Milwaukee Brewers: Who’s going to the Arizona Fall League?

The Milwaukee Brewers will send eight prospects the upcoming Arizona Fall League. Let’s take a look at who they’re sending…

The 2019 Arizona Fall League rosters were revealed this week, and the Milwaukee Brewers will send a virtual phalanx of intriguing names to participate. Who’s going, and will any of the young players involved have a chance at the Major League roster in 2020?

What is the Arizona Fall League

Every Fall Major League Baseball teams send a few players to a post-Minor League season ending, pre-off season league to allow guys to get more innings or at bats in before they start their off season program. Guys from Rookie Ball, coming off injury, or just in need of more experience or coaching are often sent to play.

When does the AFL start

The AFL season will begin on September 18th, and end after the championship game on October 26th.

Which team will have the Brewers’ prospects on it?

The Glendale Desert Dogs will feature prospects from the Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Milwaukee Brewers.

Are the Brewers sending any young arms?

Four of the eight prospects heading to Arizona in the early Fall will be pitchers.

The Milwaukee Brewers will send lefties Quintin Torres-Costa, Clayton Andrews, and Nate Kirby. Right-hander Victor Castaneda will also be on the roster.

Torres-Costa has been with the Milwaukee Brewers since 2015, and played in Triple-A as recently as 2018. He’s coming up on his age-25 season, and is coming off Tommy John surgery. He’s made one appearance in 2019 for the Brewers Rookie League affiliate. He’s recorded one out, walked three, and has one strikeout. He also owns a 27.00 ERA.

Andrews has excelled in a relief role, and advanced to Double-A this year. In total, Andrews has worked 37 games in the Minors between two levels, and owns a 3.21 ERA. He’s worked 56 innings, and has managed 72 strikeouts with 32 walks.

Kirby is about to turn 26 years old, and he’s only progressed to High-A. Kirby needed Tommy John surgery in 2015, and ended up missing 2016 and 2017 due to injury. He threw in High-A in 2018, but needed thoracic outlet surgery in March of 2019. The AFL will be his first live game action since 2018.

Castaneda was signed from the Mexican League, and spent 2019 in Single-A. He worked 41 innings and posted a 3.51 ERA. Castaneda racked up 49 strikeouts, allowed 13 walks, and gave up four homers.

Any top position players going to the AFL?

The Milwaukee Brewers will send four position players to the 2019 Arizona Fall League. Tristen Lutz, Payton Henry, David Fry, and Pablo Abreu will represent the Brewers in the field.

Lutz was the 34th overall draft pick in 2017, and he’s made it to High-A before his 21st birthday. Lutz owns a .255/.335/.419 slash line in 477 plate appearances. He’s bashed 13 homers and swiped three bases in five attempts this year.

Henry also spent 2019 in High-A, and turned in a solid year. Henry slashed .242/.315/.395 in 482 plate appearances this year. He hit 14 homers and drove in 75 runs for the Mudcats this year.

Fry moved from behind the plate to the infield corners this year in Single-A. Fry slashed .258/.330/.449 in 555 plate appearances. He also hit 17 homers and drove in 69 runs this year.

2019 was Abreu’s first in the United States, and split the season between Rookie Instructs and Single-A. He slashed only .210/.259/.315 in 158 plate appearances. He hit one homer and stole one base in one attempt. He has a ton of potential, but it’s also clear that he needs to pick up as much experience as possible. Six weeks in the AFL makes a lot of sense for him at this point in his career.