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  • Baseball America

    A TALE OF TWO SEASONS

    Oct 13, 2021 6 minutes
    by BILL MITCHELL

    The Arizona League was renamed the Arizona Complex League following MLB’s restructuring of the minor leagues. The Rookie classification remained the same, but the number of teams shrunk from 21 in 2019 to 18 this season, with the Giants, Brewers and Royals each fielding two squads.

    With the draft moving from June to July, the ACL was a tale of two seasons. Rosters in the first half consisted mostly of Latin American players, making the league feel more like an extension of the Dominican Summer League. As draft picks signed and joined the league in the second half, league more closely resembled a cross between Rookie ball and the old half-season level.

    Eleven first-round picks from the 2021 draft made their professional debuts in the ACL. In order of selection, they were: Jordan Lawlar (D-backs), Benny Montgomery (Rockies), Harry Ford (Mariners), Will Bednar (Giants), Sal Frelick (Brewers), Matt McLain (Reds), Colson Montgomery (White Sox), Max Muncy (Athletics), Jackson Merrill (Padres), Maddux Bruns (Dodgers) and Jay Allen (Reds).

    1. Elly de la Cruz, 3B/SS

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