2025 Salt River Rafters Arizona Fall League Roster Analysis

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Salt River Rafters

The Arizona Fall League announced its preliminary rosters on Wednesday, the first step toward kicking off another six weeks of fun in the desert. This year’s group includes 10 of BA’s Top 100 prospects, including No. 2 Kevin McGonigle and No. 10 Sebastian Walcott.

The 2025 AFL season begins on Oct. 6 and lasts until Nov. 15. Beyond the usual six stadiums in Scottsdale, Surprise, Glendale, Salt River, Peoria and Mesa, the AFL this year will take its show on the road to Goodyear for a few games and, on Oct. 13, to Kino Sports Complex in Tucson for a triple header.

The Arizona Fall League gives prospects who were injured part of the year a place to make up innings and at at-bats. It also allows players who are being considered for spots on the 40-man roster one final audition while serving as a finishing school for some of the game’s elite prospects.

Rookie of the Year favorite Nick Kurtz played in the league last fall, as did Braves catcher Drake Baldwin, White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery and Brewers infielder Caleb Durbin.

Who will be the next AFL breakthrough players? The answer is just weeks away. In the meantime, we’ll be breaking down full rosters for each AFL team. Below, you can find a look at the Salt River Rafters.

firstlastteamposbthtwtageKyleAmendtAZPRR6’523725JonathanBrandBOSPRR5’920025YordinChalasAZPRR6’317521RyanCosteiuLAAPRR6’020024CadeDentonCOLPRR6’420523DerekDiamondPITPRR6’221022BrandonDufaultLAAPRR6’520426WillGervaseLAAPLL6’922023DavidHagamanAZPRR6’421522WelintonHerreraCOLPLL6’016621JojoIngrassiaBOSPLL6’117023DreyJamesonAZPRR6’019727FultonLockhartLAAPRR6’419821JoshLoeschornPITPLR6’321525JackMahoneyCOLPRR6’320524BrandonNeelyBOSPRR6’321022DominicPerachiPITPLL6’419524LuisPeralesBOSPRR6’116022CarlsonReedPITPLR6’420022BenShieldsCOLPRL6’421026AustinSmithCOLPRR6’421026IsaacStebensBOSPLR6’019424JacobSteinmetzAZPRR6’623022NajerVictorLAAPRR6’119523JadenWoodsPITPLL6’220523CATCHERSKennyCastilloAZCRR6’217021JuanFloresLAACRR5’1021519JohanfranGarciaBOSCRR5’1119620INFIELDERSTonyBlanco Jr.PITINFRR6’724320CharlieCondonCOLINFRR6’621622JanselLuisAZINFSR6’017020DavidMershonLAAINFSR5’717522BraylenWimmerCOLINFRR6’320024OUTFIELDERSJackHurleyAZOFLR6’018523RaudiRodriguezLAAOFRR6”019022WillTaylorPITOFRR5’1018022NellyTaylor Jr.BOSOFLL5’1118022JaredThomasCOLOFLL6’219022StanleyTuckerBOSOFRR5’916522EsmerlynValdezPITOFRR6’218121

Top 100 Prospects: Charlie Condon (81).

Storylines: Charlie Condon is the only Top 100 prospect on Salt River’s roster, and his time in the Fall League will be closely observed. Between injuries and middling performances, Condon hasn’t quite lived up to the reputation he forged at Georgia. His strikeouts are higher than you’d like, and his power isn’t as it was advertised leading up to the draft.

As if Boston’s system weren’t flush enough with interesting prospects, catcher Johanfran Garcia is on the rebound and will look to make up for some of the time he lost while rehabbing a serious knee injury.

Top 100 Prospects: Charlie Condon (81).

Storylines: Charlie Condon is the only Top 100 prospect on Salt River’s roster, and his time in the Fall League will be closely observed. Between injuries and middling performances, Condon hasn’t quite lived up to the reputation he forged at Georgia. His strikeouts are higher than you’d like, and his power isn’t as it was advertised leading up to the draft.

As if Boston’s system weren’t flush enough with interesting prospects, catcher Johanfran Garcia is on the rebound and will look to make up for some of the time he lost while rehabbing a serious knee injury.

Pirates outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez has been one of the sneakiest boppers in the sport over the past two seasons. His 22 home runs in 2024 paced the Florida State League, and he’s added 26 more this year—including six at Double-A—as a 21-year-old.