The Arizona Fall League is back in session, and top prospects from across Major League Baseball will be in Arizona to participate.
The Drive will have seven alums taking part in the Arizona Fall League with the Peoria Javelinas.
Fresh off piloting the Drive to their first South Atlantic League championship in franchise history, Darren Fenster will be serving as a hitting coach for the Javelinas.
Michael Chavis (2016) highlights the player contingent with Peoria. Chavis was named the Red Sox Minor League Player of the Year this season after belting a career-high 31 homers between A-Salem and AA-Portland. He also hit .282 with 94 RBI and was the MVP of the Carolina League All-Star Game at midseason.
He is joined in the Javelinas infield by Chad De La Guerra (2016), who also posted a breakout campaign between Salem and Portland. De La Guerra combined to hit .283 with nine homers and 59 RBI this season.
Javier Guerra (2015) will also play for Peoria. The former Drive shortstop was traded to San Diego in the Craig Kimbrel trade in the 2015 offseason, and he hit .222 with nine homers and 53 RBI between High-A and AA in the Padres system this year.
Three former Drive pitchers will also suit up for Peoria this fall.
Right-hander Ty Buttrey (2014-15) showed dominant stuff in his first full season as a reliever in 2017. He struck out 74 hitters in 63 2/3 innings between AA-Portland and AAA-Pawtucket while making 40 appearances.
Left-hander Henry Owens (2012) is showcasing his stuff for Peoria after a 2017 season in which he went 7-11 with a 4.21 ERA in 26 starts between AA and AAA.
Bobby Poyner (2016) continued his terrific run since being drafted by Boston in 2015. The southpaw logged a 1.49 ERA in 43 appearances with 15 saves this year, including a 0.94 mark in 27 games in Portland after an early-season promotion.
(Written by Cameron White of the Greenville Drive.)