Texas Rangers Minor League Player of the Year Abimelec Ortiz is one of nine prospects that will participate in the Arizona Fall League, which starts on Oct. 2 at five different sites around the state.
The nine Rangers prospects will play for the Surprise Saguaros and will play out of the Rangers’ Spring Training Complex in Surprise.
AFL action opens the day after the Major League regular season ends. The season culminates in November with the AFL Home Run Derby on Nov. 4, the Fall Stars game on Nov. 5, the play-in semifinal on Nov. 10 and the championship game Nov. 11.
The other selections include left-handed pitcher Mitch Bratt, right-handed pitcher Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa, right-handed pitcher Zak Kent, right-handed pitcher Justin Slaten, right-handed pitcher Emilliano Teodo, catcher Liam Hicks, infielder Cam Cauley and outfielder Alejandro Osuna.
Several MLB.com Top 30 prospects will participate, including Cauley (No. 13), Ortiz (No. 14), Bratt (No. 17), Teodo (No. 22) and Osuna (No. 29).
Ortiz had a breakthrough season in 2023, slashing .294/.371/.619/.990 (115-391) with 33 home runs, 20 doubles, 101 RBI, and 49 walks in 109 games between Down East (A) and Hickory (A+). He led all Texas minor league players in home runs and RBI and was the South Atlantic League Most Valuable Player while at Hickory.
Cauley surged into the Rangers’ Top 30 prospects list at midseason and finished the season at Hickory. For the season he slashed .245/.333/.411/.744 with 12 home runs and 59 RBI, both of which are career highs.
Bratt pitched for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic in March. With Hickory he went 2-3 with a 3.54 ERA in 16 starts, with 73 strikeouts and 17 walks in 61 innings.
Ortiz finished the season with Hickory and went 5-3 with a 4.52 ERA in 18 games (14 starts). He had 84 strikeouts and 33 walks in 61 2/3 innings.
Osuna finished his season at Hickory and slashed .259/.381/.385/.766 with five home runs and 35 RBI.
Kent was a former Top 30 prospect who went 0-1 with a 4.01 ERA in 12 starts with Round Rock and the Arizona Complex League Rangers while working through injuries. He struck out 41 and walked 12 in 36 1/3 innings.
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