The Show Notes #34: Black Prospects In The 2026 Arizona Complex League
Take at look at the various ACL rosters for the current MiLB season and you’ll find Black Americans drafted out of high school and college, Samaná Americans from the Dominican Republic, Afro-Cubans, Afro-Panamanians, and other Afro-Descendant demographics that have a relationship with baseball. The individuals on these rosters are proof that the entire African diaspora’s relationship with baseball is progressing at an unforeseen pace. While most of these players will not make it above Double-A, these are the managers, coaches, scouts, and trainers of the future.
TJ Ford
Troy “TJ” Ford is a 20-year-old center fielder who was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 14th round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Trinity Christian School in Sharpsburg, Georgia. The Angels front office was able to pull the Central Georgia native away from a commitment to the University of Alabama-Birmingham’s baseball program to begin his professional career with a $272,000 dollar signing bonus.
Jeffery Heard
Jeffery Heard is a 23-year-old outfielder in the Los Angeles Angels farm system from San Jose, California. He was signed by the Angels as an undrafted free agent(UDFA) after a four-year college career split between Sacramento State and the University of Oregon from 2022-2025 with a .286/.390/.481 slash line.
LeTrey McCollum
LeTrey McCollum is a 23-year old outfielder from Greater San Diego area who was signed by the Angels as a UDFA after a solid collegiate career. He went .330/.431/.421 across four seasons for UC Santa Barbara.
Adriel Radney
Adriel Radney is an 18-year-old Samaná-American outfielder in the Arizona Diamondbacks system. Standing around 6’3’’ and weighing close to 180 pounds, he is a toolsy and physically advanced teenager. He was seen as the crown jewel of prospects from the Samaná Province during the 2024 international signing period and was the recipient of a $1.8 million dollar signing bonus.
Jordan Rich
Jordan Rich is an 18-year-old center fielder in the Chicago White Sox organization from Broward County, Florida. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 17th round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of American Heritage High School in Plantation, Florida and decided to start his professional baseball career after graduating. Last month, he was traded to the White Sox along with a Player To Be Named Later(PTBNL) in exchange for utility man Lenyn Sosa.
CJ Hughes
18-year-old CJ Hughes is a switch-hitting middle infielder who was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 11th round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Junipero Serra High School in Los Angeles, California. He forewent a commitment to UC Santa Barbara’s baseball team to begin his professional baseball career and received a $700,000 dollar signing bonus after turning pro.
Ma’Kale Holden
Ma’Kale Holden is a right-handed pitcher in the Milwaukee Brewers organization from Birmingham, Alabama. The Milwaukee brain trust pulled him away from a commitment to the University of Alabama’s baseball program with a $410,000 dollar signing bonus after he was chosen in the 20th round of the 2025 MLB Draft.
Jurdrick Profar
Infielder Jurdrick Profar is the 19-year-old younger brother of Curaçaoan Jurickson Profar. Born and raised in Willemstad, Curaçao, the younger Profar brother was signed by the White Sox during the 2024 signing period for international amateur prospects.
Rashawn Pinder
Rashawn Pinder is an eighteen-year-old Bahamian outfielder in the Texas Rangers farm system from Nassau. He has a younger relative in the Rangers farm system named Jaylyn Pinder.
JaMaurion “Jay” McQueen
JaMaurion “Jay” McQueen is a 19-year-old outfielder in the Texas Rangers system from Brandon, Mississippi. He was selected in the 20th round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Brandon High School and forewent his commitment to the baseball program of South Alabama to start his ascent towards the majors.
Ryjeteri Merite
Ryjeteri Merite is a 20-year-old left-handed starting pitcher in the Cincinnati Reds farm system from The Netherlands. In his most recent ACL appearance on 5/23/26, he went four innings with 11 strikeouts, five hits allowed, and one earned run.
Michael Braswell
Michael Braswell is a 23-year-old converted pitcher in the Kansas City Royals organization from the Greater Atlanta, Georgia area. He was a shortstop during his four years playing in the SEC for the University of South Carolina and Louisiana State University. The Royals organization signed Braswell as an UDFA, and so far he has made five appearances in the ACL as a pitcher.
Jhojan Downer
Jhojan Downer is an Afro-Panamanian catcher/outfielder/first baseman of Antillean descent in the San Diego Padres organization from Almirante, Panama.
Anielson Buten
Anielson Buten is a super-utility player in the Cincinnati Reds farm system that was born in Haiti but raised in the Dominican Republic. He signed during the 2024 signing period for international prospects.
Juan Brown
Juan Brown is an Aruban first baseman who was signed by the Reds in 2024 for a $300,000 dollar signing bonus. The 18-year-old has posted an OPS north of 1.000 across 60 plate appearances in the 2026 ACL. At 6’3’’ and 185 pounds, he is a physically advanced teenager.
Jalen Hairston
Jalen Hairston is a third baseman in the Reds farm system from Winter Haven, Florida who was drafted by Cincinnati in the 18th round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota.
Eriel Dihigo
Matanzas, Cuba native Eriel Dihigo is a descendant of Afro-Cuban Martín Dihigo, one of the very few individuals with a legitimate case to be called the greatest baseball player in the sport’s entire history. He is a third baseman who was signed by the Colorado Rockies during the 2024 signing period for international amateur prospects.