Arizona Fall League Week 3 top performers
Here are the top performers from the third week of AFL action:
Here are the top performers from the third week of AFL action:
Drew Gilbert, OF, Scottsdale (Mets No. 3/MLB No. 74)
Stats: 5-for-14 (.357), 5 runs, 2 HRs, 4 RBIs, 4 BBs, 11 TBs
One of seven players in the AFL to homer twice this week, Gilbert also drew four walks, finishing with a .526 on-base percentage and 1.312 OPS for the week. The 24-year-old has gotten hot after a slow start this fall in the desert.
Niko Kavadas, 1B, Mesa (LAA No. 29)
Stats: 3-for-10 (.333), 4 runs, 2B, 2 HRs, 3 RBIs, 4 BB, 10 TBs
Kavadas is the unusual AFL player with a big league home run already under his belt, and he's showed off that power ever since returning to the Fall League. The left-handed slugger has three homers in 10 games already, including two this week.
Moises Ballesteros, C, Mesa (CHC No. 4/MLB No. 44)
Stats: 5-for-15 (.333), 4 runs, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, BB, 12 TB
Ballesteros has been one of the circuit's most productive hitters all fall. He did a little bit of everything offensively this week and finished second in total bases for the week among AFL hitters.
Caleb Durbin, INF, Salt River (NYY)
Stats: 6-for-14 (.429), 5 runs, HR, 5 RBIs, 5 BB, 9 TB, 8 SB
The 24-year-old Durbin walked more than he struck out in 90 games across three levels this season, and his success in the Fall League this week was driven by that plate discipline. With six hits and five walks, he reached base in 11 of his 20 plate appearances on the week (.550 OBP). He also stole eight bases, five more than anyone else, this week. Durbin leads the circuit with 14 steals.
Josue Briceño, C, Scottsdale (DET No. 9)
Stats: 6-for-16 (.375), 3 runs, 3B, 2 HRs, 5 RBIs, 3 BB, 14 total bases
Another week, more production from Briceño, who has been turning heads since he touched down in Arizona. The 20-year-old power-hitting backstop cranked two more round-trippers and threw in a triple for good measure this week. He leads the AFL in homers (7), hitting, slugging and OPS, and ranks second in RBIs. That's a pretty productive fall so far.
Austin Deming, INF, Surprise (HOU)
Stats: 5-for-12 (.417), 2 runs, 2 HRs, 7 RBIs, 11 TB
The 24-year-old infielder had a brilliant end to the week. He cranked a three-run homer Friday and a two-run homer on Saturday, driving in five runs in those two contests alone from the bottom half of the Saguaros' lineup. He drove in seven runs total on the week, most of any player on the circuit.
Bryce Eldridge, 1B, Scottsdale (SF No. 1/MLB No. 35)
Stats: 4-for-8 (.500), 2 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB, 8 TB
San Francisco's top prospect finished his two-week AFL stint on a high note, hitting safely in half of his at-bats and crushing his second homer of his time in Arizona. It was a flourishing finish to the 20-year-old's season, which saw him impress at four different levels before heading to the Fall League.
Andrew Pintar, OF, Peoria (MIA No. 18)
Stats: 11-for-25 (.440), 6 runs, HR, 7 RBIs, 4 BB, 14 TB
Acquired from the D-backs at the Trade Deadline in the AJ Puk trade, Pintar didn't have as much immediate impact as his fellow tradee, Deyvison De Los Santos, had in their new organization. But he is showing what he is capable of this fall. The 23-year-old led all AFL players in hits this week, reached base in half of his plate appearances and socked his first round-tripper of the fall. He's batting a robust .328 with a .800 OPS through 15 games.
📩 CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO BEN'S BIZ
Statcast Hitting Feat of the Week: DJ Gladney, OF, Glendale (CWS)
Even in the hitter-friendly AFL, what the 23-year-old Gladney did on Saturday was impressive. His homer against Mesa clocked in at 117.2 mph exit velocity off the bat and traveled a projected 468 feet – the second hardest and second farthest homer of the fall so far, per Statcast. But few home runs generate that kind of exit velocity and distance. Only one in the Majors traveled farther (447 feet) at a comparable speed (117.5 mph), and that one was hit by Aaron Judge on Aug. 2.
Jose Acuna, RHP, Glendale (CIN)
Stats: 4 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 7 SO
The 22-year-old righty was effective but wild in his Fall League debut, but overcame those control issues better in his second outing, when he cruised for four hitless innings of relief in Glendale’s 8-1 win over Peoria on Tuesday. Acuna recorded seven of his 12 outs via the strikeout while limiting the free passes (2). No AFL hurler recorded more punchouts than Acuna did this week.
Connor Phillips, RHP, Glendale (CIN No. 15)
Stats: 4 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 5 SO, 1 BB
Phillips had a humbling, whirlwind regular season that saw him land back in Rookie ball nine months after making his big league debut. But he’s been excellent in two of his three outings so far in the Fall League. He dominated in his first start and was really good again in Glendale’s win on Thursday over Salt River, coming on in relief of Andrew Painter and logging four more scoreless innings. Phillips did have a rough outing in between, but when he’s been on, he’s been on. He leads AFL hurlers with 15 strikeouts.
Andrew Painter, RHP, Glendale (PHI No. 2/MLB No. 32)
Stats: 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 3 SO
Painter flirted with triple digits with his fastball velocity and fired three scoreless innings in his third start coming off Tommy John surgery. As MLB Pipeline’s Sam Dykstra noted in the recap of Glendale’s win over Salt River on Thursday, the effort was Painter’s first zero-laden outing in a competitive environment since Sept. 9, 2022, at Double-A Reading. It was also his longest outing so far of the fall.
Josh Stephan, RHP, Surprise (TEX No. 25)
Stats: 3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 3 SO, BB
Stephan has been arguably the most consistent pitcher so far in the AFL. He logged three more scoreless innings in Saturday's win over Scottsdale, his second start and fourth appearance of the fall. The 22-year-old righty leads the AFL with 12 2/3 innings and ranks second in ERA (0.71) and third in WHIP (0.87).
Joe Trezza is an contributor for MiLB.com.
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring