Arizona Fall League rosters released, six D-backs prospects included
Aug 29, 2017, 12:45 PM | Updated: Aug 31, 2017, 8:04 am
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Jack Reinheimer can't get a glove on a hit by San Diego Padres' Manuel Margot during the second inning of a spring baseball game in Scottsdale, Ariz., Thursday, March 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
The Arizona Fall League, an offseason league for MLB prospects, revealed their rosters on Tuesday for the 2017 season. Six Arizona Diamondbacks minor leaguers will participate this year.
The six-team league plays in the Phoenix area, and each Fall League team has five MLB affiliate clubs. The D-backs are affiliated with the Salt River Rafters, who play at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, the spring training home of the Diamondbacks and Rockies.
D-backs prospects Michael Perez, Victor Reyes, Ryan Atkinson, Yoan Lopez, Colin Poche and Jack Reinheimer will all play for the Rafters.
Perez, a catcher, is a 25-year-old left-handed hitter who hit a combined .234 in Single-A Visalia and Double-A Mobile last year. He had four home runs and 29 RBI in 86 games. He was named an MiLB.com Organization All-Star in 2012.
Reyes, an outfielder, is a 22-year-old switch hitter who hit .303 with 12 triples in 2016, playing for Visalia. He was named an MiLB.com Organization All-Star last year.
Atkinson, a 24-year-old right-hander, has pitched at three different levels of the minors this season, compiling an 8-10 record with a 3.35 ERA in 134.1 innings for Kane County, Visalia and Jackson.
Lopez, whom the D-backs signed out of Cuba with plenty of fanfare in January of 2015, has had a resurgent season after a bumpy couple of years in the minors. The 24-year-old has been dominant at Single-A Visalia, posting a 2-0 record with a 0.94 ERA, a 0.84 WHIP and 51 strikeouts in just 28.2 innings of work.
Poche is a 23-year-old whom the D-backs selected out of Dallas Baptist in the 14th round in 2016. In 29 games for Kane County and Visalia this year, he has a 3-1 record with a 1.14 ERA, a 0.97 WHIP and 77 strikeouts in 47.1 innings.
Reinheimer may be the most familiar name to D-backs fans, as the 25-year-old played in two big league games for Arizona earlier this season. Playing in Triple-A Reno, the shortstop has hit .277 this season with 53 RBI.
In addition to the six players, the D-backs will also send Double-A Jackson manager J.R. House and strength and conditioning coach Mike Locasto to work on the Rafters’ staff.
The AFL season is set to begin Oct. 10 and will run through Nov. 10.
