Arizona Fall League Yankees Preview

Feb 28, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; A detail of a New York Yankees logo painted on the field for a spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at George Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Fall League is ready to play ball. We are just a few short days away from the October 7th first pitch. The league, which was founded in 1992 and is owned and operated by Major League Baseball, showcases some of baseball’s elite prospects. The league has kept top prospects from going abroad to warmer weather in the offseason and allows their parent clubs to keep a close eye on their progression. It is also fun to watch.

Each August, the AFL’s six teams hold their prospect draft to fill out the positions on their rosters. The draft mostly consists of Triple and Double-A star prospects, although each organization is allowed to send up to two players at the Single-A level or international prospects. This year the Yankees will be sending seven of their pinstripe hopeful to the Scottsdale Scorpions. They will be teaming up with future New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants in hopes of getting the Scorpions out of the cellar of the Arizona Fall League Eastern Division as they finished 10-21 last season. The Tampa Yanks will also be sending their hitting coach P.J. Pilittere to serve in the same role for the Scorpions.

Who were the prospects the Yankees saw fit to send to Arizona for the month long season? Here’s a look at the Scottsdale seven.