Three of the Texas Rangers’ top 30 prospects are set to join the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League, as announced by Major League Baseball on Wednesday. Outfielder Alejandro Osuna (No. 16), along with right-handed pitchers Josh Stephan (No. 25) and Skylar Hales (No. 29), headline a group of eight Rangers prospects invited to participate.
The additional players include infielder Max Acosta, third baseman Cody Freeman, left-handed pitcher Avery Weems, and right-handed pitchers Marc Church and Leandro Lopez.
Osuna had his best professional season, advancing to Double-A Frisco, where he finished with an impressive slash line of .292/.362/.507/.869, marking a career-high with 18 home runs and 61 RBIs. MLB.com noted that his playing style resembles that of New York Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo, and he also recorded 17 stolen bases.
Stephan, an undrafted free agent since 2021, dealt with elbow inflammation this season. In 12 games (11 starts), he posted a 2-5 record with a 4.94 ERA, tallying 55 strikeouts and 17 walks over 58.1 innings. He had winning records in both of his previous seasons with full-season affiliates.
Hales, a newcomer to the Top 30 after being selected in the fourth round of the 2023 draft, reached Frisco and emerged as one of the top relievers in the Rangers system. He pitched in 44 games, finishing with a 4-0 record and a 3.18 ERA, including 66 strikeouts and 17 walks across 56.2 innings. He also notched 10 saves in 11 opportunities and recorded eight holds.
The Rangers will compete with the Surprise Saguaros in Surprise, Arizona, sharing the spring training facility with the Kansas City Royals. They will play alongside prospects from the Royals, Houston Astros, Cleveland Guardians, and Baltimore Orioles.
Other teams in the Arizona Fall League are based in Glendale, Mesa, Peoria, Salt River, and Scottsdale. The AFL season begins on October 7. Since its inception in 1992, over 3,000 players have participated and progressed to the Major Leagues.
Several special events will occur during the season, including a tripleheader at Goodyear Ballpark on October 19, a game at Grand Canyon University on October 25, and a doubleheader at American Family Fields of Phoenix on October 26.
The Fall Stars game is scheduled for November 9 at Sloan Park, with the annual home run derby set for November 8. The season will conclude on November 14, followed by a play-in semifinal game between the second- and third-place teams on November 15 at Scottsdale Stadium. The championship game will take place the following day at Salt River Fields.
