Here is each club's top Arizona Fall League prospect

Now in its 34th season, the Arizona Fall League consistently features a mother lode of talent. The developmental circuit had a future Hall of Famer in Mike Piazza in its inaugural year in 1992 and has sent more than 3,000 players to Majors, including three more Cooperstown immortals in Roy Halladay, Todd Helton and Derek Jeter.

Twenty-seven AFL alumni were named to the 2026 All-Star Game, including 10 of the 20 starters: Yordan Alvarez, Drake Baldwin, Cody Bellinger, Ernie Clement, Freddie Freeman, Brandon Marsh, Max Muncy, Andy Pages, Kyle Schwarber and Mike Trout. It's a near lock that Kevin McGonigle will go from winning the Fall League MVP award last November to American League Rookie of the Year honors a year later.

This year's rosters include 12 of MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects, highlighted by Dodgers outfielder Eduardo Quintero, Tigers outfielder Zyhir Hope and White Sox third baseman/outfielder Caleb Bonemer. Below, we identify the top prospect each farm system is sending to Arizona:

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AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

Blue Jays: Jake Bloss, RHP (No. 11)
Bloss will be one of the rare Fall Leaguers with Major League experience, having made three starts for the Astros in 2024 before his move to the Blue Jays at that year’s Trade Deadline. Injuries – including UCL repair in 2025 and a right teres major strain this year – have limited him ever since. The 25-year-old’s four-seamer and sinker each sat in the mid-90s when healthy, while he showed an 86-89 mph slider, 80-82 mph curveball and 87-89 mph changeup to round out his mix.

Orioles: Ike Irish, OF/1B (No. 5/MLB No. 97)
The No. 19 overall pick in the 2025 Draft out of Auburn, Irish was perceived to be one of the most polished college bats in the class. He certainly looked like it during his first full season, with a .915 OPS and 135 wRC+ to go along with 16 homers and 20 steals over 76 games with High-A Frederick. He almost certainly would have been promoted to Double-A for much of the second half, but a torn meniscus suffered shortly after going to the Futures Game ended his season. It’s encouraging to see him back so soon and this AFL stint will get him ready for the upper levels.

Rays: Nathan Flewelling, C (No. 4/MLB No. 62)
The 2024 third-rounder out of Alberta showed off strong exit velocities in his age-18 season last year but took his power game to a new level (quite literally) with 21 homers in 106 games for High-A Bowling Green in his second full season, a significant bump from his total of six in ‘25. Mix in a solid 14.6 percent walk rate over that time, and his 112 wRC+ is second-highest among backstops aged 19 or younger at High-A since 2006, trailing only Francisco Alvarez’s 137 mark in 2021. Flewelling is a big target behind the dish at 6-foot-2 and will benefit from working with pitchers from other organizations on the Scottsdale roster.

Red Sox: Mason White, 2B/SS (No. 26)
After homering 49 times in three college seasons at Arizona, White went deep 18 times while hitting .251/.353/.480 in 101 games between High-A and Double-A during his first full pro season. The 2025 fourth-rounder split time between second base and shortstop and is better suited for the keystone with his average arm and quickness.

Yankees: Dax Kilby, SS (No. 1/MLB No. 83)
One of the best pure hitters in the Fall League, Kilby missed much of the season while dealing with a hamstring injury and slashed .261/.448/.435 with four homers and 12 steals in 32 games in Single-A. A 2025 supplemental first-rounder from a Georgia high school, he makes swing decisions and possesses plus raw power and speed.

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

Guardians: Luke Hill, 3B/2B (No. 16)
Hill established himself as one of the most disciplined hitters in the Southeastern Conference while at Mississippi, which got him drafted in the fourth round in 2025. He showed increased power in his first full pro season despite dealing with a right oblique injury, batting .254/.380/.484 with 13 homers and as many steals in 76 games between High-A and Double-A.

Royals: Zion Rose, OF (No. 6)
One of three 2026 Draft picks in this year’s AFL class, the former Louisville outfielder missed time this spring with ankle and hamstring injuries, making this a good opportunity to pick up more at-bats and grow even more comfortable in the Royals system. Rose, who was a surprise pick for some at No. 6 overall, earns strong reviews for his bat-to-ball skills, speed and power potential, though he’ll need to elevate more on contact to get his raw pop into games. He hit .268/.389/.338 with one homer and 14 steals in 19 games with High-A Quad Cities after the Draft.

Tigers: Zyhir Hope, OF (No. 1/MLB No. 26)
Hope already played in the AFL as a 19-year-old back in 2024, hitting .228/.301/.446 over 103 plate appearances with Glendale that autumn. With two more seasons of experience and physical maturation, he is likely in line for an even more productive return to the desert this round. The outfielder was the headlining prospect in this summer’s Tarik Skubal trade with the Dodgers, and he’s brought plus power potential and above-average speed to the Detroit system. He finished the regular season with a .287/.367/.513 line, 29 homers and 26 steals in 124 games across two Double-A affiliates.

Twins: Yasser Mercedes, OF (No. 17)
Mercedes joined the Twins at the start of the 2022 international signing period, getting $1.7 million to sign that January. It took him some time to gain much traction after a strong debut in the Dominican Summer League, spending two years in the Florida Complex League and parts of three with Single-A Fort Myers. But after an OPS of 1.021 over his first 21 games at the level this year, he finally earned a bump up to High-A Cedar Rapids, where his production was more modest. He offers an intriguing power-speed combination, finishing 2026 with a combined 18 homers and 52 steals in 109 games.

White Sox: Caleb Bonemer, 3B/SS/OF (No. 2/MLB No. 27)
Baseball's best third base prospect, Bonemer won the Single-A Carolina League MVP award in his 2025 pro debut before leading the Minors with 69 extra-base hits and finishing fifth with 37 homers this season. The 2024 second-rounder from a Michigan high school hit .251/.380/.550 and added 17 steals in 132 games between High-A and Double-A. A better defender at shortstop than initially expected, he's a potential plus glove at third base and will get some outfield action in Arizona in an effort to expedite his bat to Chicago.

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

Angels: Arjun Nimmala, SS (No. 1/MLB No. 35)
Nimmala was the key player the Angels got from the Blue Jays in the deal for José Soriano at the Trade Deadline. He slugged .577 and posted a .966 OPS with Double-A Rocket City following the trade, hitting seven homers and slugging .826 in 11 September games with his new organization. He had missed five weeks earlier in the year with a hamstring injury and a week just after the trade due to a hand laceration, so this is a great opportunity to top off the at-bats tank.

Astros: Nehomar Ochoa, OF (unranked on Astros Top 30)
Nehomar Ochoa Sr. pitched for three seasons in the Expos system before falling off a horse and hurting his shoulder, while his son signed with the Astros for $300,000 (double slot value) as an 11th-round pick out of a Houston high school in 2023. He slashed .287/.349/.500 with 11 homers and 29 steals in 64 games between two Class A levels this year and fits the classic right-field profile with plus raw power and arm strength.

A’s: Breyson Guedez, OF (No. 9)
One of the A’s marquee signings at the start of the 2025 international signing, Guedez joined the organization for around $1.5 million. The A’s haven’t shied away from challenging him, sending from a strong DSL debut in 2025 right to full-season ball in 2026, and he responded well, slashing .309/.353/.460 over 91 games with Single-A Stockton to earn a bump up to High-A. He turns 19 just as he gets to the AFL so this will be another challenge, and a chance for him to refine his approach after a 132/25 K/BB ratio this season.

Mariners: Boston Smith, C/OF (No. 13)
A sixth-round senior sign of the Nationals in 2025, Smith was traded for the first time at the end of Spring Training, going to the White Sox for Curtis Mead. He then slugged his way from Single-A to Double-A in three months, then brought his combination of power and selectivity with him to the Mariners, who got him close to the Trade Deadline for Luis Castillo. The power kept coming and he finished the year with 31 homers (.566 SLG) and a .990 OPS and was one of six hitters in all of the Minors to have 30 or more homers and more than 90 walks for the year.

Rangers: Jacob Johnson, RHP (No. 17)
Johnson recovered from internal brace surgery that cost him most of his 2024 Mississippi high school senior season to become one of the top junior college prospects in the 2025 Draft, signing for a double-slot $300,000 as an 11th-rounder out of Pearl River (Miss.) CC. He logged a 2.51 ERA, .193 opponent average and 48 strikeouts in 43 innings between Rookie ball and Single-A in his pro debut. His best weapons are a heavy low-90s sinker and a tight low-80s slider, while his control and delivery metrics add to his starter's package.

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NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

Braves: Tate Southisene, SS/2B (No. 3/MLB No. 57)
The Braves may have surprised some when they took Southisene in the first round of the 2025 Draft, but he certainly played like a first rounder during his first full season. The middle infielder exceeded expectations by playing his way from Single-A up to Double-A at age 19, posting an OPS of .875 with 12 homers and 45 steals in just 90 games. Things unfortunately came to a halt in his first game in Double-A when a hit-by-pitch caused a fractured wrist, so this time in Arizona will get him ready for a full season with Columbus in 2027.

Marlins: Dillon Lewis, OF (No. 11)
Part of the Ryan Weathers trade with the Yankees last January, Lewis is seeking to become the first big leaguer from Queens College. He combines plus raw power and speed, which helped him bat .242/.302/.460 with 18 homers and 20 steals in 89 Double-A games.

Mets: Cole Mathis, 1B/3B (No. 13)
The Mets were busy acquiring prospects in this down year at the MLB level, and Mathis – picked up from the Cubs for David Peterson – was their first big acquisition. The 2024 second-rounder, who underwent Tommy John surgery shortly after signing with Chicago, played only 13 games with New York affiliates however, but before the deal, he showed he was capable of making the most of his average raw power with good lift-and-pull tendencies. Mathis has experience at both corner infield spots but looks headed to the cold corner long-term.

Nationals: Jarlin Susana, RHP (No. 3/MLB No. 65)
After undergoing lat surgery last year, the 6-foot-6 right-hander returned to the Minor League mound this August and made eight starts between High-A, Double-A and Triple-A, meaning there should be plenty of runway for him in the AFL. He might be the most electric arm to feature in the Fall League in recent memory. Susana can sit triple-digits with both a four-seamer and sinker (and has touched 103 mph since his return), while his mid-80s, two-plane slider might be the even more effective pitch. His control will be tested against more experienced Fall League bats, but his stuff should send many to constantly refresh Baseball Savant during his time with Salt River.

Phillies: Aroon Escobar, 2B (No. 6)
Escobar spent two years in the DSL after signing for $450,000 in 2022 and didn’t perform particularly well. He jumped on prospect radars when he came stateside in 2024, hitting well in the Florida Complex League – though he was slowed by shin splints – then pushing his way across three levels in 2025. He returned to Double-A in 2026 and his progress stalled somewhat (.679 OPS), though he did hit 12 homers and steal 27 bags. He’s Rule 5 eligible, so the AFL is his last chance to make a good impression to earn a roster spot.

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

Brewers: Braylon Payne, OF (No. 6)
The 2024 17th overall pick already had plus-plus speed and impressive exit velocities from the left side, but he used an improved ability to lift the ball to boost his home run total from eight at Single-A in 2025 to 28 between High-A and Double-A this season. Throw in 25 steals, and he became the youngest 25/25 player in the Minor Leagues since Adrian Beltré in 1997. Payne does experience swing-and-miss issues, however, and if he can rein those in during his AFL time, he’ll solidify his case for a Top 100 spot going into ‘27.

Cardinals: Brandon Clarke, LHP (No. 9)
No one is doubting Clarke’s stuff. Acquired from the Red Sox in last offseason’s Sonny Gray deal, the 23-year-old lefty touched 103.1 mph with his sinker this season and also showed off an impressive four-seamer and plus-plus sweeper from his low release height. Massive extension beyond seven feet helps put him right on top of hitters. Health is another matter. He still hasn’t thrown more than 38 innings in a Minor League season and was limited by spring shoulder surgery to address a blood flow issue this spring. He’s the perfect AFL pitching candidate, one to show off a special arsenal while getting much-needed in-game work while there’s still an opportunity.

Cubs: Myles Bailey, 1B (No. 8)
The 6-foot-4, 255-pound Bailey is built to hit home runs, and he offered the most raw power and highest exit velocities in the 2026 Draft. A second-round pick out of Florida State, he went deep 13 times in 26 games as a sophomore before breaking his right ankle on a slide in late March.

Pirates: Wyatt Sanford, SS (No. 5)
A hand injury cost Sanford nearly two months of the 2026 season, so this is a good opportunity for him to make up for lost at-bats and prepare for Double-A, a level he might have reached this season had he not gotten hurt. A lot more impact showed up right out of the gate this year for the 2024 second-round pick, with 37 extra-base hits (19 homers) in 77 games for a .963 OPS to go along with 33 steals, though he needs to keep working on limiting the swing-and-miss (30.6 percent K rate).

Reds: Carlos Sanchez, 3B/SS/OF (No. 14)
Sanchez could prove to be one of the best bargain finds of the 2022 international signing class, joining the Reds for just $70,000. With the exception of a rough 2024 campaign, Sanchez has hit pretty much everywhere he’s been, including finishing this year with a combined .270/.376/.440 line. His first taste of Double-A was a bit rough, but he has a track record of earning a promotion, struggling, then figuring it out the following season. He still got to more impact this year than ever before, with 46 extra-base hits (16 homers) to go along with 23 steals.

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

D-backs: Demetrio Crisantes, 2B (No. 1/MLB No. 72)
With a career .312 average over four seasons in the Minor Leagues, Crisantes has developed a strong reputation centered around his hit tool, thanks to an easy operation at the plate that helps him make a ton of contact on pitches inside the zone. However, he’s another prospect who has been limited by injuries throughout his time as a pro, the latest being a preseason hamstring injury that kept him at 92 games this summer. His power will also be under the microscope in the AFL after he slugged .412 over 50 games with Triple-A Reno, which plays at a hitter-friendly ballpark in the extremely hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Dodgers: Eduardo Quintero, OF (No. 3/MLB No. 18)
The highest-rated prospect in the Fall League, Quintero features solid to plus tools across the board. Signed for $297,500 out of Venezuela in 2023, he was named MVP and Prospect of the Year in the Single-A California League in 2025. This season, he hit .309/.455/.495 with 45 extra-base hits and 44 steals in 111 games while leading the High-A Midwest League in batting and on-base percentage at age 20.

Giants: Dakota Jordan, OF (No. 7)
A three-star wide receiver recruit in high school who initially committed to play two sports at Mississippi State, Jordan is the best athlete in the AFL and features double-plus raw power and speed. Signed for a well over-slot $1,997,500 as a 2024 fourth-rounder, he slashed .283/.343/.500 with 19 homers and 21 steals in 102 games between High-A and Double-A.

Padres: Ty Harvey, C (No. 4)
Ethan Salas is the shining star of the Padres’ catching contingent, but Harvey – a 2025 fifth-rounder with serious power potential – is a solid No. 2 option in the San Diego system. The right-handed slugger was limited to only 46 games with Single-A Lake Elsinore this season due to a hamstring injury and a broken left hand, and the latter may have affected his performance down the stretch in the California League. More distance from the break could help him show off that pop more consistently in the desert, and exposure to a multitude of arms on the Peoria roster could be beneficial for his defensive work too.

Rockies: Jared Thomas, OF (No. 10)
Thomas needs a mulligan for a lost 2026 season. He actually played in the AFL last year and hit .302/.343/.524, albeit with a 28/3 K/BB ratio. That can largely be chalked up to the fact that he was playing with what turned out to be a broken hamate in his right hand. Persisting issues this season were because of a bone spur that needed additional surgery. He did return late and posted an OPS of .838 over his last 11 Double-A games, something he hopes to carry over to his return engagement with the Salt River Rafters.