Arizona Fall League Week 2 top performers

With two weeks in the books, the 34th edition of the Arizona Fall League has already featured a number of exciting performances and loud tools. Players have been making up for time lost to injuries and are earning several more weeks of look at the "prospect finishing school."

There was no shortage of big moments, with 18 homers across 14 games, including two apiece from Caleb Bonemer (CWS No. 2/MLB No. 27), Matthew Ellis (SEA) and Jack O'Dowd (COL). Additionally, 70 pitchers did not allow a run to cross the plate last week. With so many to choose from, here are seven players who stood out most for their Week 2 Fall League showings.

Arjun Nimmala, SS, Mesa (LAA No. 1/MLB No. 34)
Stats: 6-for-11, 2 3B, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 4 BB, 1 K, 1 SB

Nimmala is one of three Fall Leaguers who have picked up at least 20 total bases across the first two weeks of the season. He is continuing to show off his all-around offensive skill set with Mesa, particularly on Thursday when he went 4-for-5 with a pair of triples, a double and a walk. The 2023 first-rounder is backing up those stats with impressive batted-ball data, including a 59.1 percent hard-hit rate, with pitchers having particular trouble getting fastballs by him.

Sebastian Walcott, SS/3B, Surprise (TEX No. 1/MLB No. 8)
Stats: 3-for-13, 1 HR, 1 2B, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K, 4 SB

Walcott is the top-ranked prospect on the circuit this season, and he showed why during a well-rounded week of performances. The 6-foot-4 shortstop picked up a pair of steals in his first two games and launched a grand slam on Friday -- the day after 2026 sixth overall pick and AFL teammate Zion Rose (KC No. 6) did likewise for the Saguaros. Walcott's .292/.345/.500 slash line through six Fall League games is solid, but his underlying contact has been even better, with a 111.3 mph max EV that ranks 11th in the Fall League and a 70 percent hard-hit rate.

Kannon Kemp, RHP, Peoria (SD No. 13)
Stats: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K

Injuries have limited Kemp to 110 1/3 innings since the Padres made him a 2023 eighth-rounder -- a left oblique issue delayed the start of his 2026 season until June -- but he's shown impressive stuff when on the mound. In his latest outing, the 6-foot-6 righty topped out at 99.3 mph on his fastball and picked up nine whiffs on 22 swings. That added up to four hitless frames with five strikeouts, marking his best Fall League outing yet (including the six he made last year).

Welbyn Francisca, SS, Surprise (CLE No. 19)
Stats: 6-for-8, 1 3B, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 SB

After winning Hitter of the Week honors to open the 2026 Fall League campaign, Francisca got right back to swinging a hot bat. The switch-hitter only appeared in two games but picked up three hits in both contests, raising his slash line to .615/.656/.962 in 32 plate appearances. Routinely making quality contact is certainly a welcome sight for the 20-year-old after a strong end to his regular season, as is the fact that he's only struck out once, considering he had a career-high 23.6 percent K rate during the regular season.

Teo Banks, OF, Salt River (WSH)
Stats: 7-for-17, 1 HR, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 3 K, 2 SB

The 2024 18th-rounder returned to High-A Wilmington for the second straight season and looked much improved, as his OPS rose from .366 to .708 and he stole 21 bases. Banks is continuing his upward trajectory with a strong start in the Fall League while rotating between all three outfield positions. After collecting three knocks in his desert debut, he delivered two more three-hit games last week and went deep for the first time as well. The right-handed hitter has a 40 percent hard-hit rate and his 109.5 mph max exit velocity ranks 23rd on the circuit.

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Irving Cota, RHP, Surprise (NYM)
Stats: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K

The man affectionately known as "Coffee" -- because he’s always carrying around the beverage -- has provided an energy boost to the Saguaros pitching staff. Through three Fall League outings, he has given up just one hit and he hasn't given up a run since his first frame. His latest outing was his finest yet: nine up, nine down with five strikeouts. The 6-foot-5 righty averaged 93 mph on his sinker and picked up six whiffs on his changeup and curveball (on seven swings). He's tied for second on the circuit with 12 K's.

Patrick Reilly, RHP, Peoria (BAL)
Stats: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K

Reilly is one of the most intriguing prospects vying for a 40-man roster spot this offseason, and he's making a strong case through two outings. The Vanderbilt product has struck out 13 while walking just two across seven innings of one-run ball. He went four scoreless frames in his latest start as he picked up 10 whiffs on 23 swings. His fastball averaged 95 mph (up to 96.1) with 17 inches of induced vertical break, a similar movement profile to that of Logan Gilbert and Hunter Gaddis' heaters.