Every year, MLB teams send out a collection of prospects to get additional reps in the Arizona Fall League (AFL). The full AFL rosters were announced on Wednesday morning, with 13 of the Top 100 prospects from MLB Pipeline being scattered throughout the six teams. Names like Kevin McGonigle (#2 prospect in baseball) and Sebastian Walcott (#4 prospect in baseball) will be amongst the most fascinating watches this Fall.
This season the Atlanta Braves will send eight prospects to Arizona to play for the Glendale Desert Dogs once competition gets underway. The group includes: Nacho Alvarez Jr. - INF., Drue Hackenberg - RHP, Luke Sinnard - LHP, Patrick Clohisy - OF, Jim Jarvis - INF, Jacob Kroeger - LHP, L.J. McDonough - RHP, and Cory Wall - RHP.
Nacho Alvarez Jr. and a couple of pitchers in the Braves top 30 prospects will participate in the Arizona Fall League
Although Nacho Alvarez Jr. has officially graduated from the Braves' top prospect list because of his big league service time in Atlanta, the team will still send him to play in the AFL to make up for the at-bats he missed while battling injuries this season. Drue Hackenberg (Braves #11 prospect) and Luke Sinnard (Braves #17 prospect) are the most notable pitchers heading to Arizona as they will try to log some additionally innings after they too missed time during the 2025 season.
Nacho for the lead!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/9WjEwXo8NI
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 11, 2025
Hopefully, Hackenberg can rebound in a sense after he has posted a 7.01 ERA in just over 61 innings at Double-A Columbus this season. Hackenberg was the Braves' second round pick in the 2023 draft, so it's clear the team believes in the upside, and will give him the chance to prove them right against some exciting bats traveling to the AFL for extended competition.
Amongst the rest of the group, trade deadline acquisition Jim Jarvis will grant the Braves the chance to evaluate where he fits as the team looks to shakeup their bench this winter. The Arizona Fall League is a great tool for teams, and the Braves often send some exciting guys out west.
Last season, top prospect Drake Baldwin further submitted his status as one of the premier bats in the minor leagues when he posted a .943 OPS in 13 games. Hopefully, one of the eight prospects the Braves will be sending to Arizona can follow Baldwin's footsteps and propel themselves into consideration for the 2026 Major League roster.