The Arizona Fall League is underway, and Chicago has sent a full cavalry of nine prospects, headlined by Caleb Bonemer, 3B/SS/OF (No. 2/MLB No. 27), to the Grand Canyon State. Rounding out the crew are Mathias LaCombe, RHP (No. 17); Pierce George, RHP (No. 18); Anthony DePino, 1B (No. 21); Colby Shelton, INF (No. 23); Nick Altermatt, RHP; Jonathan Clark, RHP; Grant Magill, C; and Garrett Wright, RHP.
The White Sox prospects are suiting up for the Glendale Desert Dogs, sharing the dugout with hopefuls
from the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Chicago ties Los Angeles for sending the most Top 30 prospects (five) to the AFL.
Salt River Rafters 9, Glendale Desert Dogs 4 (10/3/26)
Despite the loss, Chicago’s prospects brought some life to the bats. Bonemer went 2-for-5 with three RBIs, coming through with a two-out, bases-clearing double in the bottom of the ninth to cut the deficit to 9-4. It was too little, too late, but we’ll take the clutch knock.
He also patrolled center field, getting the outfield reps that are a big reason for his AFL assignment. Unfortunately, the defensive side wasn’t quite as pretty. The 21-year-old made a throwing error after a fifth-inning sac fly that helped drive in three unearned runs. Yikes.
Shelton finished 1-for-4, with his lone hit kicking off the ninth-inning rally.
Scottsdale Scorpions 5, Glendale Desert Dogs 2 (10/4/26)
This one had a little good, a little bad and a whole lot of free passes — nine from Chicago’s pitchers. Bonemer kept the bat rolling, going 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a walk while Shelton added a single in four trips and backstop Magill went 0-for-3 in his AFL debut.
On the mound, five Sox hurlers got their turn, with mixed results. Altermatt earned a hold with a scoreless, hitless fourth, although the 27-year-old issued two walks. George followed with a messy fifth, surrendering a run without allowing a hit. Three walks, a wild pitch and a hit batter will do that. He got tagged with a blown save before LaCombe secured the final out of the frame. Unfortunately, the righthander ran into his own trouble in the sixth, allowing two runs on three hits, including a homer, and two more free passes.
Wright took over with two outs and stopped the bleeding, then worked around a leadoff single and a two-out walk in a scoreless seventh. Clark handled the final two frames, allowing one last run on a walk, wild pitch and single. The bats offered some promise, but the pitching made Glendale work awfully hard for its outs.
Surprise Saguaros 8, Desert Dogs 7 (10/5/26)
The Desert Dogs are still hunting for their first victory after an 8-7 walk-off loss in this one. It was a quiet day for Chicago’s prospects, with almost everyone getting the day off, but Shelton made his brief appearance count. After entering as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the eighth, he came up in the ninth with a runner on second, one out, and the Dogs trailing 7-6. Shelton smashed an RBI single to center to tie it up, giving the Dogs a little hope of finally cracking the win column. Unfortunately, the Saguaros had other plans, walking it off in the bottom of the ninth and keeping that first W just out of reach.
Desert Dogs 4, Mesa Solar Sox 3 (10/6/26 — 10 innings)
The Dogs finally got their first win, and Chicago’s prospects had their fingerprints all over this one. After a wild pitch brought home their first tally in the fourth, Shelton plated the second run with a sac fly in the sixth. With the game still tied after nine, Bonemer played hero in the top of the 10th, knocking an RBI single to bring home what proved to be the winning run.
Shelton and Bonemer drove in the contest’s only two earned runs, while Magill chipped in a pair of hits, going 2-for-4. Altermatt handled the final bit of business, getting the last out in the bottom of the 10th to earn his first save and finally put a W next to the Dogs’ name.
Peoria Javelinas 10, Desert Dogs 2 (10/8/26)
This was an ugly L, but the South Siders supplied some of the few bright spots. Bonemer was the only Chicago hitter to see action and accounted for two of the team’s six hits, going 2-for-4 with a double. LaCombe and Wright did their part on the mound, each tossing two scoreless innings amid the mess. LaCombe allowed no hits, walked two and struck out one, while Wright surrendered a pair of singles and one free pass, fanning four. A rough day for the Dogs, but at least the Sox contingent did their part.
Salt River Rafters 13, Desert Dogs 9 (10/9/26)
The Dogs landed on the wrong side of a football score in this loss, but Bonemer and Magill did their best to keep the offense rolling. Bonemer kept finding his way on base, swatting a triple to center in the fifth and finishing 1-for-4 with a run, an RBI and a walk.
Magill brought the hottest bat of the bunch, going 2-for-3 with a bases-clearing double, four RBIs and a run scored. Shelton couldn’t join the hit parade, finishing 0-for-4 with a punchout. On the mound, Altermatt worked the sixth, allowing one run on two hits while striking out two. Plenty of offense, just too much of it on the other side.
Surprise Saguaros 5, Desert Dogs 4 (10/11/26)
A close one, but Surprise spoiled the party with a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth. Shelton was the lone White Sox prospect to see action, entering as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the sixth. He went 0-for-2 in his two trips to the plate, dropping his average to .176 as he continues searching for a spark with the bat.
Scottsdale Scorpions 6, Desert Dogs 6 (10/12/26 — suspended)
The AFL website had the Dogs down for a 6-2 loss in seven innings, but apparently nobody told Shelton the game was over. MLB’s highlight clips showed him crushing a grand slam in the top of the eighth to tie it at 6-6 before play was suspended. His grand salami was the lone hit from Chicago’s prospects, as Shelton went 1-for-3 with the homer and a walk, while Bonemer finished 0-for-2 with a walk and a punchout. The scoreboard may need some work, but the video doesn’t. Enjoy the salami.
Hitters
Caleb Bonemer: 27 PAs, .333/.407/.542, .949 OPS, 3 2Bs, 1 3B, 6 RBIs, 3 BB, 6 Ks
Anthony DePino: did not play
Grant Magill: 12 PAs, .400/.417/.500, .917 OPS, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 2 Ks
Colby Shelton: 23 PAs, .158/.261/.158, .419 OPS, 1 HR, 6 RBIs, 2 BB, 2 Ks
Pitchers
Nick Altermatt: 3.86 ERA, 1.714 WHIP, 2 1/3 IP, 2 BB, 3 Ks
Jonathan Clark: 3.00 ERA, 0.667 WHIP, 3 IP, 1 BB, 3 Ks
Pierce George: did not play
Mathias LaCombe: 6.00 ERA, 2.333 WHIP, 3 IP, 4 BB, 2 Ks
Garrett Wright: 0.00 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 3 1/3 IP, 2 BB, 7 Ks
