Season No. 32 of the Arizona Fall League is within the books, with the Salt River Rafters beating the Shock Saguaros, 3-2, within the Championship Recreation on Saturday. It was one other fall stuffed with high prospects and high performances.
Beneath is the 2024 MLB Pipeline All-AFL Group. That is primarily based solely on efficiency through the six-week league, and a rating of high prospects focusing extra on long-term worth will probably be coming Friday.
C: Moises Ballesteros, Mesa (CHC No. 4/MLB No. 44)He’s hit just about in every single place he’s been — and that features the Fall League, the place he posted a .316/.376/.557 line over 19 video games. He continued to attract walks (10.8 % of the time) and restrict strikeouts (16.1 %) whereas ending tied for sixth with 5 homers and seventh in whole bases (44).Honorable point out: Creed Willems (BAL)
1B: Josue Briceño, Scottdale (DET No. 9)In maybe the best marketing campaign the Fall League has seen, Briceño gained the league’s first-ever Triple Crown and was, unsurprisingly, chosen because the AFLs MVP. He completed with a .433/.509/.867 to associate with 10 homers and 27 RBIs, main the circuit in all of these classes besides on-base proportion in addition to extra-base hits (17), whole bases (78) and hits (39).Honorable point out: Niko Kavadas (LAA), Otto Kemp (PHI), Nick Kurtz (ATH)
2B: Thomas Saggese, Glendale (STL No. 4)One of many Fall Leaguers with large league time beneath his belt, Saggese definitely appeared like he’s able to not less than compete for the Playing cards’ second-base job subsequent spring. He completed with a .391/.524/.594 line and his 1.118 OPS positioned him fourth in your complete league. He completed with extra walks (16) than strikeouts (15) over 18 video games.Honorable point out: Tommy Troy (AZ)
3B: Caleb Durbin, Salt River (Not ranked on NYY High 30)Not solely did Durbin assist the Rafters win a hoop, he set the report for stolen bases in a season. The Breakout Participant of the Yr went 29-for-30 in steal makes an attempt whereas additionally hitting .312/.427/.548 with 5 homers and 21 RBIs. He performed 5 positions this fall, probably the most at third base however he may match finest at second, and to that finish, Yankees GM Brian Cashman talked about him as a possible inside candidate to be within the Opening Day lineup there.Honorable point out: Jonathon Lengthy (CHC)
SS: Colt Emerson, Peoria (SEA No. 1/MLB No. 27)The Mariners understandably erred on the aspect of warning by sending Emerson house early because of a minor hamstring difficulty, so he solely performed in 13 video games. However he did a lot to point out why he’s thought-about among the finest infield prospects within the recreation, posting a .370/.435/.537 line. Solely 19 years outdated, he hit 9 doubles and was an ideal 9-for-9 in stolen bases.Honorable point out: Max Acosta (TEX), Kervin Pichardo (PIT)
OF: Denzel Clarke, Mesa (ATH No. 10)The second time actually was the appeal. Clarke performed within the Fall League in 2022 and got here again this yr because the A’s gave him one final look earlier than including him to their 40-man roster Tuesday. The toolsy outfielder hit .382/.495/.566 over 19 video games, with seven extra-base hits and 9 steals.
OF: Sammy Siani, Scottsdale (Not ranked on PIT High 30)The swing change that introduced a a lot flatter bat path and enabled Siani to hit his manner out of Excessive-A Greensboro and as much as Double-A for the primary time was on show all fall. The left-handed hitter posted a .375/.457/.550 line with three homers and 6 steals whereas exhibiting he can deal with all three outfield spots very effectively defensively.
OF: Tre’ Morgan, Mesa (TB No. 10)Arguably the perfect defensive first baseman within the Minors, Morgan performed left discipline solely this fall (the place he performed loads at LSU in 2023) and dealt with the task effectively. He additionally swung the bat like he all the time does: .338/.391/.500 with the identical quantity of walks as strikeouts.Honorable point out: Alejandro Osuna (TEX), Robert Hassell III (WSH), Kristian Robinson (AZ)
DH: Kemp Alderman, Peoria (MIA No. 12)Alderman solely performed in 9 video games as a result of he had the audacity to get married in the course of the AFL season, however what he did in his transient time was definitely noteworthy. He hit six homers in simply 36 at-bats, so it’s straightforward to suppose he would have challenged Briceño for the house run title.Honorable point out: Chase DeLauter (CLE)
SP: Josh Stephan, Shock (TEX No. 25)The best-hander led all fall hurlers with 20 innings and made probably the most of them, ending with a 2.25 ERA (second within the league), a 1.00 WHIP (third), .200 BAA (tied for eighth) whereas posting a nifty 21/5 Ok/BB ratio.
SP: Andrew Painter, Glendale (PHI No. 2/MLB No. 32)The AFL Pitcher of the Yr, Painter’s No. 1 goal was to get his first aggressive mound time in two years since hurting his elbow and having Tommy John surgical procedure. The stuff appears to be all the best way again and he largely had strong command of all 4 of his choices, enabling him to publish a 2.30 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, .189 BAA and an 18/4 Ok/BB ratio over 15 2/3 IP.Honorable point out: Alex Santos (HOU), Samy Natera (LAA)
RP: Evan Justice, LHP (not ranked on COL High 30)With a tip of the cap to Luis Mey, the league’s Reliever of the Yr, Justice might have been a contact higher. He didn’t enable a success in 9 outings spanning 8 2/3 innings, strolling just one and putting out 11.Honorable point out: Luis Mey (CIN), Ryan Jennings (TOR)
