Welbyn Francisca wasted no time making a statement in the Arizona Fall League, and Jarlin Susana did the same from the mound.
The Guardians’ infielder and the Nationals’ right-hander were named the league’s Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, after strong opening performances in Week 1 of the 2026 AFL season. Francisca did his damage for the Surprise Saguaros, while Susana powered the Salt River Rafters with his arm.
Francisca’s week started with a burst that was hard to ignore: a five-hit game in his first outing in the desert. From there, he kept piling up production and finished the week leading the circuit in average (.556), slugging (.944) and OPS (1.563). He also drove in seven runs across four games.
The 20-year-old’s hot start fit right into the larger story of his rise this year. Francisca reached Double-A before the end of the regular season after climbing three levels in 2026. He closed the year with an .879 OPS and 19 home runs in 79 games.
Most of Francisca’s season came with High-A Lake County, where he hit 13 homers and posted a .277/.356/.538 line with 31 extra-base hits and 49 RBIs in 65 games. He then finished the year at Double-A Akron, where he was one of the youngest players in the Eastern League.
Susana’s path has been a little different. Health has been the main obstacle, but when he’s been available, the stuff has spoken loudly. In Week 1, the Nationals’ No. 4 prospect struck out eight and gave up just one earned run over 5 2/3 innings across two starts.
He also turned heads with the radar gun. Susana hit 103.4 mph with his fastball in his first start, then came back with one clocked at 103.8 mph.
The heater is already a problem, and his slider makes it even nastier. That pitch has regularly been sitting between 2,900 and 3,000 rpm, giving him a brutal one-two punch for hitters to deal with.
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