SURPRISE, Ariz. – When Tennessee Ernie Ford crooned in 1955 “if the right one doesn’t getcha then the left will,” he was referring to the hard luck life of working in the mines where something striking felt inevitable. But the line would also be applicable for pitchers across the Arizona Fall League who have had a similarly difficult go of things over the past month when facing the Surprise Saguaros, trying to combat the one-two punch of Aidan Miller and Sebastian Walcott in the middle of the order.
The duo, who both rank among MLB’s Top 60 overall prospects, make up arguably the most highly touted left side of an infield in the Fall League since Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette played for Surprise back in 2018. They’ve had the benefit during their own stint with the Saguaros to play for manager Daniel Robertson, who spent four seasons in the big leagues from 2014-17 and now serves as a coach in the Guardians organization.
More on the Arizona Fall League:
• Week 4 top performers | Players of the Week
• Statcast leaders | Each org's top AFL prospect
• FAQ | Under-the-radar players | Sleeper picks
• Rosters | Complete guide | 7 storylines to watch
• Past champions | Awards | All-time roster
• Tickets | Shop | Schedule | Complete coverage
“They have a crazy work ethic,” Robertson said of Walcott and Miller. “They have an insatiable appetite for the game, and I think getting better every day is their main goal. They're very curious if things aren't going their way, what can they do to improve, but they're still growing too. They want to perform.”
But both Walcott and Miller were limited in what they could do during the 2026 season. Walcott (TEX No. 1/MLB No. 8) underwent internal brace surgery on his right elbow in February, knocking him out of action until mid-July. Miller (PHI No. 2/MLB No. 59) dealt with recurring back issues that sidelined him until early September. They relied upon that aforementioned work ethic to find their way back.
“I would say it's being around big leaguers,” Miller said of where his drive stems from. “At big league camp, seeing how those guys work -- the JT [Realmuto]s, the [Kyle] Schwarbers -- just watching those guys and just seeing how they go about their business; I’m just following in their footsteps, trying to be like that.”
Back in 2011, a pair of top-tier prospects from different organizations got to join forces during the Fall League with the expectation that they would soon be the face of their respective franchises for years to come. Mike Trout and Bryce Harper have since combined for 21 All-Star accolades, two Rookie of the Year Awards and five MVP Awards.
“They're not oblivious to [the fact] that they may be the future of their organization, so they feel the pressure,” Robertson said of Walcott and Miller. “Most importantly, they're learning how to play with that pressure, but also learning how to just be one of the guys.”
Even as they acclimate to fitting in, they’re both still standing out in Arizona, flashing their respective superstar potentials. Miller leads the Fall League in on-base percentage (.588) entering play Tuesday, while Walcott ranks second in RBIs (20), posting two of the circuit’s 11 highest exit velocities (113.9 and 113.3 mph) with a .316 average and .843 OPS.
They come from different backgrounds -- Miller was a first-round pick in 2023 out of the Florida high school ranks, Walcott was a star international signing earlier that year out of The Bahamas -- but they’ve similarly rocketed through their respective systems. Players who can legitimately impact the game in all facets are a rare breed, but each of Miller and Walcott’s tools grades out as at least average with the potential to improve.
“One of the most skilled hitters I've seen,” Walcott said of Miller. “He’s just so disciplined at the plate. A mature hitter, great defensive player -- an all-around, five-tool player. He’s just amazing to watch and amazing to play with.”
“He’s a freak athlete,” Miller said of Walcott. “I mean, he can do it all. He's five-tool. He's a fun player to be next to on the diamond.”
The Fall League often serves as the final major hurdle for top prospects to clear before pushing toward the Majors. Both have 2027 ETAs for their respective arrivals in The Show and are using the final weeks in uniform during 2026 to round out their games as much as possible.
“We both want to reach a goal, and that's to make the big leagues,” Walcott said. “We're willing to do whatever it takes -- we're willing to put in extra work before and after games. We want to achieve a goal here and we want to be successful big leaguers.”