As the Arizona Fall League (AFL) gets underway, here are some news, notes, and how to watch some of the best prospects Major League Baseball has to offer.
Garrett Martin Puts On a Show
While the Yankees battle the Guardians for a trip to the World Series, one of their prospects has put on a show of his own in the Arizona Fall League. Outfielder Garrett Martin went 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBI on Sunday, raising his AFL average to .546. The 24-year-old outfielder hit just .216 at High-A Hudson Valley but showed decent power with 17 doubles and 12 home runs in 87 games. The AFL is a perfect opportunity for overlooked prospects to turn some heads, and Martin is proving to be a name to watch heading into 2025.
Garrett Martin (@Yankees) with a tank for his first @MLBazFallLeague homer:
453 ft
108.8 mph pic.twitter.com/u1Em1VXx7f— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 13, 2024
Andrew Painter Makes Long-Awaited Return to the Mound
One of the biggest storylines in the AFL this season was the return of Phillies pitching phenom Andrew Painter. The 2021 first-round pick was the top pitching prospect in baseball entering the 2023 season and was a candidate to make the Phillies Opening Day roster as a 20-year-old. Unfortunately, a spring training elbow sprain turned into summer Tommy John surgery, and Painter saw two full seasons wiped out during his recovery. He finally returned to the mound on Saturday, and though the results were mixed (two runs, three hits, two strikeouts in two innings), he still showcased the triple-digit velocity that was his calling card before his injury. Painter is expected to pitch 20 innings this fall, but Phillies fans and executives alike must like how he looked in his first game action in two years.
Andrew Painter has hit 99 three times and struck out Bryce Eldridge to end his first inning back. pic.twitter.com/sYIYRUD7UR
— Geoff Pontes (@GeoffPontesBA) October 12, 2024
Moises Ballesteros Hits First AFL Home Run
Though the Cubs have several notable hitting prospects, none may be as intriguing as Moises Ballesteros. Standing at just five-foot-eight inches, the left-handed catcher displays both surprising power and excellent bat-to-ball skills. Entering the season unranked in MLB.com’s Top 100 prospects, Ballesteros hit .289 with 19 home runs between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa, helping him to rise within the top 50 after their end-of-season update. Ballesteros has picked up right where he left off during the regular season, collecting seven hits in his first 17 at-bats, including his first home run on Sunday. Since seeing Wilson Contreras depart for the Cardinals, the Cubs have been searching for a long-term solution, and Ballesteros is beginning to look like the next franchise catcher.
Moises Ballesteros, the @Cubs' No. 4 prospect (MLB No. 44), crushes his first AFL homer!
414 ft | 110.8 MPH pic.twitter.com/lOTjhmhh0e
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 13, 2024
Robert Hassell Continues To Rake
Unlike Ballesteros, Robert Hassell’s prospect stock has plummeted since joining the Nationals system in the Juan Soto deal. The former eighth-overall prospect has yet to post an OPS over .730 at any stop in the Nationals system and homered just five times during an injury-plagued 2024 campaign. The AFL, however, has been a different story, as he has collected seven hits in his first 13 at-bats, including three extra-base hits. Hassell is one of many prospects who could benefit from some fall momentum, and so far, he has delivered.
Hassell, so hot right now. Hassell.
Two more @MLBazFallLeague doubles for @robert_hassell3. He's 7-for-13 (3 XBH) with 7 RBI in three Fall League games. pic.twitter.com/l8TSN5wWOQ
— Nationals Player Development (@Nats_PlayerDev) October 14, 2024
Josue Briceno Goes Deep Three Times
Much was expected from Josue Briceno in his first full stateside season. The toolsy catcher has impressed in rookie ball in 2023, batting .325 with seven home runs in 44 games. A knee injury, however, wiped out three months of Briceno’s season, and his final numbers were a sharp drop-off from the prior campaign. Looking to prove he was still one of the best prospects in the Tigers system, the 20-year-old Briceno arrived in the AFL and immediately surpassed his season home-run total with a three-homer performance on Saturday. What appeared to be a lost season for Briceno could turn into a building block in 2025 should he continue to produce this fall.
Josue Briceño just launched his third homer of the game on a Peyton Pallette changeup.
The newly-turned 20-year-old missed most of the season due to injury, playing 40 Low-A games where he hit just two homers. He’s eclipsed that total this afternoon alone. https://t.co/roidoIW1Cq pic.twitter.com/jYniMXZ5T2
— Aram Leighton (@AramLeighton8) October 12, 2024
Fans can stream the Arizona Fall League all season here.
Photo Credit: Skyler Messinger #5 high-fives Garrett Martin #50 of the Salt River Rafters. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
