After six weeks of valuable game action in the desert, the top performers of the Arizona Fall League are here to be recognized through its annual awards.
The Joe Black MVP Award goes to its top performer, and since 2021, the AFL has bestowed precious metal to its top pitcher, offensive player, reliever, breakout and defensive players of the season. Additionally, the Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award has been a league staple since 2004.
Here are the 2026 award winners:
More on the Arizona Fall League:
• Awards: MVP Francisca | Top pitcher Susana | Top hitter Peete
• All of the 2026 award winners | Past award winners
• Fall Stars Game: Results | Top performers | Gameday | History
• HR Derby: Blue Jays' Parker wins crown | History
• Past champions | All-time roster
• Tickets | Shop | Schedule | Complete coverage
MVP: Welbyn Francisca, SS, Guardians
Cleveland’s No. 19 prospect had a solid season at the dish where he slashed .272/.366/.513 across three levels, ending the year with a brief stop at Double-A Akron. He brought that momentum and then some to Arizona, where he led the AFL in RBIs (29), batting average (.427), slugging percentage (.733) and OPS (1.227). Francisca clubbed four home runs in 17 games and got the start at shortstop for the American League in the Fall Stars Game.
Offensive Player Of The Year: Tai Peete, OF, Cardinals
St. Louis’ No. 17 prospect also played through three levels this year with a .908 OPS and ended the year with Double-A Springfield. He earned the nod as the starting center fielder for the National League after hitting .351 with a 1.103 OPS. Peete ran wild with 20 stolen bases in 19 games after 16 steals in 66 regular-season games.
Defensive Player Of The Year: Vance Honeycutt, OF, Orioles
Honeycutt turned in highlight-reel catches dating back to his college days at North Carolina. His glove in center field remains elite with a plus-arm to go with it. Baltimore’s 2024 first-rounder enhanced his regular-season offense with a 1.029 OPS in Fall League action.
Breakout Player Of The Year: Jack O’Dowd, C, Rockies
Colorado’s catching prospect has had a fall to remember – capped off by a special Fall Stars Game crossover with his father, Dan. A season after being signed out of the Pioneer League, O’Dowd hit 23 home runs with a .947 OPS in 107 games. He led the AFL in doubles (eight) and tied for the lead in homers (six) in a continued hot stretch at the dish.
Pitcher of the Year: Jarlin Susana, RHP, Nationals
You want must-see TV in the AFL? Try Susana’s fastball that topped out at 104 mph in 2026. He started the Fall Stars Game in a scoreless inning with a pair of strikeouts. MLB’s No. 66 prospect (WSH No. 4) put together a 3.86 ERA in six AFL starts with 26 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings. Susana ended 2026 with momentum after his rehab from a right lat tear limited him to just eight starts (16.4 K/9) in the regular season.
Reliever of the Year: Kenya Huggins, RHP, Athletics
Huggins flashed 103 strikeouts in 91 innings this year, though he finished his season in Double-A Midland with a 6.63 ERA. He turned it around with a 1.74 ERA in AFL action with 13 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings.
Dernell Stenson Award Winner: Teo Banks, OF, Nationals
The Stenson Sportsmanship Award was created in 2004 to honor the memory of former player Dernell Stenson, who was killed the previous year in Arizona during the AFL season. The sportsmanship award is presented annually to the player who best exemplifies unselfishness, hard work and leadership.
Banks enhanced his stock as a former 18th-round selection and finished second in the AFL in hits (27). The outfielder hit .342 in 24 games with four home runs with a .989 OPS. Banks previously hit .251 with six home runs in 92 games for High-A Wilmington.
AFL Community Champion Award: Maddox Long, RHP, Tigers
New in 2025, the Arizona Fall League Community Champion Award is presented each season to an AFL player who exemplifies a strong commitment to community service and positive impact beyond the game. This award celebrates a player’s contributions to local communities through charitable activities, volunteer work, mentorship, and other acts of service. The recipient is recognized not only for their performance on the field but for their dedication to giving back and being a role model within the community.
Detroit Tigers right-handed pitcher Maddox Long earned the nomination in the middle of a tremendous rise from an undrafted Division II. He burst onto the scene in 2026 with a 3.74 ERA in 33 1/3 innings in Detroit’s system after a stint in the Pioneer League. That continued into the AFL with a 1.59 ERA in 17 innings.