The Arizona Fall League, baseball’s annual prospect petri dish, has officially begun. It’s time for six teams, a stack of future big leaguers, and every MLB club to toss their shiniest toys into the Arizona sun. The contests are played in the same sleepy spring training parks and stretched over six weeks.

The AFL has been around for 30-plus years and is essentially considered MLB’s offseason laboratory. Coaches, scouts, and front office types get to poke and prod their prospects in fancy, state-of-the-art facilities. It’s not just for the players, as umpires, coaches, and even would-be front office staff get their reps in. MLB also loves to tinker here: although this fall, unlike last, the automated ball-strike system (ABS) will not be used to call balls and strikes in any of the games. You’ll have to wait for spring training 2026 to see the new system in action.

The AFL’s alumni list is a who’s who of big-league talent, including more than 3,000 major leaguers who have passed through the Arizona desert. If you want to see tomorrow’s stars before they’re famous, get your tickets and head to the Grand Canyon, because this fall, it is the place to be.

The White Sox have nine players in the AFL, three of whom are among the system’s top 30 prospects. They will compete on the Glendale Desert Dogs squad along with players from the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Toronto Blue Jays. The Dogs played their first game yesterday, Tuesday, October 7, and dropped the contest 7-3 to the Salt River Rafters.

All 90 of the AFL regular-season games are free for fans to stream, as well as the Home Run Derby, Fall Stars Game, and Championship series. You can catch the action on MLB.com and the Arizona Fall League website.

Now, let’s take a quick look at all nine of the White Sox prospects who are playing in the AFL.

Pitchers

Tyler Davis — RHP
Signed by the White Sox as an undrafted free agent in 2024, Davis was a two-way player who saw time both on the mound and at the plate for Wichita State, Panola College, and Sam Houston State. In his time with these three colleges, the righthander compiled 223 innings pitched, a 4.35 ERA, a 16–11 record, and 200 strikeouts against 58 walks. But it was as a hitter where he came into his own during his breakout 2023 season. The infielder slashed .423/.491/.621 in 253 at-bats, ranking fifth in the country in average and recording 32 extra-base hits, 60 RBIs, and an elite plate approach with 32 walks against 31 strikeouts.

After being acquired by Chicago, Davis hung up his first baseman’s glove and strictly stuck to pitching. In 2024, he saw action at four different levels, including Rookie, Single-A, High-A, and Triple-A. He performed well at three out of the four levels, struggling a bit once he arrived in Charlotte. He spent all of 2025 in Double-A with the Birmingham Barons, making 41 appearances out of the pen, earning a 3.17 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with a 10.67 K/9 and 4.50 BB/9.

Carson Jacobs — RHP
Another undrafted free agent, Chicago signed the 24-year-old in 2023. The 6’9” righty has worked his way through the lower-level affiliates, spending most of 2025 with Winston-Salem, but reaching Birmingham for the final week of the season. The Dash used him exclusively out of the arm barn, and he wrapped his time up there going 6-5 with a 4.61 ERA and a pretty high 1.57 WHIP impacted by an ugly 5.93 BB/9.

Connor McCullough — RHP
After going undrafted, McCullough bet on himself, signing with the White Sox out of Kansas State in 2022. His comeback story took shape this season as he returned from Tommy John surgery and quietly impressed across three levels of the system, including Rookie ball to Double-A. The 26-year-old posted a 3.43 ERA as a starter with opponents hitting just .195 against him, with an impressive 0.95 WHIP. Working with a low-90s fastball and a mid-80s changeup, McCullough turned what started as a recovery year into a reminder of his potential.

Jarold Rosado — RHP
Remember team home run leader Paul DeJong? Well, the Sox acquired Rosado from the Royals in the July 2024 deal for the veteran. Rosado made the most of a stop-and-go season that included a six-week absence due to illness. When healthy, the righthander flashed intriguing upside across High-A and Double-A, posting a 4.45 ERA out of the bullpen with a 8.91 K/9. Rosado brings a lively 93–95 mph fastball that can touch 97 paired with a sharp low-80s slider and a mid-80s changeup capable of generating swing-and-miss stuff when he’s on. He’s a name to keep an eye on as he continues to refine his command and harness his arsenal.

Hagen Smith (White Sox No. 5, MLB Pipeline No. 88) — LHP
A record-setting strikeout artist at the University of Arkansas in 2024, Smith etched his name in NCAA history by fanning hitters at a jaw-dropping 17.3 K/9 clip before the White Sox made him their fifth overall pick in July. His first full professional season brought some expected adjustments as his fastball was down a bit and sat in the 92–96 mph range, and he struggled with some command hiccups (56 walks for a 6.66 BB/9). His 81–84 mph slider remained his go-to weapon, and despite the bumps in the road, Smith still demonstrated why he was a top pick, posting a 3.57 ERA, holding opponents to a .166 average, and racking up 108 strikeouts in 75⅔ (12.85 K/9) innings with Birmingham. The raw stuff and strikeout swagger are still very much intact; as with many young hurlers, it’s just a matter of fine-tuning.

Outfielders

Braden Montgomery (White Sox No. 1, MLB Pipeline No. 35) — OF
Montgomery is one of baseball’s most exciting outfield prospects. The 12th overall pick in the 2024 Draft, Montgomery brings switch-hitting pop, elite arm strength, and the kind of athleticism that jumps off the field. He signed with the Red Sox for $5 million after breaking his right ankle in the NCAA Super Regionals. Before ever taking a professional at-bat, he was dealt to Chicago in the blockbuster trade that sent Garrett Crochet to Boston last offseason.

After starting his first pro season in Kannapolis in 2025, he rocketed all the way to Double-A Birmingham, where he helped the club to first place for the second half in the Southern League. Across three levels, he slashed .270/.360/.444 with 12 homers and 68 RBIs in 121 games. He also erased one of the few questions scouts had about him concerning his right-handed swing. After some college struggles from that side of the plate, he flipped the narrative by hitting .261/.336/.539. Unfortunately, the season ended on a bit of a downer for the 22-year-old as he suffered a small stress fracture in his right foot after being hit by a pitch. The injury rendered him unable to play during the Southern League playoffs. However, now healthy, here’s hoping Montgomery is a future middle-of-the-order star on the South Side.

Caden Connor — IF/OF
The White Sox found a hidden gem in the versatile infielder/outfielder from Cal State Fullerton, selecting him late in the 2023 MLB Draft (Round 19, No. 569). While he may not have the typical first-base power, his plate discipline makes him a tough out at the plate. In 2025, he demonstrated those skills with a 13.5% walk rate and a .314 BABIP, proving he can find ways to make contact and get on base. He spent most of the season with the Birmingham Barons but earned a cup of coffee at Charlotte, where he thrived, hitting .333/.422/.410 with an .832 OPS over 39 at-bats. Across three levels for the year, he posted a solid .272/.358/.366 slash line, cementing himself as a reliable, adaptable hitter.

Infielders

Sam Antonacci (White Sox. No. 11) — IF
Chicago’s 2024 fifth-round pick (No. 140) out of Coastal Carolina wasted no time proving his polish at the plate, climbing all the way up to the Barons in his first full professional season. He hit a smooth .291/.433/.409 with an .842 OPS while swiping 48 bases and driving in 57 runs in 116 games. He’s not a pure burner, but his intelligence on the basepaths and sharp baseball instincts make him a better player than his raw tools suggest. With a disciplined approach and knack for contact, Antonacci continues to look like one of those players who will always find a way to make things happen.

Ryan Galanie — IF
Galanie isn’t the flashiest player on the field, but he’s a gamer. A 13th-round pick (No. 389) out of Wofford in 2023, Galanie quietly put together one of the more productive seasons in the White Sox system, finishing seventh overall in the minors with 94 RBIs. Splitting time between High-A and Double-A, he slashed .276/.327/.422 with 11 homers and 26 doubles over 119 games. He might not boast a single “wow” tool, but the 25-year-old’s steady bat and his ability to generate timely hits continue to make him a lineup pest for opposing teams.

AFL Recap for Tuesday, October 7, 2025: Salt River Rafters 7, Desert Dogs 3
None of Chicago’s pitchers got in on any of the action yesterday, but hitters Antonacci, Galanie, and Connor made their AFL debuts. Combined, they went 0-for-10. Connor was the only one to reach base and did so via a walk. Additionally, Galanie drove in a run on a sacrifice fly. Not the greatest of starts for the Dogs, but it’s obviously early.

I will have a weekly AFL update, publishing on Tuesday of each week, that will bring you all the highlights regarding the performance of Chicago’s prospects.