This time of year, while the baseball world turns its attention to crowning a new champion, the future is being built in the desert.

For the past two decades, the Arizona Fall League has served as a finishing school for the game's best prospects. As the AFL kicks off its 20th anniversary season on Tuesday, it's clear that this year will be no different.

A total of 23 players currently on MLB.com's Top 100 Prospect list are on AFL rosters, led by No. 10 overall prospect Nick Castellanos of the Tigers, Minor League single-season stolen-base record holder Billy Hamilton of the Reds, Anthony Rendon of the Nationals and the Marlins' Christian Yelich, all of whom are in the top 30.