The Surprise Saguaros opened their title defense Saturday the way they ended last season, by scoring in bunches.
Welbyn Francisca, a Cleveland Guardians shortstop prospect, went 5-for-5 with a home run, three runs scored and three driven in as the Saguaros beat the Scottsdale Scorpions 9-3 at Scottsdale Stadium on the Arizona Fall League's opening day. Surprise had 15 hits. New York Mets prospect Peyton Prescott got the win.
What the Fall League is
The Arizona Fall League is Major League Baseball's finishing school. Each of the 30 big league organizations sends at least seven prospects to the Phoenix area for six weeks, and they are sorted into six teams that play in spring training ballparks. This is its 34th season.
The list of players who passed through includes Aaron Judge, Mike Trout and Bryce Harper. Ten of the 18 position players who started this year's All-Star Game played in the league, according to MLB.
The Saguaros draw their roster from five organizations: the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers, who share Surprise Stadium in spring training, plus the Guardians, the Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies.
The champions
Surprise is the team to beat. The Saguaros won last year's championship 9-4 over the Peoria Javelinas, scoring seven runs in the eighth inning after trailing by four. It was their third title in four years and their fourth overall.
The roster turns over completely each fall, so no one from that team is defending anything besides Ranger's prospect Sebastian Walcott who was on last years team. The manager is new as well: Daniel Robertson from the Cleveland Guardians.
Who to watch
- Sebastian Walcott, shortstop and third baseman, Rangers. Ranked No. 8 among all prospects by MLB Pipeline, the highest of anyone in the league this fall. He played one Fall League game last year before leaving with an injury.
- Aidan Miller, shortstop, Phillies. No. 59 on the same list.
- Angeibel Gomez, outfielder, Royals. No. 76, and at 17 the youngest player in the league.
- Welbyn Francisca, shortstop, Guardians. Five hits in his first game.
For fans of the two clubs that train in Surprise, this is a look at players who may be back in March. The Royals have nine players on the roster, including pitchers Steven Zobac and Frank Mozzicato. The Rangers have nine as well, including Walcott, outfielder Paxton Kling and pitcher Jacob Johnson.
Going to a game
Fall League crowds are small and seats are unassigned, so you can sit behind the plate next to the scouts.
- Tickets: $14 for adults, $12 for seniors 60 and over and for ages 11 to 17, free for children 10 and under. A season pass good at every ballpark is $160, $120 for seniors, and $31 for kids 10 and under.
- Where to buy: at the Surprise Stadium box office starting one hour before the game, or online through the league. Box office: 623-222-2222.
- Can't make it: every game streams free on MLB.com.
Saguaros home games at Surprise Stadium
All times Arizona time.
| Date | Time | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, Oct. 4 | 5 p.m. | Salt River Rafters |
| Monday, Oct. 5 | 6:30 p.m. | Glendale Desert Dogs |
| Friday, Oct. 9 | 1:30 p.m. | Peoria Javelinas |
| Sunday, Oct. 11 | 5 p.m. | Glendale Desert Dogs |
| Monday, Oct. 12 | 6:30 p.m. | Peoria Javelinas |
| Tuesday, Oct. 13 | 6:30 p.m. | Mesa Solar Sox |
| Friday, Oct. 16 | 1:30 p.m. | Mesa Solar Sox |
| Monday, Oct. 19 | 1:30 p.m. | Mesa Solar Sox |
| Tuesday, Oct. 20 | 1:30 p.m. | Glendale Desert Dogs |
| Thursday, Oct. 29 | 6:30 p.m. | Scottsdale Scorpions |
| Friday, Oct. 30 | 1:30 p.m. | Peoria Javelinas |
| Saturday, Oct. 31 | 3:30 p.m. | Salt River Rafters |
| Thursday, Nov. 5 | 6:30 p.m. | Scottsdale Scorpions |
| Friday, Nov. 6 | 6:30 p.m. | Salt River Rafters |
| Tuesday, Nov. 10 | 1:30 p.m. | Scottsdale Scorpions |
The closest road games for West Valley fans are a Saturday triple-header at Goodyear Ballpark on Oct. 17, where the Saguaros play at 6:30 p.m., and another at Camelback Ranch in Glendale on Oct. 24, where they play at 3:30 p.m.
After the regular season
- Home Run Derby: Saturday, Nov. 7, 6:30 p.m., Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
- Fall Stars Game: Sunday, Nov. 8, 6 p.m., Salt River Fields. On MLB Network.
- Playoffs: all six teams qualify, and the top two get a bye. Quarterfinals are Nov. 12 at Sloan Park in Mesa; semifinals are Nov. 13 at Peoria Sports Complex.
- Championship: Saturday, Nov. 14, 6 p.m., Peoria Sports Complex. On MLB Network.
If the Saguaros get there again, the title game is a drive down Bell road to Peoria.