The Arizona Fall League came to a close for the 2023 season last night with a team featuring Milwaukee Brewers prospects making the championship game for the second consecutive season. And unlike last year, the team ended up being victorious.
In 2022, Brewers prospects played for the Glendale Desert Dogs. That team, which featured prospects such as Jeferson Quero, Tyler Black, and Abner Uribe, made it all the way to the championship game but fell just short of capping their season with a win.
This year, it was the Surprise Saguaros who were the home of the Crew's prospects at Arizona Fall League (as well as those of the Rangers, Royals, Reds, and Blue Jays). And with a another strong season that resulted in a title game berth, they were able to get over the top this time.
The Arizona Fall League team featuring Brewers prospects won the league's championship game on Saturday.
Of the eight Brewers prospects who took part in the Arizona Fall League, four of them ended up playing in the championship game for the Saguaros. Two of them even ended up getting the starting nod.
Shortstop Eric Brown Jr (the Brewers' No. 10 prospect per MLB Pipeline) got the honor of being leadoff hitter for Surprise on Saturday night. He would end up going 0-for-4 with a strikeout but also drew a walk and helped turn a double play to end a possible scoring threat by the Peoria Javelinas in the top of the fourth, keeping the game tied at one at the time.
Brewers prospect Wes Clarke also drew a start on the night, playing designated hitter and batting cleanup. He would go 1-for-3 with a walk and a hit by pitch while also hitting a key RBI double in the sixth that ended up scoring the game-winning run.
Two Brewers minor league pitchers also got into the action on the night. Justin King, a reliever with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 2023, recorded the second to last out of the game but also allowed a hit, walk, and run that allowed Peoria to pull within one in the top of the ninth.
Justin Yeager, who was acquired in the William Contreras trade and missed a majority of the regular season due to injury, then came in to replace him. He would shut the door with a strikeout to the final batter of the game to help seal the championship win.
Congratulations to the Brewers prospects, as well as the rest of the MLB prospects on the Surprise Saguaros, on a successful championship season!