Prospects Ready For Arizona Fall League

Mike Sarbaugh will manage the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League. The manager of the Indians' Triple-A Columbus Clippers farm team will have several Tribe prospects on his roster, including second baseman Cord Phelps and Jason Kipnis and pitchers Scott Barnes, Eric Berger and Chen-Chang Lee. Another pitcher and a catcher for the Cleveland system are due to be added by the opener Oct. 12.

Each of the 30 major league clubs are required to send seven players to the league. No players with more than two years of MLB service, including big-league time on the disabled list, are eligible. The exception is a team may send one player picked in the most recent Rule 5 Draft.

The Javelinas will be comprised of players from the Indians, Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox. Each of those clubs has one member of its organization on the team's coaching staff.

Among players assigned to Peoria are Koby Clemens, son of legendary pitcher Roger Clemens. He's a catcher-turned-infielder in the Astros' organization.

Dustin Ackley, the second overall choice by Seattle in 2009, returns for a second year in the AFL as he continues his transition from the outfield to second base.

That makes the position plenty crowded, since Kipnis also made that switch this year in the Indians organization after being Cleveland's second-round pick in 2009. Phelps also plays second base.

In 18 previous seasons, the AFL has featured more than 1,800 players who reached the majors, including 160 All-Stars. Seven players who won an MVP Award (Jason Giambi, Ryan Howard, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Dustin Pedroia, Albert Pujols and Jimmy Rollins) along with three Cy Young winners (Chris Carpenter, Roy Halladay and Brandon Webb) played in the league.