University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Two Former Baseball Golden Eagles Set to Play in Arizona Fall League
9/15/2026 2:27:00 PM | Baseball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – A pair of former Southern Miss baseball players, outfielder Jake Cook (Toronto Blue Jays) and infielder Nick Monistere (Houston Astros), will participate in the 2026 Arizona Fall League (AFL), beginning Saturday, Oct. 3 and running through the league's championship game, Saturday, Nov. 14.
Cook will play for the Mesa Solar Sox, while Monistere will be a member of the Scottsdale Scorpions.
The six-team league, which started in 1992, sees prospects from across baseball play together on squads that change affiliation each year. So, for the Solar Sox, the Blue Jays are paired with the Los Angeles Angels, the Athletics, the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox. The Scorpions feature players from the Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants, Tampa Bay Rays and Detroit Tigers, along with the Astros.
Entering its 34th season, the AFL has produced hundreds of big league All-Stars, more than 20 MVPs, dozens of Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Award winners and more. For some, the league is a way to make up for lost time after an injury or try a new position. For many, it's that final bit of polishing before being Major League ready.
The regular season concludes on Wednesday, Nov. 11 with the postseason starting the next day. In a format that started in 2025, all six teams make the playoffs in a three-day, single-elimination bracket, with the top two squads getting a bye through the quarterfinals. The semifinals winners will square off in the AFL Championship, which will air on MLB Network, MLB.com and the MLB App.
Both players were taken in the 2026 MLB First-Year Players draft by their current organizations. Cook was chosen in the third round as the No. 81 overall pick, while Monistere got picked in the fourth round, getting selected at No. 126.
Cook will play for the Mesa Solar Sox, while Monistere will be a member of the Scottsdale Scorpions.
The six-team league, which started in 1992, sees prospects from across baseball play together on squads that change affiliation each year. So, for the Solar Sox, the Blue Jays are paired with the Los Angeles Angels, the Athletics, the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox. The Scorpions feature players from the Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants, Tampa Bay Rays and Detroit Tigers, along with the Astros.
Entering its 34th season, the AFL has produced hundreds of big league All-Stars, more than 20 MVPs, dozens of Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Award winners and more. For some, the league is a way to make up for lost time after an injury or try a new position. For many, it's that final bit of polishing before being Major League ready.
The regular season concludes on Wednesday, Nov. 11 with the postseason starting the next day. In a format that started in 2025, all six teams make the playoffs in a three-day, single-elimination bracket, with the top two squads getting a bye through the quarterfinals. The semifinals winners will square off in the AFL Championship, which will air on MLB Network, MLB.com and the MLB App.
Both players were taken in the 2026 MLB First-Year Players draft by their current organizations. Cook was chosen in the third round as the No. 81 overall pick, while Monistere got picked in the fourth round, getting selected at No. 126.
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