CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians are sending eight minor league prospects to the Arizona Fall League, including former first-round picks Daniel Espino and Chase DeLauter. But last year’s No. 1 overall selection, Travis Bazzana, will not participate following an injury-shortened season.
Espino, who has been limited by injuries to just 18 1/3 minor league innings over the past four seasons, recently transitioned from the club’s training facility in Arizona to Columbus, where he has been working out with the Triple-A Clippers.
DeLauter, who is recovering from hand surgery, will also participate in the AFL for the third consecutive year. The club’s 2022 top pick is expected to play a limited schedule of about two games per week while training in Goodyear.
The Guardians’ AFL contingent includes five pitchers: Espino, Trenton Denholm, Matt Jachec, Rorik Maltrud, and Zane Morehouse. Infielder Juan Benjamin and outfielder Wuilfredo Antunez round out the group.
Bazzana, the first overall pick in the 2024 draft who is currently having a strong September showing at Triple-A, will return to his native Australia for the first part of the offseason before focusing on conditioning and preparation for the 2026 season.
The AFL is Major League Baseball’s premier development showcase. This year the league will feature its most talented prospect pool in over a decade when it opens on October 6.
The league announced rosters featuring 13 of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects, including shortstops Kevin McGonigle (Tigers) and Sebastian Walcott (Rangers) – marking the first time since Bryce Harper and Mike Trout in 2011 that two top-four MLB prospects will participate in the same AFL season.
McGonigle, baseball’s No. 2 overall prospect, enters after a breakout season where he hit .301 with 17 home runs across three minor league levels. The 19-year-old Walcott, ranked fourth overall, has dominated the Texas League with the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders, ranking in the top 10 in five offensive categories.
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Josue De Paula, the No. 12 prospect, rounds out the elite trio after posting an .827 OPS and 29 extra-base hits at High-A Great Lakes before earning a promotion to Double-A Tulsa.
The six-team league is made up of players from all 30 MLB organizations, with games played primarily at Cactus League ballparks. The season runs from October 6 through the championship game on November 15 at Salt River Fields.
Key events include the Fall Stars Game on November 9 at Sloan Park, preceded by the Home Run Derby on November 8. The league is also expanding its postseason format, adding quarterfinal games on November 13 at Scottsdale Stadium before the semifinals on November 14.
The Peoria Javelinas and Surprise Saguaros lead with four Top 100 prospects each on their rosters. The league will also feature six organizations’ No. 1 prospects and 10 players who participated in the 2025 MLB All-Star Futures Game.
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