With the release of the 2019 Arizona Fall League rosters, the Los Angeles Dodgers are sending seven prospects to participate on the Glendale Desert Dogs team. The Dodgers have typically had eight Minor Leaguers report to the AFL, and may still send another before play begins Sept. 18.
This year’s group from the Dodgers lacks a headliner seen in years past (Keibert Ruiz in 2018; Yusniel Diaz in 2017; Cody Bellinger, Willie Calhoun and Alex Verdugo in 2016) but there’s plenty of balance in the talent.
Pitchers Gerardo Carrillo, Brett de Geus, Marshall Kasowski and Mitchell White will represent the Dodgers along with position players Omar Estevez, Jeren Kendall and Devin Mann. Of the group, Estevez, Kendall and White are the most-recognizable.
Kendall was selected by the Dodgers in the first round (No. 23 overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft. He struggled last season with High-A Rancho Cucamonga and is repeating another year with the affiliate. Kendall has seen some improvements in 2019, buoyed by a hot month of August.
Estevez, considered the No. 15 prospect in the Dodgers organization, is in his first year with Double-A Tulsa after spending 2017 and 2018 with the Quakes. He landed on the injured list May 15 due to an undisclosed leg injury and didn’t return until July 4.
White has been placed on the 7-day IL three separate times this season. Though, he still has managed to appear in a combined 22 games (19 starts) thus far for the Drillers and Triple-A Oklahoma City. White was with the Drillers from 2017-18 and began this season in Tulsa before earning a promotion.
Carrillo has been on a steady rise since signing with the Dodgers out of Mexico at 17 years old. The young right-hander dominated in the Dominican Summer League in 2017, and followed suit in the Arizona League and for Low-A Great Lakes the following year. The California League has brought about some growing pains for Carrillo this season.
de Geus debuted with Rookie level Ogden in 2018 and has spent this season with the Loons and Quakes. Most notably, he hasn’t allowed a home run in a combined 59.2 innings pitched this year.
Kasowski, a true reliever prospect, has shined to the tune of 46 strikeouts in 29.1 innings pitched across 27 appearances for the Drillers. He was selected by the Dodgers in the third round of the 2017 Draft.
Mann missed nearly one month due to injury but has otherwise been productive this season after overhauling his swing during the winter. Mann has 19 doubles, 19 home runs and 63 RBI in 95 games with the Quakes.
In addition to now beginning the Arizona Fall League in September, changes include permitting MLB clubs to send any player under contract in their organization to participate. That could be of particular interest for the Dodgers, as they have several players who could benefit from a rehab assignment after the Minor League seasons conclude.
The Fall Stars Game will take place on Oct. 12, while the AFL Championship Game is scheduled for Oct. 27.
