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Jarod looks at six top fantasy baseball prospects who broke out in the Arizona Fall League. These six risers should be stashed in dynasty and keeper leagues. His top AFL breakout prospects include Max Anderson, James Hicks, more.
It doesn't seem like that long ago that the minor league regular season and playoffs came to a close, but now the Arizona Fall League (AFL) has already wrapped up as well. Now that it is, we can look back and see who made an impact and could be on the rise.
While the AFL features some of the league's top prospects, we have to keep in mind that these pitching prospects could be there to work on some things mechanically or to enhance their repertoire, for example, and others could be there to make up for lost time due to injury, so rust can be apparent.
This leads to high walk rates or pitches missing in the zone, resulting in some inflated ERAs and batting averages. The latter could also be somewhat attributed to a small sample size. Nevertheless, without further ado, here are some prospects that boosted their stock in the AFL.
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AFL Prospect Risers - Batters
To start, if you're wondering, although Kevin McGonigle had a fantastic AFL campaign, he's already MLB's No. 2 prospect, so it's hard to rise much more, so I left him off this list. However, we'll kick it off with another standout Detroit Tigers prospect.
Max Anderson, 2B, Detroit Tigers
Max Anderson was selected in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft, and had been a solid hitter over his first two seasons, heading into this year with a .271/.321/.398 slash line and a better-than-average 14.8 percent strikeout rate.
He stepped up his game in 2025, slashing .306/.358/.499 while maintaining a 14.6 percent strikeout rate before earning a promotion to Triple-A in early August. The 23-year-old held his own in 32 games at Triple-A, posting a .267/.327/.422 line with a still-better-than-average 19.0 percent strikeout rate.
The Tigers' ninth-ranked prospect parlayed that success to his time in the AFL, finishing with the highest batting average (.447), highest on-base percentage (.609), and second-highest slugging percentage (.809) over 14 games (47 at-bats).
The SLG was buoyed by five doubles and four home runs, and he also boasted an 18:9 BB:K, which helped him finish with that astronomical OBP. He also finished with the highest average exit velocity (EV) at 97.9 mph.
The University of Nebraska product should begin 2026 at Triple-A, and if he can keep up the momentum, he should be knocking on the door to the majors at some point next season. The problem is that, as the roster is currently constructed, there really isn't a place for him.
Gleyber Torres recently accepted his qualifying offer to return to the team in 2026, and after being an All-Star at that position in 2025, that is not an option. The team still also has Javier Baez, who can play shortstop, Colt Keith at third, and utility player Zach McKinstry, who can play all over the field.
Further muddying the picture, the aforementioned McGonigle is waiting in the wings, Trey Sweeney -- who played 112 games at SS last season -- is at Triple-A, and Anderson is not currently on the 40-man roster, so it might take an injury or trade to get him to the big leagues in 2026.
Regardless of timing, I outlined Anderson in my Double-A Dynasty Gems to Stash article back in August, and his stock has continued to rise following his AFL performance.
Esmerlyn Valdez, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
Esmerlyn Valdez broke into professional baseball stateside in 2022 as an 18-year-old and put together a 22-home run season in 2024 in 107 games in Single-A. The drawback was a 30.6 percent strikeout rate and a .226 batting average.
That changed this season, blasting 20 home runs at High-A while dropping the strikeout rate to a more palatable 24.5 percent and hitting .303.
At the time of his promotion to Double-A, the 21-year-old was leading the South Atlantic League in home runs, then he belted six more at Double-A without a change in strikeout rate (24.7 percent) and maintaining a solid average (.260).
All that power was on display during the AFL regular season, blasting a league-high eight home runs in just 19 games and coming in second place in the AFL Fall Stars Home Run Derby. He finished just behind Anderson, averaging a 97.6 mph EV.
Esmerlyn Valdez unloads his EIGHTH AFL homer 💪
The @YoungBucsPIT prospect is slashing .545/.718/1.682 through nine AFL games 👀 pic.twitter.com/Kyqas6QXkY
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) October 22, 2025
The power even came along with a .368 AVG and a 19:12 BB:K. The effort earned him AFL Offensive Player of the Year honors and could help fast-track him to Triple-A, which would put him on the doorstep to the majors at some point in 2026.
Raudi Rodriguez, OF, Los Angeles Angels
Getting drafted in the 19th round doesn't get you a lot of fanfare or prospect hype, but if you put up numbers, the fanfare and hype will follow. That's just what Raudi Rodriguez did this year.
The right-handed hitter had an underwhelming 2024, slashing .233/.340/.314 with the team's Complex League affiliate, and was slashing just .239/.328/.424 through his first 92 games at Single-A this season. From July 30 through the end of the season, the 22-year-old caught fire.
He slashed a scorching .400/.490/.600 over the final 33 games, resulting in a final total slash of .281/.372/.470 with 14 home runs and 38 steals in 125 games. The performance earned him the Angels' Minor League Player of the Year honors.
That success carried over to the AFL, where the former 19th-rounder hit .433 in 18 games, the second-highest batting average in the circuit behind only the aforementioned Anderson, along with a .514 OBP and .650 SLG.
He also went 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI in the AFL Fall Stars game on November 9, taking home the game's MVP award.
Your 2025 @MLBazFallLeague Fall Stars Game MVP ... Raudi Rodriguez 😇
The @Angels prospect tallied two hits -- including a 111 mph single -- and drove in two runs! pic.twitter.com/ErROId0jr6
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) November 10, 2025
He's yet to play any games at High-A or above, and hasn't even cracked the Angels' top-30 Prospects list yet, but that should change by next season. Look for him to land somewhere in the team's preseason top-30, and if he can keep hitting, a 2027 MLB debut could be in the cards.
Owen Ayers, C, Chicago Cubs
Like Rodriguez above, Owen Ayers won't be found in the team's top-30 Prospects list and is also a former 19th-round draft pick. Unlike Rodriguez and the others outlined here, there wasn't a strong regular season or late-season push that carried into the Fall League, so he was truly an AFL-only riser.
Ayers suffered a broken hand in late July that caused him to miss the rest of the minor league regular season. As many teams do, they sent the 6-foot-2 backstop to the AFL to get more reps in order to be ready for next year.
The extra reps helped Ayers win the AFL's Breakout Player of the Year award. The 24-year-old hit .379 in 20 games played and posted a .539 OBP thanks to drawing 22 walks, which was the most of any player in the league.
The Marshall University product even collected a single in a 1-for-2 effort in the AFL Fall Stars Game, and also launched a three-run home run that helped the Mesa Solar Sox to a first-round playoff victory.
426 feet
107.1 mph@Cubs catching prospect Owen Ayers puts Mesa ahead with a three-run blast in an @mlbAZFallLeague quarterfinal. pic.twitter.com/NkKCpScngp— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) November 12, 2025
Defensively, he even had the second-best pop time of all the catchers at 1.75 seconds. It may take more time for Ayers to reach the majors than some of the others listed here, but he's officially a riser and has put his name on the prospect radar.
AFL Prospect Risers - Pitchers
James Hicks, SP, Houston Astros
James Hicks has shown decent strikeout stuff and low walk rates during his time in the minors, but he was very hittable once he reached Double-A in 2024, posting a 5.21 ERA and a .303 opponent batting average in 48 1/3 innings.
Looking to improve upon those numbers in 2025, Hicks got off to a similar start in April before taking a comebacker off his forearm, fracturing his forearm and missing over three months from late April to early August.
Once he returned, it was much of the same for the right-hander, although one start in September provided a glimpse of what could be. He would finish with a 5.59 ERA and .302 opponent batting average in 46 2/3 innings pitched, but in that one September start, the 6-foot-2 hurler tossed six innings of one-hit ball, striking out 12 batters along the way.
He was sent to the AFL to make up for lost time, and appeared to have put it all together. The former 13th-round draft pick did not allow a single run in the 14 innings he worked, just six hits and two walks while striking out 19 batters. It was good for a 0.57 WHIP and a .130 opponent batting average.
The performance was impressive in a league where a couple of guys were batting over .400 and drawing walks at an astounding rate. It was so remarkable that the 24-year-old earned AFL Pitcher of the Year honors.
Congratulations to James Hicks who is named Pitcher of the Year! pic.twitter.com/1sWX0lLRXd
— MLB's Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) November 14, 2025
He's currently the Astros' 26th-ranked prospect, but the AFL surely boosted his stock, and although it might not result in a much higher ranking come springtime, it could set the University of South Carolina product up for a start at Triple-A with a shot to crack the majors at some point in 2026.
Aiden May, SP, Miami Marlins
The Marlins selected Aiden May with the 70th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, but did not get an opportunity to make his professional debut that year. He underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery in March of 2025, which delayed his debut until July.
He totaled nine starts and 27 1/3 innings pitched between the Complex League and Single-A when he finally returned to the mound, pitching to a 2.63 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and tallying 30 strikeouts. The right-hander posted similar results in the AFL, posting a 2.93 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and he struck out 15 batters in 15 1/3 innings of work.
The one thing that depressed his K-BB% in the regular season and the Fall League was his walk rate, which was 14.0 percent in the regular season and 12.7 percent in the Fall League.
The 22-year-old was previously ranked No. 22 in the Marlins' farm system, but has since fallen out of the top 30. His performance in the AFL and a strong start to 2026 (likely at High-A) could catapult him back into the ranks as he displays the potential that once made him a second-round draft selection.
Other Notables from the Arizona Fall League
Sam Antonacci (INF, CWS): .378/.505/.541, 11 SB - tied for most regular season hits (28) and hit a walk-off sac fly to win the Fall Stars Game.
Patrick Clohisy (OF, ATL): .284/.389/.383, 22 SB - led the league in steals.
Alfredo Duno (C, CIN): eight home runs in the final 15 games of regular season at Single-A, didn't hit well in the AFL regular season but reaffirmed power in the playoffs, hitting four home runs in three games, including a 453-foot shot to dead center; he was included in my High-A Dynasty Gems to stash article in August.
Tony Blanco Jr. (1B, PIT): 6-foot-7 slugger won the AFL Fall Stars Home Run Derby, smashing one ball that was recorded at 122.9 mph off the bat, which is harder than any hit recorded in any MLB game or MLB HR derby since it began being tracked (2015). One regular-season home run traveled a whopping 464 feet. Tantalizing power, but needs to work on getting K% down.
Charlie Condon (OF, COL): he's already a well-known name, but hit just .235 in 55 games once he was promoted to Double-A, so it was a positive sign to see him slash .337/.439/.434 in the AFL, with three home runs and tied for the most hits (28).
Luis De Leon (SP, BAL): 2.76 ERA, 22 K in 16 1/3 IP; struck out 107 in 87 1/3 IP during MiLB regular season, and looks like he is on the ascent.
Karson Milbrandt (SP, MIA): 23 strikeouts (second most) in 13 1/3 IP, good for a 15.5 K/9; this followed a strong MiLB regular season.
Cade Denton (RP, COL): 3.46 ERA, 18:4 K:BB in 13 IP; earned AFL Reliever of the Year, and the 3.46 ERA was the result of a lone outing in which he allowed five earned runs, but otherwise held opponents scoreless in six of seven outings. The performance followed a strong regular season at High-A.
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