2016 Arizona Fall League participants were announced a couple of days ago, the Twins will be sending catcher Mitch Garver, outfielder Tanner English, infielder Nick Gordon, right-handed pitcher John Curtiss and left-handed pitchers Mason Melotakis and Randy Rosario. Ivan Arteaga will serve as pitching coach and the Twins players will be part of the Surprise Saguaros along with players from the Rangers, Red Sox, Royals, and Pirates and will start play on October 11 versus Mesa.
There are six teams in the Arizona Fall League: the Scottsdale Scorpions, Mesa Solar Sox, Salt River Rafters, Glendale Desert Dogs, Peoria Javelinas and Surprise Saguaros. The roots of the Arizona Fall League go back several years, when the Major Leagues wanted to create an easily accessed off-season league. A concern was that some of the best ball players left to play winter ball out of the country, such as in the Caribbean and there was no way to monitor them.
Major League Baseball created a league that it could govern and monitor, it would be better organized. If a player was injured, proper care and treatment would be on hand. With the Arizona Fall League, managers, coaches, scouts and league officials could participate.
2016 Arizona Fall League Schedule
UPDATE: Stephen Gonsalves was added as a Twins participant.