2009 AFL Rosters Released

Arizona Fall League rosters were released today, and seven Mariners will play for the Peoria Javelinas. Every franchise selects players from their system that they want to participate in the league. There are six teams total in the fall league, so five franchises feed each team. The Javelinas are comprised of Mariners, Brewers, Dodgers, Tigers, and White Sox players.

Usually, the AFL does not get much attention. It will get a little more this year though, because Stephen Strasburg will make his pro debut as a Phoenix Desert Dog. The AFL gives teams a chance to get extra work for a handful of players. This year, teams are mostly using it to accelerate the development of their top prospects, so on paper this is one of the more talented AFLs. Here is a closer look at each player the M's are sending:

• Dustin Ackley - Much like Strasburg, the second overall pick will debut in the Fall League. This was announced when Ackley signed, so it is no surprise at all. Gordon Beckham and Matt LaPorta played in the AFL the year after they were drafted, succeeded, and put themselves on the fast track to the majors. Ackley is certainly worth watching, because he seems capable of getting on a similarly fast track.
• Philippe Aumont - The Mariners put Aumont on the fast track to the majors when they sent him to the bullpen. He has scuffled in recent AA outings, but a strong showing in the AFL may prime Philippe for a promotion to AAA...or maybe even the Mariners bullpen. Once Aumont is ready, he will be up, and the team is clearly giving him every chance to make it as quickly as possible.
• Joe Dunigan - Lost in the shuffle of all sorts of stellar offensive performances in High Desert has been the steady production of Dunigan. It's partly because he is older than other High Desert prospects. Still, Joe has a nice blend of power and surprising speed for his size. He deserves more attention than he has received so far, and a nice showing in the AFL will help him garner it.
• Josh Fields - Fields and Aumont are now both in AA, and both project as late-inning relievers. It sure seems like they are competing against each other, and they will yet again in the AFL. Josh still struggles with consistency, and on top of that he has been injured. Time spent in the AFL should help him out as much as anyone. He'll never become more consistent without ample opportunities.
• Nick Hill - Nick seems to get stronger and stronger every year. He had been in the bullpen his entire time in the system until the second half of this year. The move did not faze Hill at all, as he continued to dominate in AA. I like his chances to make the 2010 Mariners better than any other Diamond Jaxx pitcher (that includes Aumont and Fields), and I like them even more now that he is going to get some work in the AFL.
• Carlos Triunfel - The top M's position prospect in many minds pretty much lost the entire 2009 season to a leg injury. This is his chance to get some of that season back. If he can shake off the rust and play well, perhaps he will still be in line for a promotion to AAA to start 2010.
• Anthony Varvaro - Varvaro has a great arm, but he lacks control, and is already 25 years old in AA. The Mariners need to decide what they think of him sometime soon. A little extra time in the AFL should help.

The Mariners are sending quite a bit of talent to the Arizona Fall League this year. It is a collection of players with high ceilings that are not that far from the big leagues. Between Ackley, Aumont, and Fields, the Mariners have all three of their most recent top draft picks going to the AFL. I thought Adam Moore and Matt Tuiasosopo might be heading to the league too, but it's hard to argue with this list. The 2009 AFL is more than worth keeping tabs on.

2009 High Desert Mavericks at a Glance

After looking at Clinton yesterday, it is time to move up a level in the system to High Desert. The High Desert Mavericks play in the California League, which is known for its offense. In fact, the Mavericks played a game a little over a week ago against the Lake Elsinore Storm that they lost 33-18! The loss was exceptional though; High Desert won the league's first half title. It has been a very good year for the Mavericks so far, and here are the prospects leading the charge:

Joe Dunigan, 1B/OF - Last year, Joe showed good power potential in the Midwest League, along with stealing 28 bases in 32 tries. However, he hardly made consistent contact, and at 22 years old in that league it was a discouraging sign. What a difference a year, and a more hitter-friendly atmosphere, makes. Dunigan already has more home runs and walks than all of last year, despite jumping up a level. He has cut down his strikeouts too. Some of the progress is likely due to the smaller ballparks, but not all of it with the quantam leap forward Dunigan has made. His power/speed combination remains what makes him intriguing.

Tyson Gillies, CF - The 20-year-old Canadian has burst on the scene this year after a good 2008 season in Everett. Speed is his most impressive tool, as he may steal 40 bases this year. He combines that with good plate discipline, which is even more impressive considering how young he is, and a little extra base power. Gillies has all the makings of a prototypical leadoff hitter, and perhaps is the heir apparent to Ichiro at the top of the M's order if he continues to develop.

Donald Hume, LHP - Honestly, Hume's numbers are about as pedestrian as they get. Nothing is all that spectacular about them. However, in the offensively-charged California League, normal numbers for a pitcher indicate a job nicely done. Hume is already 23, and without any qualities standing out he is a fringe prospect. He has been on a roll since June though.

Alex Liddi, 3B - Liddi struggled mightily last year, posting just a .673 OPS in the Midwest League. However, the 20-year-old Italian has exploded this year with an OPS that has stayed above 1.000 the entire season. He is a five-tool talent, though still a raw one. Liddi strikes out fairly often, and does not draw a ton of walks. Still, he is threatening to win the California League triple crown, and his immense progress this year is undeniable.

Jamie McOwen, OF - A 23-year-old repeating the California League after a modest 2008 did not figure to make this post. However, a 43-game hitting streak that is still going changes that. It is already the longest in California League history by 8 games, and is only the 20th hitting streak of 40 games or longer in professional baseball history (that includes the major leagues). Regardless of age or level, McOwen's hitting streak is impressive. Jamie will have to continue to make a ton of contact to be a decent prospect, because he has limited power, and nothing else aside from all the hits really jumps out. Nothing from his professional career indicated such an incredible streak coming from McOwen, but while hitting streaks are parts fluke and luck, 43 games certainly takes talent.

Carlos Peguero, RF - Peguero is extremely aggressive at the plate, but thus far in his professional career finds a way to hit a bunch of what he swings at pretty hard. This season he already has 14 doubles, 12 triples, and 18 home runs, which in total means over half his hits are going for extra bases. The trouble is that Peguero strikes out about once out of every three at bats. It is feast or famine with him at the plate, and at some point his batting average is likely to plummet. The good news is that Peguero already has twice as many walks this year than he did in all of 2008...then again, it is not hard to do that when you walk 10 times total in a season. Still, the ability to post a .900 OPS with few walks speaks to the 22-year-old's raw talent.

Travis Scott, C - Already 24 and repeating in the California League, Scott is already a fringe prospect. However, his OPS has gone from .791 last year to around 1.000, indicating significant improvement at the plate. With the first half Scott put up, I would be tempted to promote him to AA and see what happens.

Jacob Wild, RHP - Already 24, Wild is old for the level, and is not the best prospect on the Mavericks pitching staff (Juan Ramirez probably is, though Michael Pineda will give him a run for his money when he is healthy). However, Jacob has been the most productive pitcher on the Mavericks, even while bouncing between the bullpen and starting rotation. He gives up a ton of hits, but everyone on the staff has. It is the California League, after all. What sticks out for Wild is a low home run rate. Keeping the ball in California League ballparks is a challenge, and is a reason to believe Wild may develop into a useful major league arm.

Even in a league that inflates offensive numbers, the Mavericks best talent is clearly on offense. Juan Ramirez and Michael Pineda, two of the M's most promising young pitchers, are both in High Desert. I could have included them in the post, but I want to focus on the most productive prospects. Pineda has been injured most of the year, and Ramirez has been a little shaky. Plus, it is not hard to find information on Juan Ramirez, but guys like Donald Hume and Jacob Wild do not get as much publicity. Tomorrow we will move up to AA and check on the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, where the major leagues all of a sudden do not seem so far away.