This past Sunday was the 20th annual Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game, featuring 63 prospects from across the Fall League. The Arizona Diamondbacks had two Fall Stars – left-handed pitcher Joe Ariola and infielder Demetrio Crisantes. Crisantes started at second base and batted third, while Ariola entered with one out in the eighth inning after Mets’ prospect Ryan Lambert walked Rangers prospect Julian Brock. Ariola ended up earning the win after finishing the inning with a hit and a strikeout.
“It’s awesome. I feel honored,” Ariola said of his selection before the game. “Honestly, it’s an amazing experience to be here today. I’m really excited for it. I mean, we’ve got a bunch of people from all across the orgs that are considered your top talent, and being able to pick these guys’ brains and just have a day with them is awesome. I’m super excited for it.”
He was especially excited to be able to talk in depth with Atlanta Braves left-hander Briggs McKenzie.
“I’ve had some short interactions with him outside of the field, and I’ve heard a lot about him,” Ariola said. “I’ve seen he’s been doing really well this Fall. He’s a young guy. I’m just interested to be around a guy like that that’s of a young age – maybe in the game as long as some of the other guys that are here, but still a top talent type of guy and just seeing where his head’s at under certain things, so that should be good.”
After only sending Jansel Luis to the Fall Star Game in 2025, it was nice for Ariola to be able to share the roster with Crisantes.
“That’s awesome,” he said. “I mean, he’s an absolute stud. I spent the first half of the year with him in rehab, unfortunately, but got to know him as a person off the field – not just the baseball side of him – and I enjoy hanging out with him all the time, every day. So it’s good, I’m excited for it.”
And Crisantes had high praise for his teammate, as well.
“It’s awesome,” he said after the game. “We got a lot closer this Fall League. He’s been doing really good, and [I’m] hoping the best for him next year, as well.”
Crisantes was also happy to be named a Fall Star after “a lot of hard work.”
“It’s been a long season, but to get recognized and be in the Fall Star game and represent the Diamondbacks, it’s awesome,” he said.
Crisantes had one goal in mind: “Just have fun.”
“Stay healthy, just have fun, enjoy this moment,” he said. “It’s a blessing to be here, and it was awesome.”
Ariola, meanwhile, had a more technical goal in mind.
“Come in, throw strikes, get in and get out, do my job.”
There is just one game left in the Arizona Fall League season before the long, dark offseason officially begins. The Rafters currently are in fourth place, just half a game out of third behind the Scottsdale Scorpions and half a game out of fifth ahead of the Mesa Solar Sox.
The Championship tournament begins Thursday and runs through Saturday. You can stream all of the remaining games on the AFL website, and the final will be broadcast on MLB Network at 6:00pm MT.
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