As Craig mentioned last week, there are a number of Marlins (like always) who are participating in the Arizona Fall League (AFL). Play started this week.
For those of you unfamiliar with the league, the AFL starts in early October and continues through mid-November. The rosters are composed of future major leaguers from various organizations. Marlins prospects are assigned to the Grand Canyon Rafters. Here are this year's Marlins in the AFL:
Logan Kensing, RHP
Taylor Tankersley, LHP
Robert Andino, SS
Josh Wilson, SS
Reggie Ambercrombie, OF
Nick Ungs, RHP
The rest of the Rafters' roster is filled with prospects from the Twins, Mets, Yankees, and Rangers.
The quality of play in the AFL is pretty good. It's almost like a AA and AAA all-star league (pretty much exclusively with younger players, except for when Michael Jordan drops in).
While the league is young (it was founded in 1992), many future stars have gone through the AFL. This year's AFL Hall of Fame inductees are Red Sox Manager Terry Francona and all-time great closer Troy Percival. Of the 1,200 plus major leaguers who have passed through the AFL, some of the notables include Mike Piazza, Jason Giambi, Albert Pujols, Nomar Garciaparra and a host of other future all-stars.
That's not to say that the AFL turns these guys into prospects and future stars. The rosters are stocked with each organization's best of the best. It's inevitable that great players come out of this league. But that's precisely why it's worthy of your attention - especially when your team isn't in the playoffs. The two links above should give you a good opportunity to keep up with the AFL.