photo: Brandon Clarke (Peoria Chiefs)
On Wednesday, September 15, the Arizona Fall League announced its rosters for the 2026 season. They include eight players from the St. Louis Cardinals system assigned to the Peoria Javelinas, headlined by TCN Top 20 prospects Tai Peete, Brandon Clarke and Tekoah Roby.
- LHP Brandon Clarke (Peoria)
- RHP Nate Dohm (Springfield)
- RHP Frank Elissalt (Peoria IL)
- RHP Tekoah Roby (Memphis IL)
- LHP Michael Watson (Springfield)
- IF Sammy Hernandez (Peoria)
- IF Cade McGee (Springfield)
- OF Tai Peete (Springfield)
The Cardinals are also represented on the Javelinas by Springfield trainer Kiomy Martinez-Ortiz.
This is a more experienced group of players assigned to the AFL than the Cardinals sent in 2025. Last year, there were no Triple-A players with the four most experienced of the eight having had limited time at Double-A.
Further, just two members of The Cardinal Nation’s Top 50 prospects were invited last fall, neither of whom were among the Top 25 (pitcher Chen-Wei Lin and outfielder Travis Honeyman, both of whom did not progress as well as hoped in 2026).
For 2026, not only are four invitees ranked, three are in the current Top 20. Lefty Brandon Clarke is no. 8, Righty Tekoah Roby is no. 16, outfielder Tai Peete is 19th and Sammy Hernandez (listed as an infielder rather than a catcher) is 30th in our August rankings.
Clarke, 23, is coming back from an injury that kept him from making his rehab debut until July and his official debut until early August. The left-hander had four rehab starts in Florida before making five starts with Peoria and one with Springfield to date as he rebuilds his arm strength. Clarke fanned 44 and walked 17 in 29 2/3 innings while holding opposing hitters to a collective .140 average.
Pitching in the AFL should allow that progression to continue and for him to make up some of the innings missed earlier and position him to open 2027 in the Springfield rotation. I expect Clarke will be St. Louis’ designated starting pitcher on the Javelinas.
Right-hander Tekoah Roby is an AFL returnee, having first played in the desert in 2023. Since then, the 25-year-old (his official birthday is this Friday) alternated strong results with spending time on the shelf, initially shoulder-related.
In 2025, Roby rejoined the Springfield rotation and pitched well, earning a promotion to Memphis on June 9. A month later, he underwent Tommy John surgery and has not returned to official game action since.
For this AFL season, it is reasonable to assume that Roby will throw an inning at a time out of the Peoria bullpen on his way to rejoining the Memphis rotation in 2027.
Like Clarke, Peete joined the Cardinals organization via a trade before the 2026 season, coming from Seattle in part of the Brendan Donovan trade. Between High-A and Double-A this season, the center fielder and leadoff man slashed .296/.359/.549/.908. In 312 plate appearances over 66 games, Peete hit 13 home runs, drove in 56 and stole 16 bases in 24 attempts.
The 22-year-old catcher also has experience playing first base, with the latter his designation on the Javelinas. With High-A Peoria the entire 2026 campaign, Hernandez slashed .279/.411/.529/.940 in 253 plate appearances over 65 Midwest League games. He hit 11 home runs, plated 35 and went a sneaky good 21-for-26 in stolen base attempts.
Other Cardinals
Like Roby, Frank Elissalt missed the entire 2026 regular season on Peoria’s injured list. Nate Dohm split his season between starting and relieving at Peoria then Springfield with mixed results. Michael Watson had a down year out of the Springfield bullpen compared to his 2025.
An infielder prior to 2026, Cade McGee added catching to his repertoire but is listed as an infielder with the Javelinas. Like Peete and others, he began the season in High-A and finished in Double-A.
Related article
What is next
Once play is underway on October 3, The Cardinal Nation will post free daily recaps of all Desert Dogs AFL games including box score links, as we do annually. That way, you can easily follow Cardinals prospects’ results in the desert.
As has been the case for two decades, I will be present for a week of the AFL with interviews, photos and eyewitness reports exclusively for paid members of The Cardinal Nation. Join today!
Closeout at 20% off – 2026 Cardinals Prospect Guide
The Cardinal Nation Prospect Guide is back for its ninth year. It includes 275 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including over five dozen all-new player scouting reports by Kyle Reis. Order your PDF or spiral-bound printed book today.
The final copies of the printed book are on sale for 20% off!
All paid members can purchase our Prospect Guide PDF at 50% off. Thank you for your support of The Cardinal Nation!
Order The Cardinal Nation’s 2026 St. Louis Cardinals Prospect Guide
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
Not yet a member?
Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.
Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian and The Cardinal Nation on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.
© 2026 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.