Week 3 was marked by a big performance from a top prospect who finally was able to get into the lineup and another from a fan favorite who found inspiration from one of the big names in the World Series. Plus, there's still a pitcher who hasn't been scored upon during this year's campaign.
Here are the top performers from Week 3 of Fall League action:
More on the Arizona Fall League:
Braden Montgomery, OF, Glendale (CWS No. 1/MLB No. 35)
Stats: .333 AVG (5-for-15), 3B, HR, 5 RBIs, 2 BB, 10 TB
Montgomery recently got into the action in the desert, and he's already making his presence felt. He slugged his first homer of the fall and socked a two-run triple for Glendale on Saturday as part of a three-hit, four-RBI performance. Before that, he'd reached base in more than half of his plate appearances earlier in the week. All told, the 2024 first-rounder is slashing .385/.568/.615 with more walks (10) than strikeouts (seven) over his first eight games this fall.
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, INF, Mesa (ATH No. 10)
Stats: .368 AVG (7-for-19), 5 R, 2 2B, 3B, 3 RBIs, BB, 2 SB, 11 TB
Kuroda-Grauer did a little bit of everything for the Solar Sox, notching two multihit games this week, including a three-hit effort on Halloween. He hit safely in four different contests, scored a run in four and drove in a run in two. The 22-year-old has been remarkably consistent since his fall tenure began, hitting .318 with 14 hits, six extra-base hits and six steals over his first 13 games.
Nacho Alvarez Jr., INF, Glendale (Braves)
Stats: .421 AVG (8-for-19), 3 R, 4 2B, HR, 4 RBIs, 3 BB, 15 TB
Alvarez cemented his place here with a huge game Saturday night, erupting for five hits after finding inspiration watching Vladimir Guerrero Jr. play in the World Series. Three of those five hits went for extra bases on a night in which Alvarez collected 10 total bases. But he also reached base in half of his plate appearances earlier in the week leading up to his five-hit night. It's an encouraging stretch for the 22-year-old, who played in 58 big league games for the Braves this season but was limited by a wrist injury.
Patrick Clohisy, OF, Glendale (Braves)
Stats: .357 AVG (5-for-14) 5 R, RBI, 3 BB, 6 SB
The speedy outfielder showed off his wheels this week and made a bunch of plays from both the top and bottom of the Desert Dogs' lineup. Glendale's sparkplug reached base eight times, stole six bases and scored five runs -- in short, he was a problem for opposing pitchers and catchers alike. Clohisy is in a neck-and-neck race with Enrique Bradfield Jr. (BAL No. 4) for the AFL stolen-base title, both player swiping 17 through play Saturday. Could either challenge Caleb Durbin's single-season record of 29 from 2024?
More from MLB Pipeline:
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James Hicks, RHP, Scottsdale (HOU No. 26)
Stats: 3 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 5 SO
So continues one of the finest Fall League stretches for a pitcher in recent memory. By firing three more scoreless innings, Hicks remains unscored upon across his first 14 innings this fall, stretched out over four appearances. He's racked up 19 strikeouts in that span, including five more this week. He joined Jake Arietta (2007) and Jared Miller (2016) as the only hurlers to log at least 14 consecutive scoreless innings in the Fall League. Opposing batters are hitting just .130 against him.
Maikel Miralles, RHP, Peoria (Padres)
Stats: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 3 SO
On Thursday, Surprise and Peoria teamed up to produce a rare outcome for the fall league -- a scoreless tie. It was only the second in the AFL since at least 2005, and Miralles, a 21-year-old righty, was a big reason why it happened. Entering in the fifth inning, Miralles logged four goose eggs to send the game to the ninth still tied, striking out three and not allowing a hit along the way. There were 10 pitchers who logged scoreless outings during the game for the two teams. Of them, Miralles' outing was the longest and most impressive.
Carson Dorsey, LHP, Peoria (Orioles)
Stats: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 SO, SV
Backed by significant run support, the 22-year-old southpaw dazzled in long relief for the Javelinas on Wednesday, as Dorsey didn't allow a hit while procuring a four-inning save. He walked three but also punched out three while recording 12 breezy outs, easily the lefty's finest performance of the fall to date. He and Miralles were the only Fall League pitchers to log four scoreless innings this week.