Arizona Fall League Puts 78 Prospects in 40-Man Roster Spotlight

The Arizona Fall League is doing double duty this October: giving injured prospects another set of innings and at-bats, while putting front offices on the clock ahead of the 40-man roster deadline. Clubs must decide by Nov. 17 whether to protect eligible players, with 78 such prospects appearing in the league.

Players signed at 18 or younger become eligible after five seasons, while those who signed at 19 or older qualify after four. The Rule 5 Draft is slated for Dec. 9 if a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is in place; the Minor League portion is expected to proceed regardless.

Fall League Rule 5 Watch List

There are two easy calls in the league. Nationals right-hander Jarlin Susana, ranked No. 4 in the Washington system and No. 66 overall, and Arizona second baseman Demetrio Crisantes, the D-backs’ No. 1 prospect and No. 84 overall, are both Top 100 talents. A Top 100 prospect has never been left exposed to Rule 5 selection, making both obvious 40-man additions.

Brewers have a pair of decisions

Williams arrived from the Mets in January in the Freddy Peralta deal and spent an uneven, injury-affected first full Triple-A season moving among third base, shortstop and center field. Quad and wrist trouble limited the 5-foot-7 former first-rounder to 81 games, but his speed, athleticism and ability to cover multiple spots fit the kind of roster flexibility Milwaukee values. His upside may now read more as versatile contributor than everyday impact player, but leaving him unprotected would be a surprise.

Wood also strengthened his case in Double-A. The 2022 fourth-round catcher posted an 18-homer season while finishing fifth among Minor Leaguers with at least 300 plate appearances in walk-to-strikeout rate, at 1.37. He controls the zone, makes frequent contact, has drawn plenty of walks and has shown athleticism behind the plate. After being passed over for protection last year, he now looks like a possible backup-catching option another club could consider carrying.

Phillies weighing two very different profiles

Escobar took a step back statistically after his breakout 2025 season and two promotions, though he remained young for Double-A. The 5-foot-9 right-handed hitter can handle second base and has seen time at both infield corners, even if his ultimate defensive position is still unsettled. He will play all of next season at 22, and his contact skills and untapped power leave room for a bounce-back campaign.

Jimenez has made the more immediate case as a reliever. The Venezuelan right-hander, now 24, has flourished since leaving the rotation behind, working mostly in Double-A and bringing a 2.38 ERA to the Fall League. His fastball can reach 98 mph, and an upper-80s slider has produced swings and misses. The walks rose somewhat this season, but he has a track record of finding the zone, giving him the look of a Rule 5 bullpen gamble if Philadelphia does not reserve a spot.

Arms with a route to a major league bullpen

Patrick Reilly’s comeback has made him one of Baltimore’s most interesting protection calls. The Orioles acquired the 25-year-old from Pittsburgh for Billy Cook after the 2023 fifth-round pick had shown premium stuff but inconsistent command at Vanderbilt. Tommy John surgery in May 2025 delayed his progress, but he returned in June and logged 13 appearances across three levels, including 39 2/3 innings in Double-A.

Reilly opened his Fall League slate by striking out Eduardo Quintero and Caleb Bonemer, two of the circuit’s more highly regarded position prospects. He has worked around 96 mph and reached 98, with carry on the fastball and a low-80s slider capable of missing bats. The stuff could play quickly in relief, making a Baltimore roster spot the sensible outcome.

A’s right-hander Kenya Huggins is another bullpen conversion candidate. Acquired from the Guardians at the 2025 Trade Deadline for Miguel Andujar after a strong return from Tommy John surgery, the 6-foot-3 righty endured a difficult first full season in the organization. His 4.91 ERA as a reliever was substantially better than his 8.85 mark as a starter. He has reached Double-A, brings a sinking fastball that can generate ground balls and owns a slider that could become a finishing pitch. Command remains the question, both inside and outside the strike zone.

Dodgers left-hander Fox has a starter’s mix but an injury history that could complicate his protection case. Tommy John surgery at Duke helped push him to the 17th round of the 2023 Draft, and a hamstring problem cut into his 2026 workload. In 164 career innings, however, he has fashioned a 2.91 ERA with 190 strikeouts and 85 walks. He commands a 92-96 mph fastball and pairs it with an effective low-80s slider. With only 28 innings this year, Los Angeles may be tempted to gamble, though his Fall League work keeps him in view.

Wright returned from two injury-shortened seasons to become a compelling White Sox relief prospect. The 24-year-old reached Double-A and struck out 77 in 55 2/3 innings, though he also issued 36 walks. Hitters batted just .181 against him. His upper-90s fastball, upper-80s slider and high release point create an unusual angle, and a club in need of bullpen power could decide the raw stuff is worth carrying through a Rule 5 season.

Astros right-hander Juan Bello is the longer-shot arm to monitor. Houston acquired the 6-foot-1 Colombian in January 2025 in the Ryan Pressly trade, but an elbow injury that July kept him from pitching until the Fall League. He turns 23 in April and has not worked above High-A. Still, Bello has four pitches, flashed a strong curveball and can miss bats. A team could see enough in the fastball-curveball pairing to try him in relief, even if Houston believes his lack of upper-level experience will keep him available.

Young position players with tools to protect

Sanchez, 21, is coming off an encouraging two-level season for Cincinnati, despite a .693 OPS across 58 Double-A games. The left-handed hitter doubled his previous career high with 16 home runs after making swing adjustments and getting stronger physically. He has a polished contact approach and can move around the diamond at third, shortstop and the outfield. That combination of improving impact and defensive versatility could make him both a Reds roster fit and an attractive Rule 5 target.

Mercedes is farther from the majors, but the Twins outfielder has the tools that make front offices nervous about exposure. Signed for $1.7 million in 2022, he established personal bests with 18 home runs and 52 steals during his first High-A season. The right-handed hitter has been inconsistent from year to year, but scouts can dream on 60-grade raw power and 60-grade speed. The challenge is obvious: he has not played above High-A, and keeping such a player in the majors all year would be a major leap.

Severino presents a similar question for Pittsburgh, only with a louder power season behind him. The Pirates acquired him from the Giants at the 2023 Trade Deadline for Carlos Santana after he had signed for $1.23 million in 2022. Now a full-time right-handed hitter after previously switch-hitting, Severino led the High-A South Atlantic League with 31 home runs, nearly twice his former career high. The distance from High-A to a permanent big league job is considerable, but right-handed power is never easy to leave exposed.

The Fall League will not settle every roster decision, but it can sharpen a few. For contenders, the final six weeks are another look at depth. For the players on this list, they are a chance to make the Nov. 17 conversation a little harder to avoid.