Although the standard of pitching within the Arizona Fall League continued to say no, the developmental circuit’s finest prospect did his work on the mound. Phillies right-hander Andrew Painter returned to competitors after lacking the whole 2023 and 2024 seasons and rapidly re-established himself as essentially the most promising younger arm within the sport.
Painter was certainly one of 15 Prime 100 prospects to crack our AFL Prime 30 prospects rankings under — although simply certainly one of two pitchers. The Fall League featured a bumper crop of first basemen that included baseball’s 4 finest prospects on the place (Jac Caglianone, Bryce Eldridge, Nick Kurtz, Xavier Isaac) and its first Triple Crown winner ever (Josue Briceño).
As typical, our evaluations are based mostly extra on long-term potential than AFL efficiency, although each are thought of. We additionally solicited opinions from scouts who monitor the league.
1. Andrew Painter, RHP, Glendale (Phillies No. 2/MLB No. 32)Bouncing again from Tommy John surgical procedure in July 2023, Painter gained AFL Pitcher of the 12 months honors after working 15 2/3 innings and inserting second within the league in WHIP (0.89) and third in ERA (2.30). He battled his fastball command at instances however confirmed the power to overlook bats and get chases with all 4 of his pitches: a heater that averaged 97 mph and touched 100, an upper-80s slider/cutter, a low-80s curveball and a low-90s changeup.
2. Chase DeLauter, OF, Shock (Guardians No. 2/MLB No. 41)DeLauter additionally ranked second on this record a 12 months in the past and continued to point out an unusual mixture of dimension (6-foot-4, 235 kilos), athleticism, efficiency and plate self-discipline. After lacking a lot of the Minor League season with foot and hamstring accidents, he slashed .340/.475/.511 whereas enjoying twice every week and spending the remainder of his time working with the coaching workers on the Guardians’ base in Goodyear.
3. Leodalis De Vries, SS, Peoria (Padres No. 2/MLB No. 28)The youngest participant within the league, De Vries turned 18 after the season began and have become the youngest Fall Leaguer to homer since Bryce Harper in 2010. His .179/.269/.313 line belies his chance to develop at the least stable instruments throughout the board and his 30/30 upside, although he is not a slam-dunk shortstop.
4. Ethan Salas, C, Peoria (Padres No. 1/MLB No. 19)The circuit’s solely different 18-year-old, Salas is unusually athletic for a catcher and appears like a future Gold Glover with superior receiving expertise and plus arm power. He batted .228/.327/.424 with 4 homers in 23 video games and may develop right into a stable hitter with common energy as soon as he positive aspects extra power and expertise
5. Jac Caglianone, 1B, Shock (Royals No. 1/MLB No. 17)The No. 6 total decide within the 2024 Draft, Caglianone appeared drained after enjoying from February via November however nonetheless homered 5 instances in 21 video games. He may need extra usable energy than anybody within the Minors and strikes very properly for a 6-foot-5, 250-pounder, however his chase fee (37 % within the Fall League continues to bear watching).
6. Colt Emerson, SS, Peoria (Mariners No. 1/MLB No. 27)The most effective pure hitter and the third-youngest participant within the Fall League, Emerson slashed .370/.435/.537 with a league-best 9 doubles in simply 13 video games. He has a basic left-handed stroke, makes superior swing selections and may develop into 20-homer energy, although he’ll in all probability transfer off shortstop.
7. Bryce Eldridge, 1B, Scottsdale (Giants No. 1/MLB No. 35)After rocketing from Single-A to Triple-A in his first full skilled season, Eldridge batted .293/.348/.512 with two homers in 10 video games earlier than departing shortly after his twentieth birthday. Few gamers can match his huge uncooked energy, and his mature method allows him to get to most of it. His first-base protection is sort of tough however he has the athleticism to enhance.
8. Colson Montgomery, 3B, Glendale (White Sox No. 3/MLB No. 37)No. 1 on this record a 12 months in the past, Montgomery carried out higher in his second Fall League stint, hitting .313/.511/.656 with three homers in 11 video games. The Corey Seager comparisons persist, and whereas his energy is actual, his hitting capability is not in the identical class and he is much less more likely to stick at shortstop for a decade.
9. Nick Kurtz, 1B, Mesa (Athletics No. 2/MLB No. 45)Kurtz may need had the very best mixture of swing selections, contact and exit velocities within the 2024 Draft, the place he went No. 4 total. He slashed .353/.450/.608 after becoming a member of Mesa for the second half and was the league’s finest defensive first baseman.
10. Zyhir Hope, OF, Glendale (Dodgers No. 11)As one scout put it, “What number of highschool guys have hit in the course of an AFL lineup 18 months after being drafted?” Hope hit simply .228/.301/.446 however he was the Fall League’s most dynamic participant, with some evaluators giving him well-above-average grades for uncooked energy, pace and arm power.
11. Moises Ballesteros, C, Mesa (Cubs No. 4/MLB No. 44)Ballesteros’ candy left-handed swing and superior method have enabled him to succeed towards older competitors all through his profession, together with batting .316/.376/.557 with 5 homers in 19 Fall League video games. His defensive and conditioning have improved previously two years, however scouts nonetheless ponder whether he’ll have the ability to catch usually within the large leagues.
12. Josue Briceño, 1B, Scottsdale (Tigers No. 9)Briceño gained the Joe Black MVP award after main the AFL in batting (.433), slugging (.509), OPS (1.376), hits (39), homers (10), RBIs (27), extra-base hits (17) and whole bases (78). That is perhaps essentially the most spectacular offensive efficiency in league historical past including in the truth that he turned 20 simply earlier than the season began. That includes a easy left-handed swing and gameplan, he makes repeated laborious contact and does not attempt to do an excessive amount of on the plate. Although he has caught previously, the Tigers ought to give that up and look to maximise his bat.
13. Xavier Isaac, 1B, Mesa (Rays No. 2/MLB No. 36)That is 5 first basemen within the prime 13 when you’re counting, and Isaac smoked balls more durable than most Fall Leaguers regardless of being simply 20 years outdated. He did submit the best strikeout fee (40 %) within the league and might want to do a greater job of catching as much as excessive fastballs to faucet into his energy potential.
14. Jett Williams, SS/OF, Scottsdale (Mets No. 2/MLB No. 52)Williams might be a top-of-the-lineup catalyst together with his affected person method, sneaky pop and plus pace, which translated into 17 walks, seven extra-base hits and 7 steals in 22 video games. He might stand to be extra aggressive throughout the strike zone and should match higher at second base or middle area than shortstop.
15. Drake Baldwin, C, Peoria (Braves No. 5)Baldwin raked at a .377/.452/.491 clip earlier than leaving to play for Staff USA on the Premier12 match. He is a gentle hitter with common energy and continues to enhance defensively, erasing any doubts that he can stay at catcher.
16. Thayron Liranzo, C, Scottsdale (Tigers No. 6)Evaluators ranked the catchers behind Salas in a wide range of totally different orders. Liranzo slashed .375/.492/.667 and comes with extra energy however fewer bat-to-ball expertise than Ballesteros and Baldwin. He has extra arm power than both, however his catching wants a variety of polish.
17. Termarr Johnson, 2B, Scottsdale (Pirates No. 3/MLB No. 75)One other Premier12 participant, Johnson stays a conundrum who hasn’t approached the 70 hit grades scouts gave him in highschool. His on-base capability stays a power as he batted .250/.444/.475 with 14 walks in 11 video games, however he is now extra of a power-over-hit man who’s an average-at-best runner and defender.
18. Tre’ Morgan, OF, Mesa (Rays No. 10)Whereas Morgan is the highest defensive first baseman within the Minors, the Rays needed him to broaden his defensive horizons with Mesa, the place he appeared probably ample in left area. He hit .338/.391/.500 and completed third with an 8 % strikeout fee — some scouts thought he had the very best method within the AFL — however he’ll must show he can get to common energy.
19. Edwin Arroyo, SS, Glendale (Reds No. 3/MLB No. 65)After dropping all the 2024 season to surgical procedure on his non-throwing shoulder, Arroyo proved he hadn’t misplaced something defensively whereas enjoying the very best shortstop within the Fall League. His bat is extra strange and he slashed simply .253/.309/.333, however he ought to present sufficient offense to be a giant league common.
20. Thomas Saggese, 2B, Shock (Cardinals No. 4)Whereas Saggese lacks a plus software, he is a stable hitter with no obtrusive weak point. He completed second within the batting race at .391/.524/.594, offers hole energy and his instincts allow him to play faster than his fringy pace on the bases and within the area.
21. Kemp Alderman, OF, Peoria (Marlins No. 12)Alderman performed simply 9 video games earlier than leaving to get married, however that was lengthy sufficient to tie for second with six homers and file the best exit velocity (119.5 mph) of the season. He earns some top-of-the-scale grades for his uncooked energy, additionally gives plus arm power and attracts some Hunter Renfroe comps.
22. Alejandro Osuna, OF, Shock (Rangers No. 16)Osuna is a cultured lefty hitter with 20-homer potential and good defensive instincts, although he matches finest in left area. The youthful brother of former All-Star nearer Roberto Osuna and the nephew of ex-big leaguer Antonio Osuna, he topped the Fall League with 22 walks in 25 video games, batted .306/.438/.449 and gained the Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award.
23. Drew Gilbert, OF, Scottsdale (Mets No. 3/MLB No. 74)Few Fall Leaguers might match the power Gilbert brings to the park every single day, although he hit simply .208/.380/.403 with 4 homers and 17 walks in 21 video games. He gives the potential of 4 stable instruments, although questions on whether or not he can get to common energy restrict his ceiling.
24. Denzel Clarke, OF, Mesa (Athletics No. 10)Although Clarke repeated Double-A at age 24, it is easy to dream on a 6-foot-4, 220-pound middle fielder with difference-making pace and at the least plus uncooked energy. His method has been a difficulty within the Minors however not within the AFL, the place he slashed .382/.495/.566 with a league-best three triples.
25. Tommy Troy, 2B, Salt River (D-backs No. 5)Troy recovered from a 1-for-25 begin to bat .382 the remainder of the best way, recapturing the line-drive hitting capability that made him the twelfth total decide within the 2023 Draft. He is undoubtedly a second baseman and never a shortstop, together with his 20/20 upside serving to him to clear the offensive bar on the much less difficult place.
26. Carter Jensen, C, Shock (Royals No. 5)One of many extra underrated catching prospects within the sport, Jensen combines common pop with on-base capability. He led the league in on-base proportion whereas hitting .425/.582/.800 with 4 homers in 12 video games and offering sound protection.
27. Creed Willems, C, Shock (Orioles No. 22)Signed for a well-over-slot $1 million as a 2001 eighth-rounder out of a Texas highschool, Willems confirmed a few of the finest uncooked energy and arm power within the Fall League. He slashed .338/.391/.500 with two homers in 19 video games and caught higher than scouts anticipated.
28. Robert Hassell, OF, Salt River (Nationals No. 13)The eighth total alternative within the 2020 Draft and a part of the blockbuster Juan Soto commerce in August 2022, Hassell stands out extra for his flooring than his ceiling. A line-drive hitter who offers stable pace, arm power and protection, he slashed .281/.360/.517 with 4 homers and 5 steals in 19 video games.
29. Caleb Durbin, INF/OF, Salt River (not ranked on Yankees Prime 30)The most effective basestealer in AFL historical past, Durbin set league data for swipes in a sport (4), season (29 in 24 video games) and profession (50 in 47 contests the final two years). He additionally batted .313/.427/.548 with 5 homers this fall, enjoying his method onto the Yankees’ 40-man roster together with his contact hitting capability, stable pace and defensive versatility. He matches finest at second base.
30. Luis Mey, RHP, Glendale (not ranked on Reds Prime 30)One other unranked prospect who earned a 40-man spot, Mey garnered Reliever of the 12 months accolades with a spotless 0.00 ERA, .037 average-against and a league-high six saves in as many alternatives. He threw the 34 hardest pitches recorded within the Fall League, parking at 99.5 mph together with his fastball and peaking at 101.8. His seldom-used mid-80s cutter tops out at 90 mph and in addition misses bats.
