SEARCY — Former Harding standout right-handed pitcher Maddox Long has achieved another historic milestone in his professional career, earning a selection to pitch for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the prestigious Arizona Fall League (AFL).

Long, currently in the Detroit Tigers organization, is the first player in Harding baseball history to be selected to the elite autumn circuit.

The Arizona Fall League serves as Major League Baseball's premier finishing school and showcase for top prospects, pairing standout talent from all 30 MLB organizations across six Arizona-based clubs. This season, the Scottsdale roster features premier farmhands from five MLB organizations: the Detroit Tigers, San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers, Houston Astros, and Tampa Bay Rays.

Long earned his AFL assignment on the heels of a meteoric 2026 professional debut that saw him advance through three tiers of the Tigers' farm system in less than three months.

The Morrilton, Arkansas, native opened his pro career in May with the Washington Wild Things of the independent Frontier League. In eight appearances (six starts), Long went 4-1 with a 1.81 ERA, striking out 32 batters against just five walks over 44 2/3 innings while leading the league with a 0.784 WHIP.

His electric start caught the attention of Detroit, which purchased his contract in late June.

Assigned initially to the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Tigers, Long notched 19 strikeouts in 11.0 relief innings (15.5 K/9) before earning a swift promotion to Single-A Lakeland in mid-July. After two effective outings for the Flying Tigers (3.18 ERA in 5 2/3 innings), Long was elevated to the High-A West Michigan Whitecaps in the Midwest League for the final month of the minor league regular season.

At West Michigan, Long established himself in the rotation, posting a 3.18 ERA and a 0.941 WHIP across four appearances (two starts) covering 17.0 innings. He fanned 21 batters while issuing only three walks, holding High-A hitters to a .210 batting average.

Across his three stops in the Tigers organization in 2026, Long compiled a 3-2 record with one save and a 3.74 ERA in 10 games (two starts). Over 33 2/3 innings, he struck out 44 batters while walking only 11 (4.00 K/BB ratio) and holding opponents to a 1.158 WHIP. Combined with his time in Washington, Long concluded his first professional regular season with a 7-3 record, a 2.64 ERA, and 76 strikeouts in 78 1/3 innings.

Prior to turning professional, Long authored one of the most decorated collegiate pitching careers in Harding athletics history.

As a senior in 2025, Long spearheaded the Bisons to a 41-win campaign and an NCAA Central Regional appearance. He posted an 11-3 record and a 2.16 ERA across 16 games (15 starts), striking out 122 batters while issuing only 28 walks in 108 1/3 innings. That dominant performance earned him consensus First-Team All-American honors, Central Region Pitcher of the Year accolades, GAC Pitcher of the Year, Natural State Baseball (NSB) Pitcher of the Year, and the NSB Natural Award.

His 2024 junior season was equally commanding. Long went 6-1 with a 3.33 ERA and struck out 107 in 105 1/3 innings, collecting GAC Pitcher of the Year and All-American honors. In his three years wearing Black and Gold, Long registered 386 strikeouts and led Harding to consecutive Great American Conference championships in 2024 and 2025.

Long also proved his mettle against premier national talent in the summer collegiate Northwoods League, leading the Green Bay Rockers to league championships in both 2023 and 2025. During the 2025 summer season, he was named a Northwoods League Midseason All-Star after posting a 0.95 ERA and striking out 37 in 38 innings.

Long is one of seven former Harding players to sign with an MLB-affiliated organization, joining a select lineage that includes former Major League All-Star Preacher Roe. His assignment to the Arizona Fall League represents the highest prospect level reached by a former Bison in modern program history.

The Scorpions play their home contests at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Arizona, with the six-week season beginning in October.