As soon as once more, the AFL’s high sluggers will convene at Sloan Park in Mesa to swing for the fences. Now in its third 12 months, the AFL Residence Run Derby pits the highest energy hitters from the elite prospect circuit in opposition to each other in an All-Star weekend fashion occasion set for Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
The occasion might be streamed without spending a dime on MLB.com (right here and on the AFL web site).
Reigning AFL Derby champion Kala’i Rosario (Salt River Rafters) will look to defend his crown amid a discipline of eight gifted hitters that features a few of the top-ranked prospects within the Fall League this 12 months. Rosario could be the occasion’s first repeated champion if he can pull it off, after profitable a swing-off to advance to the ultimate spherical and in the end beat Damiano Palmegiani for the 2023 title. Mariners prospect Robert Perez Jr. gained the inaugural occasion in 2022.
For extra on the historical past of the AFL Derby, see right here.
Listed here are the remainder of the 2024 AFL Residence Run Derby contributors and the thin on every participant.
Carter Jensen, C, Shock (KC No. 5)Kansas Metropolis’s third-round choose in 2021, Jensen hit a career-high 18 homers throughout two ranges this season, and has been on an influence surge since arriving in Arizona. He is solely performed eight video games for the Saguaros however already homered 4 occasions, together with twice final week, when he additionally notched a five-hit sport.
Josue Briceño, C/1B, Scottsdale (DET No. 9)A revelation of the Fall League, Briceño is the AFL’s residence run chief by means of 4 weeks and has been the circuit’s most efficient hitter all fall. He is hit seven homers and produced a .409/.481/.818 slash line over his first 18 video games in Arizona.
Moises Ballesteros, C, Mesa (CHC No. 4/MLB No. 44)The 20-year-old Ballesteros has been one of many AFL’s most constant bats this fall, and coming off an everyday season the place he hit a career-high 19 homers, he is gone deep 5 occasions in his first 15 video games in Arizona. He is the one full-time catcher within the AFL with at the very least 5 homers thus far.
Jac Caglianone, 1B, Shock (KC No. 1/MLB No. 17)Caglianone solely homered twice in 29 video games in his professional debut and acquired off to a gradual begin in Arizona, however just lately broke out with a two-homer sport. Nonetheless, his slugging bonafides are effectively established, with top-of-his-class 70-grade energy and 68 homers over his last two seasons on the College of Florida, the place he was the very best two-way participant within the nation earlier than the Royals drafted him sixth general on this 12 months’s Draft.
Peyton Williams, OF, Scottsdale (Blue Jays)The 24-year-old Williams confirmed he can depart the yard with authority on Oct. 29, when he clocked considered one of his two homers of the evening a projected 453 toes, per Statcast. That tied the fourth-longest in an AFL sport this fall. He additionally went deep 11 occasions in 77 video games at Excessive-A Vancouver this season.
Brock Wilken, 3B, Peoria (MIL No. 8)Wilken set a number of college residence run data as a collegian at Wake Forest in addition to the ACC’s all-time residence run report earlier than changing into a first-round choose of the Brewers in 2021. His plus energy resulted in 17 homers at Double-A Biloxi this season, in addition to three extra thus far this fall.
Garrett Martin, OF, Salt River (Yankees)Like Williams, Martin additionally has a 453-foot homer beneath his belt this fall. His wallop got here on Oct. 12 in opposition to Shock. He is hit 4 homers in his first 15 video games this fall, giving him a share of the Rafters crew lead with organization-mate Caleb Durbin.
Kala’i Rosario, OF, Salt River (MIN No. 19)The Derby’s reigning champ is again within the Fall League for a second straight 12 months after he missed greater than two months of the common season attributable to an elbow harm, and he is discovering his swing on the proper time to defend his title. The 22-year-old Hawaii native needed to win a swing-off in opposition to three gamers — Ivan Melendez, Kyle Manzardo and Jase Bowen — to succeed in the finals final 12 months, and in the end completed with 25 whole homers within the occasion. His longest was projected at 465 toes.
