I’m out in Arizona with the Arizona Fall League set to open, and there’s already no shortage of buzz around the circuit. Three games are on tap Saturday, and the 2026 campaign will run all the way through the Championship Game on November 14.
If you’re looking for the most eye-catching roster in the league, Surprise stands out immediately. The Saguaros added three Top 100 names late: Rangers infielder Sebastian Walcott, Phillies shortstop Aidan Miller and Royals outfielder Angeibel Gomez.
Walcott, the Rangers’ No. 1 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 8 overall, and Miller, Philadelphia’s No. 2 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 59 overall, were both originally expected to be in the AFL a year ago. Miller never made it because his back was already bothering him, while Walcott logged just one game before what was first described as arm fatigue turned out to be a torn elbow ligament that required internal brace surgery.
Gomez is the real curveball. The Royals’ No. 2 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 76 overall was one of the more impressive players in the Dominican Summer League, where he posted a 1.120 OPS, but sending a player from the DSL straight to the AFL before he has played in the United States is a rare move. He’ll be 17 for the entire Fall League season, making him the second-youngest player ever to appear in the league.
After Surprise, Glendale would be the next team to circle. The Desert Dogs have four Top 100 prospects, including Dodgers outfielder Eduardo Quintero, Dodgers outfielder Charles Davalan, White Sox infielder Caleb Bonemer and Braves infielder Tate Southisene.
Quintero, MLB Pipeline’s No. 15 overall prospect, and Davalan, ranked No. 79, give Glendale a strong Dodgers presence, while Bonemer checks in at No. 27 and Southisene at No. 58.
One of the more interesting Fall League debates centers on the MVP race, and history leans in a specific direction. Since prospect rankings began in 2004 - and after the list expanded from a Top 50 to a Top 100 in 2012 - there have been 21 AFL seasons to study, excluding 2020, when there was no league because of the pandemic. The past suggests a non-Top 100 player has the better shot at using the AFL as a true breakout stage.
There are a few exceptions worth noting. Braves right-hander Tommy Hanson won MVP in 2008 and landed in the Top 100 the next year.
Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado did the same after his 2011 MVP season. Tigers catcher/first baseman Josue Briceño won the award in 2024 and was a Top 100 prospect in 2025.
Heston Kjerstad also deserves mention, since he had already been on the Top 100 before his AFL run, dropped off because of health issues, and then returned to the list in 2023 after his MVP season the year before.
Jim Callis and I both went with Top 100 prospects to win this year’s award, with Callis backing Caleb Bonemer and me picking Ike Irish. Still, the longer view says the award has been a better springboard for players outside the Top 100 than for those already carrying elite prospect status.
As for the question about Twins infielder Kaelen Tait, he’s not back on the Top 100, though he remains a talented player with plenty of upside. He sits No. 6 on Minnesota’s Top 30 after being acquired in the Jhoan Duran trade deadline deal in July 2025. Tait spent most of his first full season with the Twins organization at age 19 in High-A Cedar Rapids, more than three years younger than the average hitter in the Midwest League, and still managed to finish sixth in the league with 22 homers.
The issue is approach. Tait has always been aggressive, and while that came with some contact ability early in his career, he’s continued to chase too often.
In 2026, that showed up again: a 35 percent chase rate, more strikeouts and fewer walks. His 119/35 K/BB line helped drag him to a .221 average, a .699 OPS and a 74 wRC+.
There are also questions about his receiving, which is why he slipped off the Top 100.
Even so, the power is real, especially to the pull side, and he’ll still be only 20 in 2027. That leaves time for him to clean things up and work his way back onto the Top 100 down the road.
The final set of questions focused on players who could reach the majors soon, and Brewers infielder Jesús Made looks like the closest thing to a sure bet. After a very solid age-19 season in Double-A, and with Milwaukee’s track record of pushing its young talent, the expectation is that he’ll reach the big leagues in 2027. He’d benefit from getting plenty of work at third base this offseason, especially with Joey Ortiz and David Hamilton currently sharing the hot corner.
Between Ryan Sloan and Seth Hernandez, Sloan gets the slight edge for now because he spent the full season in Double-A last year and has more than 100 additional professional innings. Hernandez, who would have finished 2026 in Double-A if not for an injury, could move fast once he gets there, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he pitches well enough in 2027 to earn a shot in Pittsburgh before long. Long term, Hernandez may have the higher ceiling, but both pitchers project as potential elite big league starters.
In Other News...
Twins Farm System Just Put Two Important Names On Notice
Walker Jenkins rise through the Twins system kept moving this season, and the organization made the progress official by naming the young outfielder its Minor League Player of the Year. After a strong minor league campaign and an August call to the majors, Jenkins continued to show why he is viewed as one of the most important pieces in the clubs long-term picture, pairing eye-catching offense in the minors with a promising first taste of big league action.
Adrian Bohorquez also forced his way into the conversation after a season that required him to overcome injuries before settling in and throwing well at both High-A and Double-A. The right-handers work earned him the Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Year honor, and together with Jenkins, he gave the farm system a pair of names that should keep drawing attention as Minnesota looks for more help on the horizon. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Prospect Rankings Reveal A Fast-Changing Race To Target Field
The Twins prospect picture looks a lot different now than it did a year ago, and not just because several of the organizations biggest names have already made the leap to the majors. Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper and Emmanuel Rodriguez are no longer waiting in the queue, which has reshaped the conversation around who is next in line for Target Field and how much help the system can still provide in the near future.
In the latest rankings, Hendry Mendez and Riley Quick are the clearest risers after strong seasons that boosted their standing, while Eduardo Tait slid despite some encouraging signs in his game. It leaves Minnesota with a farm system that is still producing intrigue, but with the race for the next wave of impact talent changing quickly as evaluators sort out who is truly advancing and who still has more proving to do. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Fans Sent A Clear Message The Team Cant Ignore
The numbers at Target Field told a blunt story this season, and the Twins could not paper over it with giveaways or cheaper ballpark food. Minnesota finished with its lowest full-season attendance at the park, drawing 1,733,203 fans, a drop of 35,525 from a year ago even after the club rolled out promotions designed to make games more appealing and easier on the wallet.
Tom Pohlad has already acknowledged the attendance issues, and the message from the stands is hard to miss: fans want a better product before they fully buy back in. The front office can tweak the experience around the margins, but the real fix, as Pohlad noted, has to come from stronger play on the field if the Twins are going to stop this slide and bring more people back through the gates. [Read more 🡒]