After spending time at First Pitch Arizona in November, including the Arizona Fall League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby, I continued to follow the league throughout the playoffs. Once the postseason concluded, I went back and re-watched multiple earlier AFL games to get a better feel for the hitters across the league.
Going forward, I plan to continue reviewing the Arizona Fall League annually and publishing scouting reports on the top names and standout performers.
To keep evaluations consistent and easy to interpret, I used the grading key below to assign player grades.
All AFL Statcast data was pulled using Prospect Savant, a valuable resource for MiLB Statcast data.
Arizona Fall League video archives and GameDay data, including pitch velocities and exit velocities, are available on MLB.com.
With that context in place, let’s dive into the 2025 Arizona Fall League hitter recap.
A Grades (MVP / Cy Young Potential)
None this year. While Kevin McGonigle was a close call, he did not quite make the cut.
B Grades (Above-Average MLB Player)
Kevin McGonigle – Detroit Tigers
The top prospect in the AFL, McGonigle consistently put together quality at-bats, making good swing decisions and drawing plenty of walks. One of the more impressive moments during my time in Arizona was a foul ball he hit out of Mesa Stadium during the All-Star Game that reportedly registered at 118 mph. In another game, he just missed a home run to deep center field against Najer Victor, who featured one of the better fastballs in the AFL. He runs well, profiles as a multi-position defender, and lived up to the top-prospect hype, though there could be an adjustment period against top-end breaking stuff.
AFL Statcast Data
- 15.8% Barrel Rate
- 13.2% K-Rate
- 20.3% BB-Rate
Esmerlyn Valdez – Pittsburg Pirates
Valdez was the standout performer behind only Tony Blanco Jr. at the derby. Larger than his listed 181 pounds, Valdez sets up deep into his back leg with a low hand setup. In one at-bat on a 1-1 hanging slider, he punished a pitch for a 114 mph home run against Pablo Aldonis. After that at-bat, he walked three straight times and often saw pitchers avoid the zone, highlighted by a 23.2% walk rate. He has shown improved contact rates which may help him be an above average bat in the corner OF.
AFL Statcast Data
- 73.3 Bat Speed
- 114.4 Max EV
- 92.3% Z-Contact Rate
Seaver King – Washington Nationals
An athlete who runs well, King showed great balance in his swing with minimal head movement. I liked his approach in most at-bats, as he consistently drove the ball the other way. This included an inside-out home run hit at 103 mph against Najer Victor and a 109 mph double against JoJo Ingrassia. He also showed a two-strike approach by removing his leg lift. A good profile to bet on.
AFL Statcast Data
- 72.0 Bat Speed
- 62.5% Hard-Hit Rate
- 89.8% Z-Contact Rate
Alfredo Duno – Cincinnati Reds
Duno is physically mature for his age and appears larger than his listed frame. He was aggressive in the zone and may have overswung at times, leading to some off-balance swings. Overall, I was impressed with his at-bats for such a young player and enjoyed the energy he brought. He just missed a home run on a hanging curveball and showed solid defensive actions behind the plate.
AFL Statcast Data
- 74.0 Bat Speed
- 18.3% BB-Rate
- 20.8% Chase Rate
Charlie Condon – Colorado Rockies
Condon has a slightly crouched stance that takes away some of his height at the plate. His swing currently produces more line-drive contact than over-the-fence power. He makes consistent hard contact, but the home run power he showed in college at Georgia has yet to fully translate. He should get plenty of runway in Colorado, though expectations may need to be tempered from draft-day projections.
AFL Statcast Data
- 71.4 Bat Speed
- 50.8% Hard-Hit Rate
- 76.5% Z-Swing Rate
Cam Collier – Cincinnati Reds
Collier has been a hyped prospect since being taken in the first round out of junior college after taking the Bryce Harper route out of high school. He shows multiple positive tools, including good defense, a strong arm, plus power, and a patient approach. He recorded the third-highest exit velocity of the AFL season at 115.3 mph and doubled on a 109 mph 1-1 slider. The biggest critiques are that his contact currently plays more to ground balls than game power, and he can get overly patient in early counts.
AFL Statcast Data
- 74.5 Bat Speed
- 63.1% Z-Swing Rate
- 6.6° Avg. LA
C Grades (MLB Potential)
Braden Montgomery – Chicago White Sox
One of the top hitting prospects at the AFL, Montgomery showed a patient approach and limited chase. This approach gives him a strong offensive foundation, though I did note multiple whiffs on pitches on the outer half of the plate. How the bat plays against higher-quality pitching will ultimately determine his ceiling. Overall, Montgomery’s best trait seems to be his willingness to take his walks. Have him as a player I need to watch more in 2026 to get a better feel for his bat.
AFL Statcast Data
- 71.1 Bat Speed
- 13.0% Chase Rate
- 17.9% Barrel Rate
Sam Antonacci – Chicago White Sox
Antonacci has an incredibly balanced swing with an open stance and loose hands. He consistently put the ball in play early in counts and showed a strong feel for using the whole field. The offensive profile carries a high floor, but the ceiling is capped by limited power output unless the approach changes.
AFL Statcast Data
- 69.8 Bat Speed
- 92.7% Z-Contact Rate
- 11.5% Whiff Rate
Luke Adams – Milwaukee Brewers
Adams was a fun player to watch. Despite his size and unique stance, he stayed short to the ball and consistently put together good at-bats. One standout moment was an 0-2 count he worked into a 10-pitch plate appearance, ending with a two-run home run in the ninth. He also showed good instincts as a baserunner.
AFL Statcast Data
- 73.3 Bat Speed
- 13% Whiff Rate
- 19.5% Chase Rate
Blake Mitchell – Kansas City Royals
Mitchell impressed as an overall hitter. He did not look overmatched against a left-handed matchup against Hagen Smith and showed more gap-to-gap power than home run power, though his 116.5 Max EV suggests more could come. He has enough juice in the bat to move off catcher if needed.
AFL Statcast Data
- 73.0 Bat Speed
- 116.5 Max EV
- 35.7% Whiff Rate
Tony Blanco Jr – Pittsburg Pirates
A monster among men physically, Blanco stole the show at the AFL Home Run Derby with a record 122.9 mph home run. The power is real, but so is the swing-and-miss. He profiles as a true three-outcome bat and likely fits best as a DH at the next level.
AFL Statcast Data
- 75.4 Bat Speed
- 120.4 Max EV
- 41.3% Whiff Rate
Thomas Sosa – Baltimore Orioles
Sosa, larger than his 160 listing on FanGraphs, has natural tilt in his swing and drove low pitches well. He homered at 107.5 mph and just missed another on a changeup, but better velocity and fastballs up in the zone may challenge the swing as he moves up. Already has a plus arm and bat speed.
AFL Statcast Data
- 77.3 Bat Speed
- 18.0° Avg. LA
- 36% Whiff Rate
Jonny Farmelo – Seattle Mariners
Farmelo is a unique athlete with a strong, well-built frame. He generally does not chase much, though I did see him expand the zone on a 2-1 slider from Milbrandt. His standout hit during the time I watched was a 109.2 mph opposite-field single. On the basepaths, he looked jumpy and was nearly picked off multiple times, often relying more on raw speed and athleticism than refined instincts. He profiles to have above average power and speed along with solid walk rates, but I would expect volatility in his batting averages.
AFL Statcast Data
- 72.8 Bat Speed
- 20.4% Chase Rate
- 36.2% Whiff Rate
Ethan Petry – Washington Nationals
Petry has power traits, but head movement during the load may affect consistency. He. crushed a single at 114.6 mph and has tools worth monitoring as he gets more reps in 2026 (only 101 MiLB PA in 2025).
AFL Statcast Data
- 75.4 Bat Speed
- 114.8 Max EV
- 74.6% Contact Rate
Max Anderson – Detroit Tigers
Anderson was one of the standout performers, slashing .447/.609/.809 in 69 plate appearances. He has a compact swing and found consistent hard contact. His in-game power may be closer to average given a contact profile built more on line drives than lift. He is likely to end up at a corner defensively, though he lacks the typical power.
AFL Statcast Data
- 68.5 Bat Speed
- 71.1% Hard-Hit Rate
- 8.8° Avg. LA
Parks Harber – San Francisco Giants
A big-bodied hitter who still looks athletic for his size, Harber showed a patient approach and put together multiple quality at-bats in the limited time I saw him. I was impressed by an opposite-field home run that came on a 10-pitch at-bat. He has been on a tear since being traded from the Yankees and will get his first taste of the upper minors soon. He is an older prospect for the lower minors, but will be an interesting name to monitor as he gets tested against upper-minors pitching given the underlying power metrics.
AFL Statcast Data
- 72.9 Bat Speed
- 114.3 Max EV
- 25.6% Barrel Rate
Johanfran Garcia – Boston Red Sox
Garcia is an offense-first catcher with quick hands and plus raw power. He consistently produced hard contact including a line-drive single to right-center field (109 EV) and a lineout to left field a(111 EV). Still yet to play above High-A, I think Garcia’s bat will get him to the MLB even with some contact concerns.
AFL Statcast Data
- 73.3 Bat Speed
- 112.3 Max EV
- 68.6% Contact Rate
Aidan Smith – Tampa Bay Rays
Smith showed steady bat to ball ability and athleticism. The speed and defensive skills are present, but the power has yet to show up consistently in games. How the bat develops will determine whether he settles into an everyday role or depth option.
AFL Statcast Data
- 70.8 Bat Speed
- 92.8% Z-Contact Rate
- 3.1% Barrel Rate
Chris Suero – New York Mets
Suero is strong for his size and is a plus runner. He uses a big leg kick that he turns into aggressive swings at the plate, which can lead to hard contact but also results in chases and whiffs. I saw two line drives (112 & 105.3 EVs) on 0-2 counts showing his ability to capitalize on mistakes. Suero has tools across the board and athleticism that gives him multiple role pathways if the contact improves.
AFL Statcast Data
- 74.6 Bat Speed
- 112.5 Max EV
- 32.8% Whiff rate
Josh Adamczewski – Milwaukee Brewers
Adamczewski showed aggression in the zone with a smooth left-handed swing. He showed strong at-bats and confidence, highlighted by a 3-0 grand slam after striking out twice earlier in a game as well as a game-tying double in the AFL Championship. He may struggle against left-handed breaking pitches but profiles as a versatile role bat.
AFL Statcast Data
- 68.3 Bat Speed
- 17.1% Chase Rate
- 68.1% Z-Swing Ring
Charlie Pagliarini – Seattle Mariners
Pagliarini’s swing generates elite bat speed, but the mechanics come with contact tradeoffs. He has a twitchy swing, and his body starts in a closed, loaded stance, with his load mostly a leg lift and forward drift. The power shows up in flashes, though contact inconsistency and defensive fit limit his role projection.
AFL Statcast Data
- 78.1 Bat Speed
- 15.6% Barrel Rate
- 18.8° Avg. LA
Logan Wagner – Los Angeles Dodgers
Wagner showed a good feel for the strike zone and hunted fastballs early. He has a smooth swing with a small leg kick and a neutral stance. Wagner spent most of his time at first base during the AFL and has also spent time in the past at 2B/3B/SS. The bat itself may not profile strongly enough for a corner-only role, but his plate discipline and contact could make him an utility infielder.
AFL Statcast Data
- 70.8 Bat Speed
- 19.8% Chase Rate
- 21.3% Whiff Rate
Josh Kasevich– Toronto Blue Jays
Kasevich was one of the more experienced prospects at the AFL having already played in the upper minors. He has a simple setup and makes consistent quality contact by getting the barrel on plane early. He does not consistently create lift or backspin to generate over-the-fence power and profiles best as a second baseman or infield depth.
AFL Statcast Data
- 67.3 Bat Speed
- 83.3% Contact Rate
- 0.0% Barrel Rate
Dylan Campbell – Philadelphia Phillies
Campbell doesn’t have your typical projectable frame, but still hit the ball hard consistently. Campbell showed feel for pitches up and down the middle of the zone and drove the ball to all fields including homeruns to center field and right field. He is an average to above-average runner with a limited ceiling as his body does not project well.
AFL Statcast Data
- 73.6 Bat Speed
- 72.0% Contact Rate
- 38.6% Swing-rate
Owen Ayers – Chicago Cubs
Ayers showed quality at-bats and strong defensive actions, including catching multiple runners stealing. Had multiple quality at bats and EVs over 100 including a 110.6mph lineout. He is older for his level, but will be an interesting name to watch as he faces upper-minors competition given the combination of defensive value and strong underlying metrics.
AFL Statcast Data
- 74.2 Bat Speed
- 15.8% Chase Rate
- 18.3% Whiff Rate
D Grades (Organizational Depth)
Daniel Vasquez – Kansas City Royals
Vasquez showed athleticism and opposite-field contact, but the offensive profile does not project to meaningful MLB impact. He looks to have put on more muscle than the 150 would have you think. He did put together some strong at bats against top pitching including a 107 mph single against Hagen Smith.
AFL Statcast Data
- 67.5 Bat Speed
- -2.0° Avg. LA
- 88.6% Z-Contact Rate
Enrique Bradfield – Baltimore Orioles
Bradfield showed a new and unorthodox setup in the AFL, with his hands in front of his face and the knob pointing at the pitcher. He also has a good amount of loft in his swing for a player with his kind of speed, which led to a lot of routine fly outs. Fouled off and missed balls in the middle of the zone, showing less contact than expected. The flyball heavy approach and holes in the swing limit how often his speed can impact the game.
AFL Statcast Data
- 66.4 Bat Speed
- 78.8% Contact Rate
- 0.0% Barrel rate
Brailer Guerrero – Tampa Bay Rays
Guerrero has plus bat speed and raw power but showed swing-and-miss tendencies in his limited 29 plate appearances. At the plate he has a simple setup with his hands on his shoulders but can possibly lose his timing with a large leg kick. He is already physically mature and do not expect more physical projection. He remains a long-term development project.
AFL Statcast Data
- 73.5 Bat Speed
- 64.2% Contact Rate
- -30.5° Avg. LA
Jansel Luis – Arizona Diamondbacks
Luis made plenty of contact but without impact. The bat projects below average, and he remains raw defensively. At the AFL he primarily played 3B and SS but hss also mixed in at 2B. Needs time to physically mature and find a long term position
AFL Statcast Data
- 69.6% Bat Speed
- 91.6% Z-Contact Rtae
- 0.5° Avg. LA
PJ Morlando – Miami Marlins
Morlando looks the part physically but did not consistently impact the ball. His standout at bat I saw was a 10 pitch walk that started off 0-2 against Jakob Wright (LHP). He needs more offensive and defensive reps after limited pro experience.
AFL Statcast Data
- 73.0 Bat Speed
- 39.8% Whiff Rate
- 27.2% Chase Rate
Brayden Taylor – Tampa Bay Rays
Taylor worked deep counts and drew walks but struggled to square up pitches consistently. His lofty swing with flyball tendencies and limited contact significantly impacts his ability to hit for a decent average. Mixing in time at 3B and 2B, the profile fits organizational depth.
AFL Statcast Data
- 70.4 Bat Speed
- 31.1% Whiff Rate
- 24.5° Avg. LA
Maui Ahuna – San Francisco Giants
Ahuna struggled to make quality contact and was frequently beaten inside by AFL pitching. Though fine defensively at SS and 2B, the bat does not currently project to stick at the MLB level.
AFL Statcast Data
- 36.4% Whiff Rate
- 29.2% Chase Rate
- 0.0% Barrel Rate
Travis Honeyman – St. Louis Cardinals
Honeyman put the ball in play frequently but lacked consistent quality contact. There is a lot going on in his swing with his head and body movement which I think will be an issue against top level pitching. He primarily played CF and does not have the bat to profile in the corner outfield. He profiles as organizational depth.
AFL Statcast Data
- 70.2 Bat Speed
- 30.3% Hard-Hit Rate
- 20.7% Whiff Rate
Brandon Winokur– Minnesota Twins
Winokur’s long levers create challenges against higher-level pitching. He likely shifts to a corner role, with the bat being the main question.
AFL Statcast Data
- 73.5 Bat Speed
- 43.2% Whiff rate
- 37.2% Chase rate
Billy Amick – Minnesota Twins
Amick showed significant swing-and-miss and struggled to impact hittable pitches. The profile faces steep challenges moving forward as he gets ready to test the upper minors.
AFL Statcast Data
- 67.6 Bat Speed
- 46.6% Whiff Rate
- 10.0% Hard-Hit Rate