While the 2016 season ended for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and many players are resting and/or taking vacations, that is not the case for everyone in the organization.
Several of the Dodgers’ prospects are playing the the Arizona Fall League, a month-long league that features some of the best competition outside of the Majors.
Eight Dodgers prospects are currently playing for the Glendale Desert Dogs, managed by former Major Leaguer Aaron Rowand. The Desert Dogs roster is consisted of players from the Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals.
Outfielder Alex Verdugo is one of the Dodgers currently with the Desert Dogs, and is enjoying the experience despite still dealing with the fatigue from the regular season, per William Boor of MLB.com:
“I’m tired,” admitted Verdugo, who played a career-high 126 regular-season games with Double-A Tulsa this season. “When you’re able to come out and play with the best of the best, like this league is, it’s fun. The level of competition gives you an adrenaline rush and it helps you through it.”
Verdugo is coming off a season in which he hit .273/.336/.407 with 13 home runs and 63 RBIs with Double-A Tulsa. The 20-year-old, who was a second round pick in 2014 out of Sahuaro High School in Tucson, is pleased with the season he had in 2016:
“I think I had a good season,” Verdugo said. “There’s some things that I still want to do better, but I think, overall, in my first year in Double-A, I think I did well.”
Through the first nine AFL games, Verdugo is batting just .167/.219/.300 with one home run.
Along with Verdugo the Dodgers also have pitching prospects Chris Anderson, Joe Broussard, Raiston Cash, Corey Copping and infielders Cody Bellinger, Willie Calhoun and Tim Locastro playing for the Desert Dogs.
Verdugo, Anderson, Bellinger and Callhoun are all among the top prospects in the Dodgers organization.
