Kevin Parada, Photos by Bronson Harris of Binghamton Rumble Ponies
The rosters for the Arizona Fall League have been announced. The New York Mets are sending the following nine players to play for the Glendale Desert Dogs:
- Kevin Parada, C (Binghamton)
- D’Andre Smith, INF (Brooklyn)
- Rowdey Jordan, INF/OF (Binghamton)
- JT Schwartz, 1B/OF (Binghamton)
- Nolan Clenney, RHP (Syracuse)
- Jordan Geber, RHP (Binghamton)
- Brendan Hardy, RHP (Binghamton)
- Trey McLoughlin, RHP (Binghamton)
- Tyler Thomas, LHP (Syracuse)
Parada is the only one of the players from MMN‘s top 30 prospects who will be participating in the Arizona Fall League. It is interesting to note Jett Williams, who was also a Mets first round pick in the 2022 draft will not be participating in the Arizona Fall League.
While Williams is not participating, there is a heavy contingent of Binghamton Rumble Ponies being assigned to the Desert Dogs. In total, six of the nine players finished their season with the Rumble Ponies. That Rumble Ponies team defeated the Somerset Patriots in the playoffs and is looking to win Binghamton’s first Eastern League Championship since 2014.
Of note, Brandon Nimmo was a member of the 2014 Binghamton team, and like Parada, he was a first round pick assigned to the Arizona Fall League. Nimmo struggled in his 21 games that fall, which is an indication to not put too much stock in the stats accumulated during AFL play.
The lowest level player being sent to play for the Desert Dogs is Smith. Smith, 22, was the Mets fifth round pick in the 2022 draft. Smith had an injury plagued season and only had a 90 wRC+ in 64 games for Brooklyn. Play in the AFL should help him continue his development in what has been an otherwise limited season for him
The five pitchers being sent to the AFL are all relievers. Notably, Clenney, Geber, and Thomas are pitchers who the Mets signed out of the independent leagues over the past few seasons. Thomas has probably had the strongest season of the group with him being named MMN‘s reliever of the month for August.
The Desert Dogs will be comprised of players from Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Minnesota Twins. Last year, Mets prospects were assigned to the Peoria Javelinas to play along prospects from the Cleveland Guardians, Seattle Mariners, Washington Nationals, and San Diego Padres.
AFL play will start on October 2. The Desert Dogs will begin their season playing at the Salt River Rafters.
