While the MLB’s postseason is at the halfway mark, the Arizona desert the Arizona Fall League officially began on Monday and the Cardinals have eight prospects taking part in baseball’s “finishing school.”
The Cards have five righty pitchers at the AFL: Chen-Wei Lin (No. 16 in the organization), Tyler Bradt, D.J. Carpenter, Randel Clemente, and Darlin Saladin; the other three prospects are outfielders Travis Honeymoon and Miguel Ugueto, and catcher Graysen Tarlow. That octet is grouped with prospects from the Blue Jays, Braves, Dodgers, and White Sox, and will compete for the Glendale Desert Dogs.
Lately the AFL has turned into a who’s who event for MiLB prospects. There were 10 top-100 prospects competing in 2022 and 2023, but last year was the high water-mark with 14 of the top-100. That said, the players representing the Cardinals is more of a “…who? WHO????” unless you’re a true MiLB sicko.
At the time of this writing, Lin is the only prospect heading to Arizona that is on the Cards’ Top-30 list. The 6’7” righty began 2025 in Peoria, did a rehab assignment with Palm Beach in May, and landed in Springfield in late August. The control needs some work (39 walks n 50.1 IP), but he has a fastball sitting 95-97, an 82-84 MPH slider, and an upper 80s changeup.
Clemente also climbed the ladder in 2025, and it looks like he worked mainly in late game scenarios. Clemente was credited with four saves in seven opportunities as well as three holds in 53 innings. Like Win, Clemente has control issues—40 walks in 53 innings—but made up for it with 76 Ks.
Elsewhere in MLB…
Detroit and Seattle will play a decisive Game 5 of its Divisional Series, with the winner advancing to take on Toronto in the ALCS. It looks like the Tigers are going back to the Tarik Skubal well to extend its season, while Seattle counters with George Kirby.
On the NL side of things, the Dodgers are heading back to the NLCS after beating the Phillies 2-1 in 11 innings thanks to a walk-off throwing error by Orion Kerkering. It’s the type of error that only sickos and perverts would watch and enjoy…so let’s watch and enjoy it!
Los Angeles awaits the winner of Milwaukee-Chicago as that series has now gone the distance thanks to the Cubs 6-0 win last night in Wrigley. The Brewers and Cubs play the decisive Game 5 Saturday night and so far neither team has announced a starter.
