20 hours ago 2

Blake Mitchell headlines Royals prospects to play in Arizona Fall League

The Royals will send catcher Blake Mitchell, shortstop Daniel Vazquez, outfielder Carson Roccaforte, and pitchers A.J. Causey, Dennis Colleran, LP Langevin, Logan Martin, and Hunter Owen to participate in the Arizona Fall League that begins play on October 6. Rosters were revealed today with Royals prospects assigned to play for the Surprise Saguaros, along with prospects from the Guardians, Brewers, Phillies, and Rangers. The team will be managed by Jesus Azuaje, who manages in the Royals’ farm system for the Quad Cities River Bandits.

The Arizona Fall League is for higher-level prospects who are close to being added to the 40-man roster as well as prospects who missed time due to injury and need more playing time. Teams play 30 games with a “Fall Stars Game” on November 9. The regular season concludes on November 15, followed by a postseason. Here are the Royals headed to Arizona:

A.J. Causey was a fifth-round pick in 2024 out of the University of Tennessee. The sidearming reliever had a 1.74 ERA in 47 relief appearances with 74 strikeouts and just 18 walks in 72.1 innings across High-A and Double-A.

Dennis Colleran is a hard-throwing reliever who can hit triple digits on the radar gun. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2024 draft out of Northeastern University. The 22-year-old has a 2.89 ERA with 72 strikeouts and 33 walks in 65.1 innings across Low-A and High-A.

L.P. Langevin is a Quebecois right-hander selected in the fourth round of the 2024 draft out of the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. He missed the first half of the season with an oblique injury and has pitched just 15 innings with Quad Cities, giving up 14 runs and 17 walks in 15 innings, although with 25 strikeouts.

Logan Martin was a 12th-round pick in 2023 out of the University of Kentucky. The right-hander was one of the best pitchers in the Midwest League this year, posting a 3.45 ERA in 22 starts with 78 strikeouts and 36 walks in 91.1 innings. The 24-year-old was a bit old for the league, however, and he could benefit from facing tougher competition.

Blake Mitchell is a former first-round pick in 2023 who missed the first three months of the season with a wrist injury. The 21-year-old catcher hit .207/.372/.296 in 49 games with High-A Quad Cities. MLB Pipeline ranks him as the top prospect in the Royals’ farm system and the #48 prospect overall.

Hunter Owen was a fourth-round pick in 2023 out of Vanderbilt who pitched in 21 games for Double-A Northwest Arkansas. The 23-year-old lefty had a 3.57 ERA with 100 strikeouts and 38 walks in 90.2 innings. Standing at 6’6”, Owen has a large frame and good vertical movement on his pitches, and is ranked #26 in the system by MLB Pipeline.

Carson Roccaforte was a second-round pick in 2023 out of the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. The outfielder enjoyed a breakout season, improving his performance upon a promotion to Northwest Arkansas. Overall, he has hit .263/.380/.481 with 18 home runs and 42 steals across High-A and Double-A. MLB Pipeline ranks him #20 in the farm system.

Daniel Vazquez was signed for $1.5 million in 2021 out of the Dominican Republic. Known as a slick fielder at shortstop, the 21-year-old enjoyed his best offensive season, hitting .260/.336/.349 with 26 steals in 105 games for Quad Cities. MLB Pipeline ranks him as the #16 prospect in the organization.