By james art 
For the third year in a row, I’m heading to the desert to take in some Arizona Fall League games. If you’re a Minor League Baseball fan or enjoy following prospects for your favorite team or your dynasty leagues, the AFL is a must visit. My plan is to play as many games as possible over the course of a few days and then finish my visit with the annual AFL Home Run Derby and Fall Stars Game.
My focus for this article is threefold:
- Check out the hottest players in the league over the past week.
- See the best players in the league. (Statistics until 26.10)
- A snapshot of the players who were in Arizona who left or ended for some reason.
ON FIRE LAST WEEK
Jose Briceño, 1B, Tigers – Not only is Briceño the leading hitter after the first three weeks of the season, he also remains hot, laying down the most total bases (14) in the last week. He leads the AFL with 46 TB in 13 games. The 20-year-old from Venezuela is the early favorite for league MVP as he has already hit 7 homers, knocked in 15 runs and has a .438/.500/.958/1.458 slash line. After a few seasons in Single-A, there should be no reason why Briceño shouldn’t start 2025 at High-A West Michigan.
Oh my god. It was a ridiculous swing by Josue Briceño for his sixth home run of the AFL season. pic.twitter.com/ukz4uctrnS
— Aram Leighton (@AramLeighton8) October 23, 2024
Andrew Pintar, OF, Marlins – The Marlins’ No. 23 prospect (from our midseason Top 50 rankings ) paced the AFL with 9 hits over the past week, posting a .421 average and 1.041 OPS. Pintar came to Miami from Arizona in the 2024 season and pitched for Double-A Pensacola. He made the most of his added reps this fall, is tied for the league-highest in hits (21) and should be back in the Blue Wahoos lineup to start next season.
Caleb Durbin, IF/OF, Yankees – If he’s available in your dynasty league, definitely get him if you can. The 24-year-old speedster impressed in the 2023 Arizona Fall League, playing in 90 games (mostly in Triple-A), but missed two months this year so the organization decided to give him more time back in the AFL. In the last seven days alone, he posted six base hits, including a homer, and stole eight bags! He will likely open the 2024 campaign at Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre, but is one of the first farmhands I see promoted to the Bronx next season.
What a sequence. Caleb Durbin @Yankees gets hit with a strike. Challenges him, then blasts a HR to left off Eriq Swan. Durbin also had 2 stolen bases in that game. It’s hard not to see him as a future major leaguer #ProspectOne pic.twitter.com/DXADv54NDF
— The Welsh (@IsItTheWelsh) October 25, 2024
Jose Acuna, LHP, Phillies – Four innings of relief, no hits, no runs, two walks and seven K. This is our AFL Pitcher of the Week! This was only Acuna’s second AFL game and it followed his good first outing (3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 K), so he hasn’t been allowed to run yet.
Jose Acuna hit five straight in the @MLBazFallLeague last night. 🔥
His final line: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K pic.twitter.com/fo2w47bfRN
— Reds On The Rise (@RedsOnTheRise) October 23, 2024
Connor Phillips, RHP, Reds – Phillips missed two months between June and August, so it’s good to see the Reds get him some more innings this fall. The 23-year-old made his MLB debut in 2023 and started five games (20.2 IP) for Cincinnati, but had a rough 2024 season for Triple-A Louisville. His one AFL start this week was exactly what prospect followers want to see from him: 4 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB and 5 K. He’s our 8th ranked Reds prospect and could be at the top of the Top 100 overall in 2025.
THE STARS OF THE SEASON
Kemp Alderman, OF, Marlins – 2023 2nd round pick Ole Miss will have a coming out party this fall. He is second in home runs (6) behind only Briceño. The No. 21 prospect on the Prospects1500 for the Marlins is one of the Peoria Javelina’s best players, currently third in OPS (1.208) and third in total bases (30). Alderman played at four levels in 2024, reaching all the way to Double-A, and has a realistic chance to see time in the MLB this coming season.
On Friday, Marlins outfielder Kemp Alderman hit a homer that left Salt River Fields really rushing at 119.5 mph. pic.twitter.com/HBvj2F0oud
— FanGraphs Prospects (@FG_Prospects) October 22, 2024
Moises Ballesteros, C, Cubs – After a stellar season between Double-A and Triple-A, this 20-year-old Cubs prospect is knocking on the MLB door and looks to be the “catcher of the future” in Wrigleyville. His 33 total bases are second in the AFL. Chicago’s No. 3 prospect is one of the top-ranked prospects in the desert this fall, and he’s certainly living up to the high expectations.
Colt Emerson, SS, Seamen – Emerson, Seattle’s No. 2 prospect, hasn’t stopped hitting since the league opener on Oct. 7. The Mariners’ first pick in 2023 (22 overall), leads the league in doubles (8) and is third in hits (19). The 19-year-old also flashes plenty of speed with his 7 SB, good for a tie for third behind only Durbin (14) and Milan Tolentino (8). He spent 2024 as a 19-year-old in Single-A/High-A, so 2025 looks to be a High-A/Double-A season for Prospects1500’s 28th overall prospect.
Colt Emerson double machine with one more. pic.twitter.com/DLbGMJW75u
— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) October 17, 2024
Josh Stephan, RHP, Rangers – The Rangers’ 22nd-ranked prospect has the most innings pitched (12.2) and has given up just one earned run (0.71 ERA) while striking out 12. The eight hits allowed have been scattered and he has allowed walks (3 ), which has helped his stellar 0.87 WHIP.
Sammy Natera, LHP, Angels – Seven innings in three games, and Natera allowed just one hit, struck out two and struck out eight. The 20-year-old SP didn’t make the Angels Top 50 at midseason, but we’re definitely keeping an eye on him as we head into the offseason and take notes for our upcoming 2025 Preseason Top 50.
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
Cole Young, 2B, Mariners – Seattle’s top prospect in our midseason ranks entered the AFL after a solid season in Double-A as a 20-year-old. Unfortunately, after one game in which he went 0-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, it was announced that due to a wrist injury that he had reportedly been dealing with for months, he would not continue in the league. Mariners fans would prefer their blue chipper to be healthy for the 2025 season.
Bryce Eldridge, 1B, Giants – San Francisco’s #2 prospect (our 66th overall) had a solid campaign for the Scottsdale Scorpions. Eldridge, who just turned 20 on Oct. 20, is slashing .293/.348/.512 in 10 games, with two homers and 21 total bases. Nothing official, but the Giants have reportedly ended Eldridge’s 2024 season to give him some much-needed R&R.
Colson Montgomery, SS, White Sox – Chicago’s top prospect (our 18th overall) played 11 games for the Glendale Desert Dogs, his second stint in the Arizona Fall League. He finished with three home runs, two doubles and a .511 OBP, which ranked 3rd in the league after his last game. Montgomery completed a full season at Triple-A Charlotte and will compete for a spot on the White Sox MLB roster during spring training in 2025.
Rafael Flores, C, Yankees – Flores was designated to be part of the Salt River Rafters in 2024, but the 23-year-old, who played in 123 games in Double-A and Triple-A, did not play and was replaced by New York’s Antonio Gomez on the AFL roster .