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Chase DeLauter (Photo by Bill Mitchell)
While there are a number of Top 100 Prospects and other high-profile names on Arizona Fall League rosters this year, for many of the players headed to the desert next month, they will be playing to show they are worth adding to their team’s 40-man roster.
In total, there are 66 players whose teams are facing 40-man roster decisions for them this November. If these players aren’t added to the 40-man, they will be left eligible for the MLB Rule 5 draft in December.
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A few of the players who are potentially Rule 5-eligible will be easy decisions. Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter’s addition to the 40-man roster, for example, is a formality. But he’s also the exception. The vast majority of players headed to the AFL are either unlikely to be added or are on the bubble, meaning they could play their way onto the 40-man rosters with strong desert showings this October and November.
Speaking of the Guardians, in case you are wondering, Cleveland doesn’t face such a decision with righthander Daniel Espino, who is looking to return to form with a successful AFL. Espino is already on the team’s 40-man roster.
Below, you’ll find Baseball America’s rundown of players on each AFL roster who are potentially Rule 5-eligible as best can be determined using MLB’s Rule 5 roster eligibility rules. Players are eligible after four seasons if they signed as a 19-year-old or older and five seasons if they signed at 18 or younger. Anyone already on the 40-man roster is not included.
Glendale Desert Dogs
| Player | Org | PoS |
|---|---|---|
| Edward Duran | TOR | C |
| Miguel Ugueto | STL | OF |
| D.J. Carpenter | STL | RHP |
| Angel Bastardo | TOR | RHP |
| Darlin Saladin | STL | RHP |
| Randel Clemente | STL | RHP |
| Yondrei Rojas | TOR | RHP |
| Alex Amalfi | TOR | RHP |
| Connor McCullough | CWS | RHP |
| Josh Kasevich | TOR | SS |
Mesa Solar Sox
| Player | Org | Pos |
|---|---|---|
| Manuel Palencia | NYY | C |
| Koen Moreno | CHC | RHP |
| Mason Auer | TB | RHP |
| JP Wheat | CHC | RHP |
| Mathew Peters | CHC | RHP |
| Mark Adamiak | ATH | RHP |
| Blaze Pontes | ATH | RHP |
| Adam Stone | NYY | RHP |
| Hueston Morrill | NYY | SS |
Peoria Javelinas
| Player | ORG | Pos |
|---|---|---|
| Hendry Mendez | MIN | LF |
| Braedon Karpathios | SD | OF |
| Isaiah Lowe | SD | RHP |
| Johnathan Harmon | CIN | RHP |
| Stefan Raeth | SEA | RHP |
| Marcelo Perez | SEA | RHP |
| Tyler Cleveland | SEA | RHP |
| Miguelangel Boadas | MIN | RHP |
| Leonardo Balcazar | CIN | SS |
Salt River Rafters
| Player | org | Pos |
|---|---|---|
| Kenny Castillo | ARI | C |
| Dominic Perachi | PIT | LHP |
| Welinton Herrera | COL | LHP |
| Esmerlyn Valdez | PIT | OF |
| Jacob Steinmetz | ARI | RHP |
| Austin Smith | COL | RHP |
| Brandon Dufault | LAA | RHP |
| Derek Diamond | PIT | RHP |
| Joshua Loeschorn | PIT | RHP |
| Jonathan… |