There was just one Giant playing today, though it was Darien Smith making his fall debut. Luckily, we’ve got more to talk about today than just the Giants and the games. We focus on Ike Irish for our Non-Giant featured prospect, the most interesting former catcher in the Orioles system. But more notably, let’s talk about the new rule that is being tested in the Arizona Fall League, which is one of the most extreme rule proposals I’ve seen made: Outfielder Positioning.
New Outfielder Positioning Rules Being Tested in the Arizona Fall League.
The Arizona Fall League has long been a place MLB has tested new potential rules. Pitch Timers, Infield Shifts, and the ABS Challenge system all went through their earliest tests in the Arizona Fall League. The Check Swing Challenges were first tested in the Arizona Fall League last fall, before getting tested in Triple-A this season. There had not been any announced rule changes in this year’s league…but it turns out there’s one that was not announced: Outfielder positioning.
This rule change is being tested at only one stadium: Salt River Fields (home of the Salt River Rafters, and the Diamondbacks and Rockies Spring Training facility).
Without an official announcement, things aren’t exactly clear what the rules are. But here’s what is happening. As reported by Fangraphs, corner outfielders are playing closer to the line, and the center fielder is playing much more shallow than normal. And it is easy to know if an outfield is in compliance…at least if you’re looking towards the press box. There’s a LED board that shows either an “O” on a green background or an “X” on a red background to say whether an outfielder is in position.
The compliance only matters if an outfielder who is out of position fields the ball. If they are, the field umpire is in charge of enforcement, and it is to the umpire’s discretion as to how the hitter (and other runners already on the bases) get extra bases. Baseball America got a kind of quote from an “MLB Official”, who said they are trying to see if adopting outfield positioning rules could increase the number of balls in the gap, returning doubles and triples to a game that is seeing those plays slowly disappear.
This is obviously very early in testing…and it is very rough. I assume players have more specific instructions than we do. And it’s only in one stadium. But this echoes the infield shift rules that started getting tested in 2023…but which have not been very successful. Baseball America’s article has some interesting numbers on the topic.
And, um…as a very Giants-centric opinion…yes, I want more doubles and triples hit out to Triples Alley. No, I do not support further bringing in the fences.
What do you think? I really, *really* summarized what was written elsewhere. Here are the links if you would like to read more yourself, and Fangraphs has a few pictures and a video worth seeing about this. And please…tell me what you think in the comments!
Fangraphs: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/major-league-baseball-piloting-experimental-outfield-positioning-rules-in-arizona-fall-league/
Baseball America: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mlb-tests-new-outfield-positioning-rules-in-arizona-fall-league/
Non-Giant Prospect to Highlight of the Day: Ike Irish (MLB #97; BAL #5)
Drafted with the 19th overall pick in 2025, Ike Irish was one of the top catchers drafted, but he’s already moved off that role. Irish didn’t play as catcher at all in 2026 in the regular season, and has only appeared as DH or first base in the AFL so far, though he spent much of 2026 playing outfield corner spots. The good news is that Irish’s bat so far has proven worth it in Low-A, as he slashed .286/.388/.528 for a .916 OPS, hitting 16 home runs in 76 games. So far in the AFL, he’s 6-for-18 (.333) with two home runs already in four games. If Irish can continue to hit, and find a reasonable defensive home, he’ll prove to be one of Baltimore’s top prospects.
Scottsdale: Scottsdale Scorpions 4, Surprise Saguaros 1
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Giants Prospects to Spotlight:
- RP Darien Smith: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 WP - Smith made his Fall debut, giving up the only run for Scottsdale. Even so, it was an effective outing, with four strikeouts in three innings.
- Notes - This was the first game off for Dakota Jordan, who has been struggling. Also, notably, with Smith’s debut, Randy Rodriguez remains the only Giant who has not appeared in the AFL yet this year.
Other Scottsdale Prospect Lines:
- LF Brendan Summerhill (TB #28): 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB
- C Nathan Flewelling (MLB #62; TB #3): 1-4, 1 R, 1 K, 1-1 ABS
- CF Braylon Payne (MIL #6): 1-3, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 3B (2), 1 SB (1)
- 1B Eric Bitoni (MIL #26): 0-4, 2 K, 1-1 ABS
Surprise Notable Prospect Lines:
- LF Zion Rose (KC #6): 0-4, 2 K
- SS Welbyn Francisca (CLE #20): 0-3, 1 BB
- 3B Aidan Miller (MLB #58; PHI #2): 1-2, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 2B (1), 0-1 ABS
- 1B Cole Mathis (NYM #13): 0-3, 1 BB
- RF Paxton Kling (TEX #20): 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 K
- CF Dante Nori (PHI #7): 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K
- 2B Bruin Agbayani (NYM #28): 1-3, 2 K, 1 2B 91)
- RP Mason McConnaughey (TEX #30): 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
Other Games
Peoria Javelinas 10, Glendale Desert Dog 2
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Peoria Notable Prospect Lines:
- DH Ike Irish (MLB #97; BAL #5): 3-6, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR (2), 1 SB (2)
- 3B Carter Graham (CIN #22): 0-4, 1 HBP
- RF Alex McCoy (SD #26): 0-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K
- C Boston Smith (SEA #13): 0-2, 1 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 SB (1), 2-3 ABS
Glendale Notable Prospect Lines:
- CF Eduardo Quintero (MLB #18; LAD #3): 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB (1)
- SS Wyatt Sanford (PIT #5): 1-4, 1 R, 1 K
- RF Caleb Bonemer (MLB #27; CWS #2): 2-4, 1 K, 1 2B 93)
- 3B Jhonny Severino (PIT #28): 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K
- 1B Chase Harlan (LAD #9): 1-2, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 HR (1), 1 SF, 1-1 ABS
- LF Max Williams (MIA #27): 1-4, 1 K, 1 SB (1)
- C Easton Carmichael (PIT #8): 0-4, 2 K, 0-2 ABS
- DH Isaiah Drake (ATL #29): 1-4, 1 SB (3)
- RP Mathias LaCombe (CWS #17): 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
Salt River Rafters 4, Mesa Solar Sox 3
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Mesa Notable Prospect Lines:
- C Cole Conn (SAC #21): 1-5, 1 R, 1 2B (2), 1 SB (2)
- SS Arjun Nimmala (MLB #35; LAA #1): 0-5, 3 K
- 3B Jake Munroe (LAA #20): 1-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR (1)
- 2B Mason White (BOS #26): 1-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR (1)
- LF Jake Casey (TOR #25): 1-2, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 2B (1), 2 SB (5)
- CF Jake Cook (TOR #22): 0-2, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB (4), 1 HBP, 0-1 ABS
Salt River Notable Prospect Lines:
- SS Dax Kilby (MLB #83; NYY #1): 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR (1)
- 2B Demetrio Crisantes (MLB #72, AZ #1): 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB (2)
- RF Jared Thomas (COL #10): 0-4, 3 K
- LF Yasser Mercedes (MIN #17): 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 2B (1)
- DH Andy Perez (COL #15): 0-4, 1 K