AFL Week 1: Emerson, Alderman, Phillips earn honors

The opening week of the Arizona Fall League saw a host of strong performances both at the plate and on the mound. These three stood out from the pack of worthy candidates.

A pair of Peoria teammates -- Colt Emerson (SEA No. 1/MLB No. 27) and Kemp Alderman (MIA No. 12) -- earned AFL co-Hitter of the Week honors and Glendale right-hander Connor Phillips (CIN No. 15) was named the circuit’s Pitcher of the Week.

There was not a more dangerous pair of teammates opening week than the dynamic 1-2 punch that Emerson, the 19-year-old shortstop, and Alderman, a 23-year-old outfielder, provided for the Javelinas. Spurred by his historic 5-for-6 debut, Emerson leads the circuit with 11 hits and six doubles, and his 17 total bases rank second only to Alderman, who cracked a league-best five homers as fall ball got underway.

There may not be a more highly regarded pure hitter in the Fall League this year than Emerson, the Mariners’ first-round pick in 2023 who is in Arizona looking to make up some time after missing six weeks due to a fractured foot this spring. Seattle's top prospect was the first player to record four doubles in an AFL game in at least 20 years, and the third player to record a five-hit, five-RBI game in the league.

All told, Emerson went 11-for-20 (.550) and added a few notable defensive plays as well during the first week of game action.

"I'm so grateful for the opportunity to do this," Emerson said. "Being my age, I didn't think that being in the AFL was possible, or if I was going to get picked. I'm just so grateful that I get 30 more games to do what I love."

Alderman also wants to make up for time lost early in the year. He arrived in Arizona despite wedding plans later this month, and then he started raking.

The Marlins' No. 12 prospect socked four homers in his first five games – two more than any other player on the circuit – and racked up 22 total bases in those contests. He finished the week leading the AFL with an otherworldly 1.768 OPS.

“I mean, this is the best of the best competition. It's a great opportunity,” Alderman said. “It's kind of like Spring Training, you know, you roll out, backfield-game-playing against guys. You don't really have a scouting report, just going up there and playing ball. … It's awesome.”

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Phillips was equally as dominant in his first (and only) start for Glendale, striking out seven in four scoreless innings against Salt River. The Reds' No. 15 prospect allowed only two hits without a walk and generated 16 strikes in 25 pitches on his slider, working it in tandem with a fastball that averaged 96-99 mph and two other pitches.

This is an important fall for Phillips, who made his Major League debut for Cincinnati down the stretch in 2023 but found himself back in Rookie ball this year after his mechanics went awry.

"A lot of this for me is really results-based,” he said. “I know a lot of guys will come out here to figure out new stuff, but for me, it's more like I'm back in a competitive atmosphere and I'm trying to win every single ballgame that I'm pitching in."