing Position Player: Jason Heyward (Braves): If you know anything of minor league baseball, nothing else needs to be said.
• Futures Game Alum: Chia-Jen Lo (Astros), Jason Castro (Astros), Freeman, Heyward, Chris Heisey (Reds), Nick Weglarz (Indians)
• TK's Seen Play: Freeman (solid starter), Heyward (Star), Heisey (solid starter), Craig Kimbrel (Braves, future set-up man), Josh Judy (Indians, could be closer)

Phoenix Desert Dogs: (Orioles, Rays, Nationals, Athletics, Blue Jays)-roster missing about 10 pitchers

• Youngest Player: Derek Norris (Nationals): 20
• Oldest Player: Ryohei Tanaka (Orioles): 26
• Most Intriguing Pitcher: Stephen Strasburg (Nationals): Duh.
• Most Intriguing Position Player: J.P. Arencibia (Blue Jays): Amongst the top prospects in the organization, can he begin to lay claim to the catching job?
• Futures Game Alum: Danny Espinosa (Nationals), Jemile Weeks (Athletics)
• TK's Seen Play: Shawn O'Malley (Rays, fast as hell, utility infielder)

Scottsdale Scorpions (Diamondbacks, Phillies, Giants, Pirates, Rockies)- roster missing quite a few pitchers.

• Youngest Player: Wilin Rosario (Rockies): 20
• Oldest Player: Joe Martinez (Giants), Mike Zagurski, Tuffy Gosewich (Phillies): 26
• Most Intriguing Pitcher: Danny Moskos (Pirates): Can the 1st round pick start living up to the promise?
• Most Intriguing Position Player: Close race, but I will say Buster Posey (Giants): Can he prove that Bengie Molina is no longer needed and taht he is ready?
• Futures Game Alum: None
• TK's Seen Play: Martinez

Surprise Rafters (Rangers, Royals, Yankees, Cardinals, Mets) - roster missing about 10 pitchers

• Youngest Player: Austin Romine (Yankees), Mike Moustakas (Royals), Ruben Tejada (Mets): 20
• Oldest Player: Ben Swaggerty (Royals): 27
• Most Intriguing Pitcher: Ian Kennedy (Yankees): Can he recover from an injury plagued season to begin his quest to getting a rotation spot?
• Most Intriguing Position Player: Moustakas: When will the best high school hitter start proving it?
• Futures Game Alum: Daryl Jones (Cardinals)
• TK's Seen Play: Romine (Future Starter), Brandon Laird (Yankees, good power, awful body, painfully slow)

Chart Observations: 8/24 OAK @ SEA

1) Ian Snell: 99 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs (1st, 2 in 5th, 6th), 3 Sliders (4th, 2 in 6th), Curveball (3rd)

• Snell came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink, a 12-6 curve with average depth, a change with some fade from lefties and some sink and a 2-7 slider with solid bite.

1st: FB (88-91), CB (79)

2nd: FB (89-92), CU (82)

3rd: FB (90-95), CB (77-81), CU (83-85), SL (86-89)

4th: FB (92-95), CU (83), SL (83-88)

5th: FB (89-95), CB (78-79), CU (82-83), SL (88)

6th: FB (90-95), CB (82), CU (81-83), SL (82-86)

2) Vin Mazzaro: 99 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs (2 in 1st, 2 in 2nd), Slider (2nd)

• Mazzaro came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite, a change with some fade from lefties with good sink and a 2-7 curve with below average depth.

1st: FB (91-95), SL (84-87)

2nd: FB (90-95), SL (86-87)

3rd: FB (91-93), SL (82-84), CB (80), CU (83)

4th: FB (91-95), SL (83-87), CB (77), CU (86)

5th: FB (92-93), SL (81-83), CU (84-85)

3) Jeff Gray: 32 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Gray came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth.

6th: FB (93-95), SL (86), CB (80)

7th: FB (94-96), SL (84-86), CB (78-80)

4) Sean White: 23 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider (8th)

• White came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a change with good fade from lefties with good sink, a sharp 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth and a 1-7 slider with solid bite. He will throw his changeup to righties.

7th: FB (92-94), CU (84-85)

8th: FB (91-95), CU (84), SL (88), CB (79)

5) Jay Marshall: 18 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Marshall is a 6-5, 205 pound lefty. The 26 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 215 comfortably and he is almost rail thin. He is a submariner. His slider is a 8-5 offering with solid bite. His fastball has a little tail in on righties with some late sink and his change has a little fade from righties, but is fairly straight. If Randy Choate can be a LOOGY, I think Marshall could do the same thing. He needs one good year and it will give him a lot of chances.

7th: FB (81-83), SL (70-71)

8th: FB (81-85), SL (71), CU (72-75)

6) David Aardsma: 12 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Aardsma came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties.

9th: FB (93-95)