Feature Photo: Keston Hiura, 2B, Brewers
Presenting our 2018 Arizona Fall League All-AFL teams! These players represent the best mix of prospect value and AFL statistical performance at each position.
Editor’s Note: We’ve added all of our recent scouting reports, spotlights, and live video from the Arizona Fall League to our 2018 sortable libraries at the links below:
Also, be sure to check out our podcasts page for episodes of Defensive Indifference (AFL Edition) with your hosts Ryan Sullivan and John “Uncle Jack” Eshleman.
You can read all of our Arizona Fall League updates at this link.
First Team All-AFL
Catcher: Keibert Ruiz, Dodgers (Glendale Desert Dogs)
Spotlight | Video
Ruiz reached Double-A as teenager, especially impressive for a catching prospect. He’s an advanced receiver with sound glovework, and his hit-first profile gives offensive upside at a premium position.
First Base: Tyler Nevin, Rockies (Salt River Rafters)
Report | Video
Nevin was runner-up for the California League batting title in 2018, following up that performance by pacing the Fall League with a .426 batting average for Salt River. He’s a 1B-only, so he’ll need to mash. Nevin’s barrel-feel is plus, allowing projection on the power as his frame fills out.
Second Base: Keston Hiura, Brewers (Peoria Javelinas)
Report #1 | Report #2 | Video
Hiura’s .323/.371/.563 line earned him official AFL MVP honors. The blend of hit, power, and approach makes him a special bat and one of the top offensive prospects in baseball. His defensive progression at 2B this fall was equally enthusing, as he looked much improved at the position.
Shortstop: Jazz Chisholm, Diamondbacks (Salt River Rafters)
Spotlight | Video
Chisholm raised his stock more than any player in the Fall League. He electrified the league with Salt River despite being a taxi squad player, showing his premium mix of athleticism, defensive ability, and offensive upside at shortstop. He has some overall wildness to his game that he’ll need to tone down, but there’s plenty of time to do so.
Third Base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays (Surprise Saguaros)
Report | Video
The top prospect in baseball did nothing to hurt his stock. Guerrero is a generational offensive prospect with a rare mix of power, plate vision, and contact ability. He’s stocky and doesn’t look like an infielder, but his defense was a pleasant surprise this fall.
Outfield: Daz Cameron, Tigers (Mesa Solar Sox)
Report | Video
Cameron hit his way to Triple-A during the regular season and continued the torrid pace for Mesa, posting a .903 OPS this fall and stealing nine bases. He’s a top 125 prospect in the game with a nice blend of polish and upside.
Outfield: Luis Robert, White Sox (Glendale Desert Dogs)
Report | Video
Robert missed lots of the regular season and headed to the AFL to make up time. After struggling to find a groove at the plate late last season, his .324/.367/.432 line for Glendale was a nice surprise. Robert is among the most physically gifted players in the minor leagues, a tooled up athlete with power and speed. How much he makes contact and taps into his offensive upside will determine if he reaches a true five-tool ceiling.
Outfield: Ryan McKenna, Orioles (Glendale Desert Dogs)
Report | Video
No player’s dominating performance this fall was more unexpected than McKenna, a speed/contact outfielder who was coming off a breakout season. He raked for Glendale, slashing .344/.474/.590 while playing solid defense in the outfield. He’s a fast-emerging prospect in the O’s system.
DH/Utility: Peter Alonso, Mets (Scottsdale Scorpions)
Report | Spotlight | Video
Alonso was one of the minor leagues’ primer sluggers during the regular season, keeping up that pace this fall with Scottsdale. He posted an .849 OPS and tied for the league lead in dingers. Despite the bat-only profile, Alonso has what it takes offensively to be a middle-order power producer.
Starting Pitcher: Forrest Whitley, RHP, Astros (Scottsdale Scorpions)
Report #1 | Report #2 | Video
Whitley missed most of the 2018 regular season and headed to Fall League to make up innings. His dominant performance with Scottsdale cemented his status as baseball’s best pitching prospect entering this off-season. He has the potential to be a frontline starter and only has some tinkering left to do before he’s ready to help the Astros.
Starting Pitcher: Jon Duplantier, RHP, Diamondbacks (Salt River Rafters)
Report | Video
Duplantier helped his stock this fall with a strong performance for Salt River. There’s an established track record of durability issues and the arm-action isn’t pretty, but when he’s healthy, Duplantier showed a power fastball/slider mix that projects to a middle-rotation role.
Starting Pitcher: J.B. Bukauskas, RHP, Astros (Scottsdale Scorpions)
Report | Video
Showed dominating stuff in spurts, often being untouchable the first 2-3 innings of a start before tailing off. Bukauskas has excellent raw stuff and could be fast-tracked to the big leagues if Houston wants him in a ‘pen role. The long-term question is whether his most impactful utilization is as a starter or reliever.
Relief Pitcher: Darwinzon Hernandez, LHP, Red Sox (Mesa Solar Sox)
Report | Video
Hernandez transitioned to the ‘pen this fall for Mesa and enjoyed immediate success. His stuff ticked up across the board, with a fastball that reached the high-90s and a dastardly power slider to left-handed hitters.
Relief Pitcher: Nate Pearson, RHP, Blue Jays (Surprise Saguaros)
Report | Video
Pearson turned heads by touching 103 mph with his fastball in the Fall Stars Game. He started games for Surprise but had wildly inconsistent results in that role. Toronto will continue to develop their power-armed prospect in the rotation, but there’s a ways to go with the control and secondaries in order to get there. Realistically, we’re writing in Pearson as a potential late-inning ‘pen arm.
Second Team All-AFL
Catcher: Daulton Varsho, Diamondbacks (Salt River Rafters)
Spotlight | Video
First Base: Will Craig, Pirates (Surprise Saguaros)
Report | Video
Second Base: Carter Kieboom, Nationals (Salt River Rafters)
Report | Video
Shortstop: Cole Tucker, Pirates (Surprise Saguaros)
Report #1 | Report #2 | Video
Third Base: Abraham Toro, Astros (Scottsdale Scorpions)
Report | Video
Outfield: Ronnie Dawson, Astros (Scottsdale Scorpions)
Report #1 | Report #2 | Video
Outfield: Cristian Pache, Braves (Peoria Javelinas)
Report | Video
Outfield: Julio Pablo Martinez, Rangers (Surprise Saguaros)
Report | Video
DH/Utility: Nico Hoerner, Cubs (Mesa Solar Sox)
Report | Video
Starting Pitcher: Jordan Yamamoto, RHP, Marlins (Salt River Rafters)
Report | Video
Starting Pitcher: Scott Blewett, RHP, Royals (Surprise Saguaros)
Report | Video
Starting Pitcher: Griffin Jax, RHP, Twins (Salt River Rafters)
Report #1 | Report #2 | Video
Relief Pitcher: Melvin Adon, RHP, Giants (Scottsdale Scorpions)
Report | Video
Relief Pitcher: Zack Burdi, RHP, White Sox (Glendale Desert Dogs)
Spotlight | Video