Put mildly, the Arizona Fall League is an offensive-oriented circuit. Put dramatically, it’s, traditionally, a launching pad, a hitter’s paradise.
So while you go 21 batters earlier than permitting your first hit, as right-hander Cade Smith did, that is nothing to sneeze at. The Yankees No. 19 prospect, the 23 year-old Smith was a vibrant spot on the mound all fall for a Mesa workers that mixed for a 6.98 staff ERA, and the standout in a shallow crop of New York prospects in Arizona this fall.
Smith logged three no-hit aid innings in his debut and was into his fourth inning in his second begin earlier than permitting his first hit to his ultimate batter. He threw a nine-pitch scoreless inning within the Fall Stars Recreation and completed with a 2.13 ERA and a 14-2 Okay/BB fee throughout 12 2/3 innings within the hitter-friendly league.
It was a high quality displaying for the previous Mississippi State standout, who did not make his first begin of 2025 till July and was restricted to 39 2/3 innings in the course of the common season resulting from a proper shoulder damage. However each time Smith’s been on the mound, he is discovered a flurry of success on the decrease ranges. The sixth-round choose from the 2023 Draft has pitched to a 3.31 ERA with 10.8 Okay/9 and a .182 opponent common throughout two professional seasons regardless of working with below-average fastball velocity.
What he does very well is spin the baseball, leaning on a plus slider, an above-average curveball and a growing changeup. That is the proverbial kitchen sink, and it performs up when he throws strikes like he did in Arizona.
Right here’s how the remainder of New York’s farmhands fared within the Fall League:
Bryce Cunningham, RHP (No. 5): The 2024 second-rounder might need the most effective changeup amongst Fall League hurlers this yr, and the pitch regarded prefer it often does, starting from 83-90 mph. However he did not use it very a lot, solely 13 p.c of the time. He had bother commanding his different stuff, resulting in some crooked numbers. Out of the 127 fastballs Cunningham threw, he bought misses on solely 4 of them — an absurdly low 6 p.c. He allowed 4 runs in every of his first two begins and completed with an unsightly 10.38 ERA regardless of ending robust, tossing 4 scoreless innings in his playoff begin in opposition to Salt River.
Hueston Morrill, RHP: Coming off a sensational yr largely at Excessive-A, the previous place participant labored in eight video games as Mesa’s nearer, changing two of three save alternatives and pitching to a 3.12 ERA throughout 8 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old’s command eluded him at occasions, although, with Morrill issuing extra walks (5) than he collected strikeouts (3).
Adam Stone, RHP: The 24-year-old struggled in his return to the mound after lacking two years to damage, surrendering seven earned runs in 5 1/3 innings over seven outings. He labored primarily with an upper-80s cutter and a 93-95 mph fastball that topped out at 97.
Brady Kirtner, RHP: Drafted within the twelfth spherical out of Virginia Tech in ’23, Kirtner did not make his professional debut till this season and logged a 2.70 ERA over his first 46 2/3 professional innings. Pitching in opposition to higher competitors, he struggled extra within the Fall League, pitching to a 6.14 ERA in seven appearances and permitting virtually two hits per inning. He threw his 83-85 mph slider, 91-93 mph fastball (topped out at 95) and 81-83 mph curveball all about equal quantities.
Coby Morales, INF: An 18th spherical select of Washington in 2023, Morales blasted a 402-foot homer in his AFL debut. He additionally hit two doubles and collected seven RBIs in 27 at-bats however solely performed in eight video games.
Manuel Palencia, C: A defensive-minded backstop, Palencia batted .217 with one homer in 13 video games. His greatest software is his throwing arm and he did catch 21 p.c of tried basestealers, an above-average fee within the Fall League this yr.
Enmanuel Tejada, INF: Tejada missed greater than a full yr to a knee damage sustained in July 2024 and hit .242/.389/.342 with 12 steals in 35 Single-A video games after returning this season. He slashed .254/.412/.358 with one homer, 15 RBIs, 13 steals and 16 walks in 20 video games this fall in a utility function.
