The baseball season is over for the Arizona Diamondbacks. But America’s pastime continues around the Valley with the return of the Arizona Fall League.
While the game’s biggest stars may be getting ready for the World Series, baseball’s rising stars are right here, up close and personal, like lefty pitcher Nate Peterson, who is hoping for his shot in the big leagues.
“These Fall League Games are cool because you get to meet a bunch of new players, you get to see players from other orgs and stuff and see what they’re all about,” Peterson said during Media Day festivities at Scottsdale Stadium last week.
“But it’s also cool because you’re coming out here to have fun and there’s a lot of talent on the field.”
The 25-year-old Peterson is a member of the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He played in the minors this past season, making it as far as Triple-A.
“Yeah, I mean it’s definitely a struggle down there, but you make it work and you keep grinding, you keep pushing and you look at the bigger picture,” Peterson said.
Minor leaguers make a small fraction of what their Major League counterparts do, ranging from just $20,000 a year for the Rookie leagues, up to about $36,000 for those one step away from the bigs on the Triple-A level.
The bigger picture is the potential reward of fame and fortune in the majors.
Alex Makarewich is a 23-year-old pitcher in the Dodgers organization.
“They set the standard up there at the top. And all us little guys down here are just trying to work our butts off to someday do the same thing.”
Beaming with a smile, Makarewich says he is thrilled to be among those invited to participate.
“It’s a sick opportunity to be around a lot of guys that I wouldn’t get to be around. So, you get to learn from different orgs, coaches, and different players,” Makarewich said.
“I mean, in this game you’re always learning, you never know everything. So, yeah it’s a super sick opportunity to continue to learn and grow my knowledge of the game.
20-year-old pitcher Justin Chambers is a native of Chandler, who starred locally at Basha High School before being drafted by the Dodgers organization.
“Being from Arizona and being a baseball player growing up, me and all my friends would always come to Fall League games. We would do anything we can to go out and go see some baseball, go see the top prospects, under the lights. It really is kind of an inspiration for the younger generation and that’s what I hope to be here.”
Chambers impressed his coaches and managers by going 3-0 in Single-A ball this past season. He says the Fall League has a different vibe.
“It’s a different environment than what it is during the season. We’re all here with one goal, and that’s to make it to the major leagues. And being able to be on a field where we can have fun at the same time. It helps the mentality of the game. It changes everything, and I think it’s just such a great opportunity.”
From now until mid-November, six teams — the Peoria Javelina, Salt River Rafters, Surprise Saguaros, Mesa Solar Sox, Scottsdale Scorpions and Glendale Desert Dogs — will play at what are normally spring training sites around the Valley.
Chuck Fox works for Major League Baseball and is in charge of the Fall League.
“We like to call the Fall League the finishing school–Major League Baseball’s finishing school. In working with the 30 clubs, they send us nine of what they feel are their best prospects and folks they feel have a future on the big league level, ” Fox said.
In its 33 years in Arizona, the league has seen the likes of big league all-stars Nomar Garciaparra, Derek Jeter, Mike Piazza, Albert Pujols, Roy Halliday and Max Scherzer pass through, among others on their way to the bigs.
“In the neighborhood of 60% to 70% of the Major League community has played in the Fall League. So, it’s who’s who and when you can have Mike Trout and Bryce Harper play in the same outfield, that’s a pretty cool thing.”
Fox says it’s an opportunity to catch a rising star, see them up close and not have to pay Major League prices.
“What makes it the best kept secret in baseball, is that you can see these guys at a very reasonable price, get up and close before they’re, you know, the face of a franchise on a major league level.”
Tickets for Fall League games are as low as $14 for adults, even cheaper for youth and seniors, and free for kids under 10, when accompanied by an adult.
The games, all around the Valley, started this week and continue through Nov. 15 and include a fall All-Star Game and a championship to finish up.
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