The MLB’s best prospects are competing in the Arizona Fall League with the hopes of honing their skills so they will be at the big league level once March comes.
Check-Swing Challenge Trial Begins
Before the pitch clock, shift ban, and pickoff limit made their way to MLB, they were first tested in the Arizona Fall League. This season, another possible rule change has been tested with the trial of the check-swing challenge this week. Using Hawk-Eye technology, teams can challenge whether a bat has crossed the 45-degree threshold needed to qualify as a swing. Teams will get two challenges per game, but an additional one if the game goes into extra innings.
MLB Tests First-Ever Checked-Swing Challenge System In Arizona Fall League ????
Here’s video of the procedure as shown on the stadium video board:https://t.co/wKFAosxCY1 pic.twitter.com/fFj6jE6lwF
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) October 23, 2024
Jac Caglianone Hits First AFL Home Run
The highest-ranked AFL prospect on MLB.com’s Top 100 list, Jac Caglianone, arrived in Arizona following an underwhelming regular season. After being selected sixth overall in the 2024 draft, Caglianone hit just .241 with a pair of home runs during 29 High-A games. He got off to a similarly slow start this fall before breaking out on Tuesday with a laser home run that left the bat at 110 miles per hour. Royals fans hope that is a sign of better things to come for their prized prospect.
Drew Gilbert Breaks Out of His Slump
The Mets third-ranked prospect, Drew Gilbert, got off to an ice-cold start in the AFL, collecting just three hits in his first 28 at-bats. With a hitter like Gilbert, however, all it takes is one game to get going, and Gilbert went off on Wednesday by going 3-for-4 with a pair of long balls. The 23-year-old outfielder hopes his fall season mirrors his regular season, where he hit nine of his ten home runs in his last 29 games.
Drew Gilbert, touch 'em all.
The @Mets' No. 3 prospect (MLB No. 74) swats his second home run of the Fall League.
Watch the rest of this game LIVE: https://t.co/OGrrvbrFmz pic.twitter.com/4haW0mDEqg
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 23, 2024
Moises Ballesteros Continues to Rake
An Arizona Fall League assignment is just the latest challenge for Moises Ballesteros, who was pushed to Triple-A this season at just 20 years old. Like he has throughout his minor league career, Ballesteros has proved up to the task, batting 375/.422/.675 through his first nine games. His best performance came Wednesday, as he went 2-for-4 with his third home run. Ballesteros rose to 44th in MLB.com’s season-end prospect ranking and is making a strong case to move up further before next season.
Moises Ballesteros blasts off ????
The @Cubs' No. 4 prospect (MLB No. 44) is 2-for-3 today with his third homer of the Fall League.
Watch LIVE: https://t.co/rN8xsKNfll pic.twitter.com/viep4XueLl
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 23, 2024
Matt McLain Enjoying Terrific Fall
After a terrific rookie season, big things were expected for Reds infielder Matt McLain in 2024. A shoulder injury, however, would wipe out his season before it even began, and the Reds would finish under .500 after contending for a Wild Card the previous season. McClain has finally been able to take the field this fall, and the results have been extremely encouraging. The 24-year-old has reached base in 11 of his first 17 at-bats, including six walks. Thursday’s contest was more of the same, as McClain walked three more times and scored a pair of runs. Playing on the same Glendale Desert Dogs team as his brother Sean, it has been a fall to remember for the Reds young star.
Otto Kemp Homers Twice
It was a breakout season for the 24-year-old Kemp, who climbed from a relatively unknown prospect in High-A to Triple-A. Along the way, Kemp doubled his home run total from the previous season while posting a fantastic .392 on-base percentage. The Phillies prospect has kept hitting into the AFL season, culminating with a two-homer, five-RBI performance on Thursday. Kemp now looks like a prime call-up option for the Phillies in 2025, which would have seemed improbable just a year ago.
That one’s Otto here ????
Otto Kemp hit a grand slam and solo shot yesterday in his second 2-homer game for the Desert Dogs. He’s currently ranked top 5 in the Arizona Fall League for home runs (4), RBIs (12), SLG (.792) and OPS (1.277). pic.twitter.com/fLL26iFlhA
— Phillies Player Development (@PhilsPlayerDev) October 25, 2024
Photo Credit: GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – APRIL 01: Jac Caglianone #14 of the Florida Gators runs to third base during a game against the Auburn Tigers at Condron Family Ballpark on April 01, 2023 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
