The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball^[1] which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States, at five spring training complexes.^[1] The Arizona Fall League attracts many of the top prospects in minor league baseball.

Structure[link]

Each August, Major League Baseball clubs hold a position draft^[1] to determine the players who will go to Arizona. Most are Double-A and Triple-A Minor League players.^[1] Each club can opt to send two players below Double-A. Foreign players are allowed, as long as the player is not on his native country's primary protected player list. The league is designed for these prospects to refine their skills and perform in game settings in front of major and minor league baseball scouts and team executives, who are in attendance at almost every game. Play begins shortly after the end of MLB's regular season in early October, and ends in mid-November.

The Arizona Fall League teams are not exclusive affiliates of any one team; instead, each Major League team provides seven players who team up to fill the 35-man roster of each team.^[1] Additionally, teams may elect to send Taxi Squad players who are only eligible on Wednesdays and Saturdays. MLB teams also provide managers, coaches, and trainers.^[1]

Notable players[link]

A number of famous ballplayers have had stints in the Arizona Fall League. In 1994, the league got worldwide attention as Michael Jordan's second professional baseball league, when he played for the Scottsdale Scorpions. Other notable ballplayers who have played in the Arizona Fall League include David Wright, Derek Jeter, Albert Pujols, and Ryan Braun.

Current teams[link]

2011 Standings[link]

Eastern[link]

Western[link]

Championship Game[link]

Saturday, November 19, 2011 – 1:10 pm (MST) at Scottsdale Stadium, Arizona

Championship history[link]

Most Valuable Player award[link]

First presented in 2002 and named for Joe Black of the Brooklyn Dodgers, the award honors the 1952 National League Rookie of the Year.^[2]

Winners have been the following:^[3]

Stenson Award[link]

The Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award was created in 2004, in memory of Dernell Stenson,^[4] an outfielder for the Scottsdale Scorpions (Cincinnati Reds), who was killed in a carjacking on November 5, 2003. The award is voted on by the managers and coaches of the six Arizona Fall League teams.^[5]

Stenson Award winners have been:^[5]

Hall of Fame[link]

Twenty-three former Arizona Fall League players have been recognized for their achievements in Major League Baseball since the creation of the Hall of Fame in 2001.^[6] To be considered by the selection committee, a player must be recognized by Major League Baseball as an MVP, Rookie of the Year, All-Star, Gold Glove, or Silver Slugger.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Arizona Fall League

• Arizona Fall League official website

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Josh Vitters
Chicago Cubs – No. 61
Third baseman
Born: (1989-08-27) August 27, 1989 (age 22) Anaheim, California
Bats: Right	Throws: Right

Josh Vitters (born August 27, 1989 in Anaheim, California) is a third base prospect^[1] who was drafted by the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball 3rd overall in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft.^[2] As of the 2009 season, Vitters measures up at 6-2, 205 pounds, and hits from the right side of the plate^[3]

Vitters was an AFLAC All-American Prep Third Baseman for Cypress High School in Cypress, California ^[4]

Draft[link]

Vitters was drafted by the Chicago Cubs with the 3rd overall pick of the 2007 amateur draft and signed with the Cubs on August 15, 2007.^[5]

Minors career[link]

As of 2011, he was playing for the Class AA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, the Tennessee Smokies in the Southern League.^[6]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Rotoworld report

This biographical article relating to an American baseball third baseman is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Adam Eaton
Eaton during his tenture with the Orioles
Starting pitcher
Born: (1977-11-23) November 23, 1977 (age 34) Seattle, Washington
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 30, 2000 for the San Diego Padres
Last MLB appearance
August 24, 2009 for the Colorado Rockies
Career statistics
Win-Loss	71–68
Earned run average	4.94
Strikeouts	855
Teams
San Diego Padres (2000–2005) Texas Rangers (2006) Philadelphia Phillies (2007–2008) Baltimore Orioles (2009) Colorado Rockies (2009)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion (2008)

Adam Thomas Eaton (born November 23, 1977) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.

Early career[link]

High school[link]

Eaton graduated from Snohomish High School in 1996 where he went 8–0 with a 0.67 earned run average (ERA) as a senior, and earned second team High School All-America honors from Baseball America.^[1] Ranked the No. 1 prospect in the Pacific Northwest by Baseball America, Eaton was scheduled to attend the University of Washington, but was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies with the 11th pick in the first round of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft.^[2]

Minor leagues[link]

After signing, the Phillies assigned Eaton to their team in the A-level South Atlantic League, the Piedmont Boll Weevils. Though he spent a month on the disabled list during the 1997 season,^[3] he posted a 5–6 record with a 4.18 ERA. Though his ERA went up a quarter of a point to 4.43 in 1998, his record was 9–8 as he struck out 89 batters in 132 innings at Clearwater.^[4] He was also named a mid-season All-Star in the Florida State League.^[5]1999 saw Eaton climbing his way up the rungs of the Phillies' farm system, starting the year at Clearwater, then earning promotions to Reading and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Between the three levels, Eaton posted a 11–10 record and a combined 3.34 ERA, striking out 127 in 167 innings.^[4] For his accomplishments, Eaton was honored as the recipient of the Paul Owens Award, given to the top Phillies' minor league pitcher each season.^[6] At the end of the season, before his first major league appearance, Eaton was traded with Carlton Loewer and Steve Montgomery by the Phillies to the San Diego Padres for Andy Ashby. He posted a 4–1 record in ten starts for the Mobile BayBears.

Major league career[link]

2000–01[link]

Eaton made his major league debut for the Padres on May 30, 2000, against the Milwaukee Brewers, and won his first major league game.^[7] He went 7–4 in the 2000 season, striking out 90 in 135 innings, and posting a 4.13 ERA. Eaton did not lose in his first eight starts as a Padre, posting a 1–0 record with a 3.02 ERA. He posted the best day game ERA in the National League (2.34), and became the third Padres pitcher, after Juan Eichelberger and Doug Brocail, to steal two bases in a single season. His batting average (.289) led all major league pitchers.^[7] Eaton's first full season in the major leagues, 2001, produced mixed results. Eaton suffered a bizarre injury when he accidentally stabbed himself in the stomach while trying to open a DVD package with a paring knife,^[8] and underwent season-ending "Tommy John" surgery on August 21.^[9] Before his injuries, Eaton posted an 8–5 record with a 4.32 ERA. This season also produced his first two career complete games, and he posted two ten-strikeout games against the Houston Astros and the San Francisco Giants.^[9]

2002–03[link]

After recovering from Tommy John surgery, Eaton made six appearances at the end of the 2002 season for San Diego, finishing his season with a 1–1 record and posting a 1.71 ERA over his last three starts. He pitched each of his six starts against National League West opponents.^[10] Eaton's 2003 ERA was a career low (4.08), but he only managed a 9–12 record over his second full season. He pitched at least seven innings in ten of his 31 starts, including a season-high eight innings to earn his third complete game of his career against the Cleveland Indians. Though he started the season weakly, July was Eaton's top month; he posted a 4–0 record and a 2.81 ERA in the month. His nine wins were a career high.^[11]

2004–05[link]

2004 was a career year for Eaton, as he reached new levels in wins, with 11; starts, with 33; innings pitched, with 199⅓; and strikeouts, with 153.^[12] He beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, a San Diego rival, four times during the season, posting a 4–1 record and a 2.87 ERA against them. He also won eight games on the road, posting a 2.66 ERA during his seven-game winning streak away from new PETCO Park.^[12] In a game against the Royals in July he became the eighth different Padre to take a no-hitter into the eighth inning, but was unable to complete the task.^[12] In his last year as a Padre, Eaton posted a 9–1 record over his first 13 starts.^[13] He pitched his way to a 10–5 record with an ERA of 4.27,^[14] but he went on the disabled list in the middle of June with a strained finger.^[13] He came back at the end of the season and won his final start against the Dodgers, striking out 11.^[13] This win also matched his career high from the previous season.

Offseason trade[link]

On December 20, 2005, Eaton was traded, along with Akinori Otsuka and Billy Killian to the Texas Rangers for Chris Young, Terrmel Sledge, and Adrian Gonzalez.^[13]

2006[link]

After the trade, Eaton was penciled in as the number two starter for the Rangers going into the 2006 season. However, during a spring training game on March 29, Eaton injured his right middle finger, causing him to go on the 60-day DL and miss the first half of the season.^[15] Eaton made his first start as a Ranger against the New York Yankees on July 25, going 3⅔ innings and giving up one hit and three earned runs.^[15]

Signs with Phillies[link]

On November 27, 2006, Eaton signed a three-year deal worth $24 million to re-join the team that drafted him, the Philadelphia Phillies.^[16]

2007[link]

Eaton made his debut for the Phillies on April 5, 2007 against the Atlanta Braves. He pitched 4⅔ innings giving up 7 earned runs and took the loss.^[17] Eaton was the losing pitcher of record when the Phillies lost their 10,000th game in franchise-history^[18] on July 15, 2007 to the St. Louis Cardinals, 10–2,^[19] marking the first time a professional sports franchise reached that plateau.^[20] Eaton was 10–10 with an earned run average of 6.29, one of the worst in the league;^[21] despite this, the Phillies won the National League Eastern Division for the first time since 1993. However, Eaton was not included in the postseason roster.

2008[link]

Eaton's performance with the Phillies in the first half of the 2008 season was also decidedly poor; through July 12, he notched a 3–8 record in 19 starts with an earned run average of 5.71. His last two outings before the All-Star break were a prime example; he yielded a combined 17 hits and 14 runs in 6 1/3 innings against the New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks. It was announced on July 18 that Eaton would lose his spot in the Phillies' rotation to newly acquired Joe Blanton.^[22] Eaton was optioned to the minor leagues on July 28, 2008. He did not return to the majors until he was added to the September callups as a bullpen pitcher. He did not appear in any game after his callup.

2009[link]

Two days after he was released by the Phillies,^[23] Eaton signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles on March 1, 2009.^[24] In an interview with MLB.com after his release from the Phillies, he claimed he was partially responsible for the Phillies' success in 2007 and 2008: "A lot of things went wrong, but a lot of things went right, too. I helped them get to the playoffs two years in a row, and obviously we won the World Series last year."^[25] He was promoted to the Orioles after spending the first week of the 2009 major league season with the Norfolk Tides. He was released on May 22 after going 2–5 with an 8.56 ERA in eight starts.^[26]

Colorado Rockies[link]

On June 6, Eaton signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies. On September 9 he was designated for assignment.

Eaton was granted free agency on October 6, 2009.

References[link]

External links[link]

Baseball portal

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)

Gerrit Cole
Cole pitching for the U. S. national team in the 2010 World University Baseball Championship
Pittsburgh Pirates – No. 75
Pitcher
Born: (1990-09-08) September 8, 1990 (age 21) Newport Beach, California
Bats: Right	Throws: Right

Gerrit Alan Cole (born September 8, 1990 in Newport Beach, California) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He was selected by the Pirates with the 1st overall selection in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft. He pitched for the UCLA Bruins team at UCLA.

High school career[link]

Cole attended Orange Lutheran High School. He was named to the USA Today All-USA high school baseball team. Baseball America rated him the 17th best prospect. He was named the ESPN Rise Athlete of the Month for three consecutive months in March, April, and May 2010.^{[citation needed]}

College career[link]

Cole was drafted by the New York Yankees in the first round (28th overall) of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft. The Yankees, planning on offering Cole a bonus above the recommended amount for the slot, waited until the deadline to attempt to sign Cole^{[citation needed]}, by which time Cole had decided to follow through with his collegiate scholarship with UCLA.^[1][2] Despite being represented by Scott Boras, and though the Yankees were believed to be ready to offer upwards of $4 million, Cole never negotiated with the Yankees, as he was determined to attend college.^[3]

During the 2010 season, he contributed in making the Bruins team the best baseball team (51-17 record) in school history and the second best team in the country. The team went on to play in the 2010 College World Series and was defeated by South Carolina in the NCAA Championship Series. Cole went 11-4 with a 3.37 ERA, collecting 153 strikeouts in 123.0 innings.

In his freshman year, Cole recorded a 4-8 record with a 3.49 ERA, collecting 104 strikeouts in 85.0 innings.

Cole was a member of the 2009 Collegiate National Team (Team USA) and is named to the 2010 Collegiate National Team roster.^[4][5]

Professional career[link]

Cole was selected with the first overall pick in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He signed a minor league contract with an $8 million signing bonus fifteen minutes before the signing deadline on August 15.^[6][7] He signed too late to pitch in the 2011 minor league season, but he pitched for the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League. He recorded 16 strikeouts in 15 innings pitched for the Solar Sox and had a 3.00 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP.

Scouting report[link]

Cole features a fastball that he regularly throws between 94 and 98 miles per hour, but has been clocked as high as 102.^[8] He also throws a slider and a changeup.^[9]

References[link]

External links[link]

	Biography portal
	Baseball portal

• Career statistics and player information from The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Minor League Baseball: Events: 2008 Draft Report
• Player Bio: Gerrit Cole
• Scouting Gerrit Cole, UCLA
• The Hardball Times: Breaking Down the Draft: Scouting Gerrit Cole

Tim Beckham
Tampa Bay Rays – No. 29
Infielder
Born: (1990-01-27) January 27, 1990 (age 22) Griffin, Georgia
Bats: Right	Throws: Right

Timothy Lamar Beckham (born January 27, 1990, in Griffin, Georgia) is a minor league shortstop for the Class AAA Durham Bulls of the International League. He was the first overall selection of the 2008 MLB Draft, and signed with the Rays on June 19, receiving a signing bonus of $6.15 million.

Athletic profile[link]

Beckham was rated by publications such as Baseball America as the top high school baseball prospect in the nation.^[1] Beckham is described as a potential five tool player at the major league level. Beckham runs the 60 yard dash in 6.35 seconds, and bench presses 280 lbs. He stands 6'3" and weighs 195 lbs.^[2]

Early years[link]

Beckham, the youngest son of Jimmy and Ella Beckham, grew up in the Crestview Heights neighborhood of Griffin, Georgia. He often played baseball in his yard with his older brothers Stephen and Jeremy. During his younger years Beckham was involved in football, basketball and baseball. However, he quit baseball while in grade school to focus on football and basketball. Encouraged by his brothers, he got back into baseball, and began to excel. Jeremy introduced him to baseball coach Anthony Dye, who coached the Atlanta Blue Jays. Dye realized the potential Beckham possessed, and worked closely with him. Beckham was the shortstop for the Griffin JV baseball team as an eighth grader, and the varsity team at Griffin High School in 2005 as a freshman.^[1]

High school[link]

before settling in at the position his freshman year on the Griffin High varsity team. Beckham batted seventh in the batting order and 14 home runs on the season.^[3]

Sophomore year[link]

On his first at-bat in 2006 as a sophomore, Beckham hit a home run. For the season he batted .405 including five home runs, three triples and six doubles. He also added 22 runs batted in and stole 15 bases.^[3]

Junior year[link]

During his junior season at Griffin, Beckham batted .512, including nine doubles, six triples, and six home runs. He also added 39 RBIs and stole 20 bases.^[1] Following the season, Beckham competed in the World Wood Bat Association 17-Under Summer Championship, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Beckham impressed, and finished the tournament rated as the #1 prospect out of over 2,000 participants. Later that year, in August of 2007, Beckham took home the MVP Honors at the Aflac Classic in San Diego, California, the most prestigious high school scouting showcase. Beckham concluded the summer of 2007 having batted .409, including nine home runs, 15 doubles, eight triples, and 32 stolen bases, against the best competition in America, confirming his status as the top high school prospect.

Senior year[link]

Beckham committed to the University of Southern California during his senior year,^[4] but maintained his intentions of entering the 2008 MLB Draft. Through 24 games in his senior season, Beckham batted .500, with five home runs, nine doubles and three triples. Beckham also added 31 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.^[5]

Minor leagues[link]

He was the first overall selection of the 2008 MLB Draft, and signed with the Rays on June 19, receiving a signing bonus of $6.15 million. He has played with the Princeton Rays of the Appalachian League the Hudson Valley Renegades, the Bowling Green Hot Rods of the Midwest League, and the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Florida State League.

In 2011, Beckham was selected to the All-Star Futures Game along with fellow Tampa Bay Rays prospects Hak-Ju Lee and Matt Moore.^[6]

In May of 2012, Beckham was suspended 50 games for a second positive test of a drug of abuse. ^[7]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Career statistics and player information from The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• MiLB.com Player Profile: Tim Beckham
• Baseball America Top Prospects
• Crazy Summer Benefits Beckham
• Baseball Digest Daily
• Max Preps: Tim Beckham