As the World Series draws near, the baseball spotlight shifts from the major leagues to the Arizona Fall League, where the next generation of stars takes the field. Scottsdale Stadium is buzzing with young talent eager to make their mark in the sport, including left-handed pitcher Nate Peterson, who aspires to climb the ranks to the big leagues.
Peterson, who spent the last season playing for the Milwaukee Brewers’ minor league teams up to Triple-A, appreciates the unique atmosphere of the Fall League. “These Fall League Games are cool because you get to meet a bunch of new players, you get to see players from other orgs and stuff and see what they’re all about,” Peterson shared during a recent Media Day event.
Despite the challenges of minor league life, where salaries range from $20,000 to $36,000 annually, the potential for advancement keeps players like Peterson motivated. “Yeah, I mean it’s definitely a struggle down there, but you make it work and you keep grinding, you keep pushing and you look at the bigger picture,” he said.
Among the hopefuls is Alex Makarewich, a 23-year-old pitcher from the Dodgers organization. He expressed excitement about the learning opportunities the league provides. “They set the standard up there at the top. And all us little guys down here are just trying to work our butts off to someday do the same thing.” Makarewich is particularly thrilled to be invited, calling it “a sick opportunity to be around a lot of guys that I wouldn’t get to be around” and to learn from different organizations.
Another local talent, Justin Chambers from Chandler, grew up attending Fall League games and now finds himself playing in them. “Being from Arizona and being a baseball player growing up, me and all my friends would always come to Fall League games,” Chambers said. His impressive performance this past season, going 3-0 in Single-A ball, caught the attention of his coaches.
The Arizona Fall League, often referred to as Major League Baseball’s “finishing school,” is seen as a stepping stone for many aspiring players. Chuck Fox, who oversees the league for MLB, explained, “In the neighborhood of 60% to 70% of the Major League community has played in the Fall League. So, it’s who’s who.” The league has been a launchpad for numerous MLB stars, including Derek Jeter and Mike Piazza.
Games run through mid-November at venues throughout the Valley, offering fans a chance to see future stars at an affordable price, with tickets starting at $14 for adults. The season concludes with an all-star game and championship.
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