SURPRISE, Ariz. — For Guardians prospect Alfonsin Rosario, the Arizona Fall League is more than a showcase of his skills — it’s a reminder of how much he loves the game. After completing his third season in the minor leagues, the 21-year-old is happy to be in the mix with elite talent in the desert.

“I was back at home when I got the call that I was coming over here,” Rosario said. “Ever since the first game, I’ve been excited to come out here and play every day. I’m always ready to go.”

Rosario played in 115 games between High-A Lake County and Double-A Akron during the 2025 season. He was promoted from Lake County in early August after hitting .268 with 16 home runs and 47 RBIs. He finished the year in Akron, batting .211 with 27 hits in 128 at-bats.

Rosario was traded from the Chicago Cubs to the Cleveland Guardians in November 2024 in the deal that sent reliever Eli Morgan to Chicago.

“Man, at first, being traded from Chicago was sad,” said Rosario, who was 20 at the time of the trade. “I wasn’t excited to leave the Cubs, but I got to Cleveland, and I’ve been having fun playing for the Guardians organization. I am very happy to be here.”

Rosario is still adjusting to the new generation of pitchers, even though he has faced professional pitchers for a few years. In one fall league game, Red Sox prospect Luis Perales was consistently hitting triple-digits on the radar gun, something that caught Rosario’s eye.

Following the game, Rosario had nothing but praise for Perales, and the crop of pitchers the fall league has to offer. He looks to take this experience to future endeavors in professional baseball.

“A lot of these pitchers are top guys,” Rosario said. “Seeing them pitch, it’s been helpful seeing different movements and speeds at the plate. You take this experience to the league and find ways to get good results in the future.”

While Rosario is using this time to train for spring training, he reminds himself to have fun and create bonds with teammates. Whether it’s during close games or on off days, you can hear Rosario and Royals prospect Daniel Vazquez cracking jokes and bringing positive energy in the clubhouse. Rosario’s energy is deafening in an otherwise quiet ballpark.

“(Daniel) Vazquez is my boy,” Rosario said. “He’s chill with everything and I like to show up with him. We have fun, see some pitches, hit some pitches and go home.”

Along with teammates being a source of positivity for Rosario, his greatest motivation stems from his mother.

“She always keeps me going when I am down,” Rosario said. “She tells me to keep going and to never give up. Her cooking always brings me up.”

Even professional athletes can appreciate their mothers’ cooking, and there is no shortage when it comes to Rosario, who gave his mother his flowers when it came to his favorite meal of hers.

“Chicken in the oven,” Rosario said with a laugh. “Man, I don’t know how she makes it that good, but it’s somehow always different.”

Heading into the last week of the Arizona Fall League, Rosario was focused on what he needed to do to take that next step toward being an everyday outfielder for Cleveland.

“I need to improve my mental game, stay healthy and be ready to show something during spring training,” Rosario said. “I want to control what I can control and not let anything get into my head.”

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.