Did you pass on Evan Longoria (3B, TB) on draft day because you thought he would take longer to develop?  Do you regret not stashing Travis Snider (OF, TOR) on your dynasty roster after seeing him rake in September?  Well, if you would have taken one eye off your sinking fantasy football team last fall and took a peek at the Arizona Fall League, you would have noticed these budding stars. Whether your 2008 fantasy baseball team is rolling to a championship or waffling in last place, you need to pay attention to the elite talent on display in the AFL.  You owe it to your 2009 squad. 

The Arizona Fall League's season starts on October 7th and is known as a "graduate school" for top prospects.  The roster size in the six-team league is 35 players per team.  Each major league team is required to send seven players to the AFL.  All Triple-A and Double-A players are eligible for the fall league.  In addition, one prospect from below the Double-A level is allowed from each major league squad.  The AFL is clearly a breeding ground for some top fantasy talent.  For example, check out these impressive facts straight from the AFL website:

• 136 MLB All-Stars, including 38 from 2008, played in the AFL;
• Five MLB MVPs are ex-AFLers (Jason Giambi, Ryan Howard, Justin Morneau, Albert Pujols, and Jimmy Rollins);
• 3 Cy Young Award Winners are prior fall leaguers (Chris Carpenter, Roy Halladay, and Brandon Webb); and
• 18 MLB Rookies-of-the-Year were formerly on AFL rosters.   

Who are the prospects in the AFL that will make an immediate impact in 2009?  Who has the potential to be a star?  Are there any hidden gems in the AFL?  What follows is your fantasy cheat sheet to the six AFL teams (Mesa Solar Sox, Peoria Saguaros, Scottsdale Scorpions, Peoria Javelinas, Phoenix Desert Dogs and Surprise Rafters).  I have no idea what the hell Saguaros or Javelinas are or if I should be afraid of them.  But, I guarantee I can give you valuable fantasy information about the young talent on these teams.

I'm going to group these players into three tiers to give you a clearer picture of their future fantasy potential:

Star Power: These youngsters have very high ceilings and should be top fantasy talent within a few years.

Instant Impact: The ceiling for these prospects may not be as high, but they will make a fantasy contribution in 2009. 

Diamonds in the Rough:You probably haven't heard much about these prospects, and their impact may be a little further down the road, but if things fall into place, they could produce fantasy value sooner than expected.

Click on the team logos to view rosters and fantasy previews for each AFL squad.

Email Bill Root at broot@rotoexperts.com  if you want to debate the potential of any of these prospects, or are interested in joining his AFL fantasy league where he is currently the only owner.