The Arizona Fall League dealt with some weather early in its second week of play. But once games resumed, the action wasn't far behind.
Here are the top performers from Week 2 of AFL action:
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Esmerlyn Valdez, OF, Salt River (PIT No. 15)
Stats: .615 AVG (8-for-13), 9 R, 5 HR, 11 RBIs, 7 BBs, 24 TB
Valdez had another absolutely monstrous week at the plate, homering in four of his five games played and capping it off with a two-homer performance Sunday. All told, Valdez reached base in 15 of his 24 plate appearances and bashed five homers to bump his AFL lead to seven through two weeks of play -- more than twice the home run total of anyone else in the Fall League. It hasn't taken very long for Valdez to establish himself as the most feared hitter on the circuit, and with very good reason. He has eight extra-base hits, 13 RBIs and 13 walks through eight games -- he's reached base 23 times despite only 20 official at-bats. That already puts Valdez in historic company. Only 13 players have hit more homers than Valdez in a full season in AFL history and he's only through Week 2.
Walker Janek, C, Scottsdale (HOU No. 4)
Stats: .263 AVG (5-for-19), 4 R, 5 H, 2B, 3 HR, 15 RBIs, 3 SB, 15 TB
The Scorpions' backstop cranked a three-run homer on Thursday and bashed a grand slam amid a seven-RBI game on Friday, putting together one of the best few days' stretches from an offensive player this fall. He drove in 15 runs this week and Janek leads all players in the league with 18 RBIs. Of his 10 hits, six have gone for extra bases, and he's slashing .333/.375/.733 overall.
Seaver King, SS, Scottsdale (WSH No. 7)
Stats: .444 AVG (8-for-18), 7 R, 4 2B, HR, 9 RBIs, 15 TB
It was another big week for King, who might have put together the best all-around offensive performance during the league's opening week as well. This week, King ranked first on the circuit in doubles, tied for first in hits and ranked second in RBIs and runs. The 10th overall pick from the 2024 Draft has been one of the Fall League's top players since Day 1, and is batting .419 with 13 hits, 15 RBIs and a 1.260 OPS in seven games overall.
Max Anderson, 3B, Scottsdale (DET No. 9)
Stats: .733 AVG (5-for-9), 6 R, 3 HR, 5 RBIs, 5 BB, HBP, 14 TB
Anderson made his swings count this week, reaching base in 12 of his 16 plate appearances and homering in back-to-back starts on Tuesday and Friday. The Tigers' second-round pick from 2023 gets overshadowed a little in their star-studded system, but the 23-year-old socked 19 homers and 31 doubles this season while reaching Triple-A.
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Hagen Smith, LHP, Glendale (CWS No. 5/MLB No. 88)
Stats: 3 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 SO
One of the top left-handed pitching prospects in baseball, Smith turned in his second strong Fall League performance in two starts, logging three scoreless one-hit innings for the Desert Dogs on Thursday. He racked up five strikeouts against two walks in those frames, giving him nine punchouts in six innings so far this fall. He's yet to allow a run. This after racking up 108 strikeouts across 75 2/3 innings in his first full pro season.
Anderson Brito, RHP, Scottsdale (HOU No. 7)
Stats: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 SO
The 21-year-old righty flashed overpowering stuff in his lone outing of the week, registering eight of his nine outs via strikeout across three scoreless frames for the Scorpions on Friday. Brito's first outing of the Fall League wasn't as breezy as his second, but he did strike out five in 2 2/3 innings that first time out, giving him a total of 13 across two outings. That's tied for the AFL lead through two weeks of play.
James Hicks, RHP, Scottsdale (HOU No. 26)
Stats: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 1 HBP
The 24-year-old Hicks built upon his four scoreless frames to open the season with three more zeros on Saturday for Mesa. The 2023 13th-round pick exhibits some of the best command in the Astros system when things are going right, and so far, that's the case. He's got eight strikeouts against only one walk across seven innings this fall.