PHOENIX- Major League Baseball has announced the managers for the 2026 Arizona Fall League (AFL) season. Rafael Neda (Scottsdale - MIL), Daniel Robertson (Surprise - CLE), John Shoemaker (Glendale - LAD), Ted Tom (Salt River - WSH), Daniel Wasinger (Mesa - CHC), and Danny Worth (Peoria - SD) will manage some of the top prospects in baseball.
Known throughout baseball as the finishing school for Major League Baseball’s future stars, the AFL returns to the Valley for its 34th season. Over 30 former AFL managers/coaches have become MLB managers, including current skippers Kevin Cash (TB), Terry Francona (CIN), A.J. Hinch (DET), Torey Lovullo (ARI), Warren Schaeffer (COL) and Derek Shelton (MIN).
Glendale Desert Dogs: John Shoemaker (Los Angeles Dodgers)
John Shoemaker brings 50 seasons of Minor League Baseball experience and 32 seasons as a manager to the Valley. After making his Minor League playing debut in 1977 with the Dodgers, Shoemaker transitioned to coaching in 1981 and has been a manager all but seven seasons since 1987. The 70-year-old has managed in Vero Beach, and Jacksonville, Fla.; San Antonio, Texas; Yakima, Wash.; Great Falls, Mont.; Savannah, Ga,; Las Vegas,; Midland, Mich,; Ogden, Utah,; as well as Rancho Cucamonga and Ontario, Calif. Shoemaker has made six league championship appearances, having won three league championships during his time with 13 different teams. The Chillicothe, Ohio, native is tied for third among active managers in all-time wins with a 1,984-1,863 record. He has recorded a record above .500 in 20 separate seasons.
Mesa Solar Sox: Daniel Wasinger (Chicago Cubs)
Daniel Wasinger is coming off his first season as the manager for the High-A South Bend Cubs. The 30-year-old brought the Cubs a first-half Midwest League Western Division Title, and their first playoff appearance since 2022. Wasinger joined the Cubs organization ahead of the 2024 season, acting as a Development Coach for the Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans. In 2025, he became the bench coach in South Bend and oversaw the team’s catching. The El Paso, Texas, native played two seasons in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization after being drafted in the 31st round in 2018 out of Southeastern Louisiana before playing three seasons in independent baseball.
Peoria Javelinas: Danny Worth (San Diego Padres)
Danny Worth is in his second season as the San Diego Padres Infield Coordinator. Worth was drafted in the 2nd round in 2007 by the Detroit Tigers and spent six seasons in the big leagues as an infielder for the Tigers and Astros. Following the end of his playing career in 2017, Worth joined his alma mater as an Assistant Coach at Pepperdine University. Worth spent six seasons with the Wave, helping mentor the 2018 WCC Player of the Year and five draft picks from the positions he coached. As a player, Worth helped the Wave to two West Coast Conference championships and three NCAA Tournament bids.
Salt River Rafters: Ted Tom (Washington Nationals)
Ted Tom is in his first season of professional baseball after being named the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks manager in 2026. Tom spent 20 seasons as a coach in the collegiate ranks, including as a head coach for his alma mater, Shawnee State University. Following three seasons as an assistant coach and Director of Baseball Operations at the University of Cincinnati, the Lancaster, Ohio, native spent eight seasons in Orlando, Florida, as an assistant coach at the University of Central Florida. Tom coached the outfielders and acted as the first base coach in his first two seasons before being promoted to Hitting Coach and Recruiting Coordinator in 2019. In 2024, Tom helped UCF to its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2017, mentoring six all-conference selections.
Scottsdale Scorpions: Rafael Neda (Milwaukee Brewers)
Rafael Neda is in his 10th season coaching and 16th season overall in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Neda played 303 Minor League games after being drafted in the 10th round of the 2010 MLB Draft. The 37-year-old transitioned to coaching in 2016 and has been the Brewers' Arizona Complex League manager since 2017. Across nine seasons, Neda has accumulated 233 wins, including an ACL Championship in 2023. Since that 2023 season, Neda has acted in a dual role, also working as the Brewers' Minor League Assistant Field Coordinator. Neda has helped lay the groundwork for future Major Leaguers Cooper Pratt (2023), Jefferson Quero (2021), and Brice Turang (2018).
Surprise Saguaros: Daniel Robertson (Cleveland Guardians)
Daniel Robertson played parts of four seasons in the big leagues with four different organizations, including his final season in 2017 with the Guardians. The former 33rd-round pick of the Padres in 2008 made his Major League debut in 2014 and played 12 seasons of professional baseball. Following his playing career, Robertson went back to his alma mater and worked as an undergraduate assistant for Oregon State’s baseball team. Robertson then managed the Campesinos de Salem-Kizer to a Mavericks League Championship in 2021. After the season, Robertson joined the Guardians organization and is in his fifth season with the club and third as the bench coach for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers.
Regarded as the premier league for baseball’s top prospects, the Arizona Fall League continues to develop top-caliber talent across all 30 MLB Clubs. AFL games will be held primarily at six Cactus League ballparks throughout the 2026 season - Camelback Ranch-Glendale, Peoria Sports Complex, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Sloan Park, Scottsdale Stadium, and Surprise Stadium - with select games at Kino Sports Complex and Goodyear Ballpark. Opening Day of the 2026 AFL season is set for Saturday, October 3, with all six teams set to be in action. The 20th annual Fall Stars Game (Sunday, November 8th) will be played at Salt River Fields, and the AFL Championship Game (Saturday, November 14th) will be at Peoria Sports Complex, both being televised on MLB Network. The full 2026 Arizona Fall League Schedule and online tickets can be found at the Arizona Fall League website at MLBFallBall.com.
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