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Articles by Jesse Borek
'He's been fun to watch': Braves' Southisene has not missed a beat since returning to action in desert
GLENDALE, Ariz. – Between the white lines, Tate Southisene is chaos. He rips the baseball from gap to gap, runs the bases at maximum intensity and is constantly engaged defensively. It’s a funny juxtaposition for a 20-year-old who, once the game ends, is as cool and calm as they come. “He can do everything -- play defense, take his walks, steal second, third, hit a home run, hit a ball in the gap.
Here's how every prospects fared in the AFL Fall Stars Game
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The 20th annual Fall Stars Game is in the books and it was a tightly contested showdown indicative of the considerable talent on both the American League and National League rosters. It was an eighth-inning breakout from the NL squad that firmly swung the pendulum its way en route to a 7-4 win at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.
Tigers' Long continues unlikely path forward with his stop in the Arizona Fall League
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – In late June, the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League were stuck in a rain delay. Once things resumed, they lost in extra innings and headed back to the locker room after 1 a.m. Maddox Long finally checked his phone and saw a handful of messages from his agent and his dad, so he jumped on FaceTime and got the news from his entire family seated inside his living room back home in Arkansas: The news that his pro ball journey had begun kicked off a whirlwind.
A’s prospect who was ‘born to hit’ bringing big smiles, intangibles to Fall League
MESA, Ariz. -- The third-youngest player in the 2026 Arizona Fall League might be the happiest on the entire circuit. Breyson Guedez, 19, wears a big smile in the on-deck circle, on the basepaths and in the outfield, and he is in constant motion in all those places. Scouts and evaluators talk about a prospect’s ability to keep an even keel as a mark in his favor. Watching Guedez, you’d never know that things haven’t gone his way offensively with the Mesa Solar Sox.
¿HR de un Soto con los Nacionales? El hermano menor de Juan brilla en la Liga Otoñal
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- Elián Soto se preparaba para terminar la noche, listo para descansar y recuperarse luego de otro día jugando béisbol en su natal República Dominicana. Soto había disfrutado de una campaña de revelación en el 2026, la cual incluyó un viaje a los playoffs con Clase-A Fredericksburg, pero su año aún no había terminado.
Is that a Soto homering in a Nats uniform? Juan's younger brother goes deep in Fall League
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Elian Soto was winding down for the night, ready to rest and recover following another day of playing ball back home in the Dominican Republic. Soto had enjoyed a breakout 2026 campaign, which included a trip to the playoffs with Single-A Fredericksburg, but his year wasn’t over yet. With one late-night phone call in October, the Nationals summoned the 20-year-old Soto back stateside, tabbing him for a brief stint with the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League.
How does Yanks' No. 1 prospect Kilby look? His AFL teammates, coaches are eager to share
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- During the Arizona Fall League, Dax Kilby has been everything the Yankees envisioned he could be when they selected him with the 39th overall pick in the 2025 Draft out of the Georgia high school ranks.
Brewers' homegrown success gives prospects something to dream on
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Nearly 2,200 miles away from Tropicana Field, where Brewers big leaguers streamed out of the dugout to celebrate the franchise’s first World Series championship, a handful of Minor League prospects huddled around a screen in the dugout at Scottsdale Stadium on Oct. 28 and kicked off their own celebration once they saw the 27th out of Game 5 of the World Series nestle into Jake Bauers’ mitt.
Top prospect duo of Walcott-Miller following in Harper-Trout footsteps in Arizona Fall League
SURPRISE, Ariz. – When Tennessee Ernie Ford crooned in 1955 “if the right one doesn’t getcha then the left will,” he was referring to the hard luck life of working in the mines where something striking felt inevitable.
Finally healthy, Barriera 'falling in love with' baseball all over again in AFL
MESA, Ariz. -- On the night that Toronto made Brandon Barriera the 23rd pick of the 2022 Draft, he was on top of the world. Attending the event in person, he rushed to hug his dad and boasted the youthful exuberance of a pitcher who had his sights set on a fast track through the Minor Leagues coming out of the Florida high school ranks. Four years later, he’s much calmer.
'I can do all of it': Braves prospect showcasing entire skill set in Fall League
GLENDALE, Ariz. – If you stood outside of North Atlanta High School and took off on a jog, you’d soon reach the gates of Truist Park, just 2.7 miles away. Isaiah Drake is hoping that his legs will carry him from campus to the baseball cathedral, albeit with some detours along the way -- the most recent being his stint with the Glendale Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League.
Twins prospect DeBarge displays 'maximum intensity' brand of play in Fall League
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Watch Kyle DeBarge and his No. 8 Twins uniform go somewhere on the diamond and two things stand out: He often looks like he just dived headlong into a puddle of mud, and everywhere he moves, he does it with maximum intensity. “I just try to play as hard as I can every single day,” DeBarge said.
Rangers' Walcott will venture into outfield during Arizona Fall League
SURPRISE, Ariz. – Hours before the Surprise Saguaros take the field during Arizona Fall League action, the club often takes batting practice and goes through infield and outfield drills. You most certainly hear when Sebastian Walcott is up, the thundering impact of the ball coming off his bat.
Road less traveled: Red Sox RHP prospect Blum capping unlikely first pro season in the desert
MESA, Ariz. -- No two paths to the Arizona Fall League are the same. But it’s difficult to chart a more improbable one than what Harry Blum undertook this year. Before standing on the mound in a Red Sox uniform under the Arizona sun in October, Blum was standing inside of a grocery store at work in February. Yet his roller-coaster ride to the desert started long before 2026. The COVID pandemic had long-lasting effects on college baseball.
Yankees' nondrafted RHP Etheridge building on momentum in Arizona Fall League
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- J.T. Etheridge left the Louisiana-Lafayette dugout on June 2, 2024, and figured that might be the end of his baseball journey. Looks from Major League organizations had been limited, and although he punched out 52 batters in 32 2/3 frames during his senior year, Etheridge ran a 5.20 ERA over two seasons, primarily as a reliever. Twenty rounds of the MLB Draft came and went without his name being called, but the Yankees stayed in contact over the weeks to come.
Prospecto venezolano de 17 años impresiona en la Liga Otoñal de Arizona
MESA, Arizona -- La Liga Otoñal de Arizona reúne año tras año a algunos de los mejores prospectos del béisbol. En esta edición, hay 15 integrantes de la lista de los 100 mejores prospectos en el desierto, incluidos algunos que pronto podrían convertirse en la cara de sus respectivas franquicias.
17-year-old Royals prospect Gomez showing off his 'incredible talent' in AFL
MESA, Ariz. – The Arizona Fall League is perennially stacked with the game’s top prospect talent on a yearly basis. This go-round, there are 15 members of the Top 100 list in the desert, including those who might soon go on to serve as the face of their respective franchises. Former big leaguer Daniel Robertson – who now serves as a coach in the Guardians' system – has had a dugout view of those players through the first three-plus weeks while serving as the manager for the Surprise Saguaros.
Cubs' catching prospect makes most of opportunity once again, this time in the AFL
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Miguel Useche was a first-team All-Southland performer for the University of New Orleans in 2024, having hit .349 with a 1.005 OPS with more walks than strikeouts. He figured that even if he didn't get an opportunity to get his pro career started via the MLB Draft, he could latch on as an nondrafted free agent shortly thereafter.
Guards' No. 19 prospect puts 'impact player' tools on display in Fall League
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- When the Guardians announced Welbyn Francisca as the headliner of their 2023 international signing class, he was seen as a prospect with enormous upside despite his modest stature. Even as a teenager, Francisca had oodles of bat speed, which gave credence to the idea that as he added strength and got more in-game reps, the power element of his game would emerge.
Orioles prospect Hamson sets sights on Olympics, MLB debut in 2028
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – A self-described beach boy from Gold Coast, Australia, Kailen Hamson had never been to America before he got on a plane and landed in St. Louis in 2021. His first reaction was that he had made a terrible mistake. “We had like a two-hour drive from the airport,” said Hamson. “I called [my] dad on the way and said, ‘Hey, I’m here for six months and then I’m getting out of here.’ He said, ‘Oh, just stick it out. You’ll be all right.’ And I’ve been all right.
Angels 6-foot-11 prospect Olejnik looking to reach new heights in Arizona Fall League
How in the world did a 6-foot-11 kid -- 7 feet in cleats! -- from basketball-mad Indiana become a full-time baseball player, forgoing the hardwood for the pitching rubber? The rest of the Olejnik clan is vertically inclined, but Peyton’s growth spurt came late. He played basketball in middle school but was mostly a point and shooting guard during his early teenage years.
Small-town West Virginia boy Kyle West has sights set on big-city Yankees
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Everyone knows one another in Hedgesville, West Virginia, which boasted a population of just 300 during the most recent census at the turn of the decade. There’s a Subway, a Burger King and three stop lights. There’s even a King’s New York Pizza, which in hindsight, could have been a harbinger of things to come for Kyle West, now a prospect making his way through the Yankees’ system. West is West Virginia through and through. He starred for the same Hedgesville (W.
This Dodgers prospect has all the tools to succeed -- can he put them together?
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Long after all of his Glendale Desert Dogs teammates had gone inside, Chase Harlan stood at the hot corner underneath the Arizona sun before Tuesday’s game and had infield coach Philip Caulfield pepper grounders to his left, right and in front of him. Even after a short hop drilled his hand, Harlan jogged back to his position drenched in sweat and immediately got down in his stance.
Devoted fan-turned-prospect hopes Fall League leads him to the Majors with Philly
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- There were 45,485 fans in Citizens Bank Park on Oct. 23, 2022 when Bryce Harper drilled his iconic go-ahead three-run homer in NLCS Game 5 to help send the Phillies to the World Series. One of them was Ryan Dromboski, a native of Hamilton, New Jersey, who is now repping the organization in the Arizona Fall League as he looks to make an impact for the club he grew up rooting for. Every ballplayer dreams of being drafted, and Dromboski was no different.
Braves' No. 8 prospect brings 'old school' mentality to club he grew up rooting for
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Briggs McKenzie thought the dream was over. Growing up as a Braves fan in North Carolina, he got to live out a childhood realization when he put pen to paper and signed with the organization as a fourth-round pick in the 2025 Draft, receiving an over-slot bonus of $3 million (roughly late first-round money) to forgo his commitment to LSU.
Cubs' 2025 third-rounder Reid running with six-pitch arsenal in Fall League
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- When the Cubs selected right-hander Dominick Reid in the third round of the 2025 Draft out of Abilene Christian, he was largely a two-pitch hurler. Just over a year after that selection, the club's No. 28 prospect is enjoying a spin through the Arizona Fall League while attempting to become a six-pitch hurler. Four-seamer. Sinker. Cutter. Curveball. Changeup. Sweeper (which Statcast logs as a slider). It's quite the ambitious arsenal.
Back from Tommy John, Orioles' No. 22 prospect shining in Fall League
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – In the summer of 2025, few pitching prospects in the Orioles system had momentum like Braxton Bragg. After torpedoing through three High-A outings without allowing an earned run, he got a promotion to Double-A Chesapeake. Once there, he ran a 59/12 K/BB ratio across 42 2/3 frames and posted a 2.32 ERA across nine outings (eight starts).
Nimmala celebrates final day as a 20-year-old with 4 hits, flirts with cycle
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – It was a remarkable and career-altering age-20 campaign for Arjun Nimmala. So it’s only fitting that he closed out being a 20-year-old in style. His first two knocks came against the Arizona Fall League’s top-ranked hurler, Jarlin Susana (WSH No. 4/MLB No. 66), who has already dialed his heater up to 103.8 mph in the past few weeks.
Red Sox infield prospect Anderson setting a definite 'Tone' in the desert
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Every autumn, the Arizona Fall League gives prospects who don’t appear on their respective clubs’ Top 30 lists a chance to really pop. Through the first two weeks of action, Antonio Anderson is the leader in the clubhouse for taking that invitation to show what he can do on a bigger stage and running with it. “I just play my game,” the Red Sox third-base prospect said.
Reds prospect Graham building on breakout campaign in Arizona Fall League
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Carter Graham was a two-time first-team All-Pac-12 selection during his tenure at Stanford, earning second and third team All-American honors from multiple outlets. But despite that, the former two-sport athlete -- who also excelled on the basketball court -- admitted that he didn’t have much of an approach at the plate entering pro ball when the Reds popped him in the eighth round of the 2023 Draft. That all changed this year.
A's LHP prospect Richardson shows off health and resiliency during Fall League homecoming
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The record books will always say that Grant Richardson recorded the first Division I NCAA Tournament win in Grand Canyon history. But that May 30, 2024 start was also the last one Richardson would make for almost two full years as he needed Tommy John surgery to repair a torn UCL in his left elbow. After serving as a hard-throwing reliever in 2023 and returning to that role to begin the following year, Richardson’s stuff began to pop, leading to a shift to the rotation.
Homegrown top prospect looking to make D-backs history after Fall League stint
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- No player has been born in Arizona, played high school ball in the state, been drafted by the Diamondbacks out of that program and gone on to debut with the hometown club. That all could change in 2027 as Nogales’ own Demetrio Crisantes knocks on the door of Chase Field, the ballpark he grew up dreaming of playing in.
'I want a pitch to hit': Sweet-swinging prospect Hill leads next wave of Guards talent in AFL
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Luke Hill was cold, both literally and figuratively in the batter's box. The High-A Midwest League can be relentless during the first month of the season with chillier temperatures wreaking havoc on players who spent Spring Training in the warm climates of Florida and Arizona. An 0-for-10 spell to open the year led to a month where he hit .176 with two extra-base hits. Notoriously aggressive at the dish, Hill decided that it was time to go back to basics.
Top White Sox prospects (and close friends) homer in same Fall League contest
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Baseball is the thread that connects Caleb Bonemer and Colby Shelton. They took different paths to the White Sox organization -- Bonemer was a second-round pick in the 2024 Draft from the Michigan prep ranks, Shelton was a sixth-round selection out of the University of Florida a year later. But they've become fast friends.
Nimmala embraces fast track, leads way for Halos talent in 'prestigious' Fall League
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- One moment, Arjun Nimmala was sleeping, a member of the Blue Jays organization. The next time he opened his eyes, he was a member of the Angels. Life -- and the Trade Deadline -- comes at you fast. Nimmala, now MLB’s No. 34 prospect, was swapped as part of a three-prospect package in exchange for All-Star right-hander José Soriano on Aug. 3. “I had no expectations, no thoughts going into Deadline day,” said Nimmala.
Reinvigorated and revamped Bloss headlines Blue Jays' Fall League contingent
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- It’s not often that players with big league reps under their belt embark on the Arizona Fall League.
Susana's high-octane velocity headlines Fall League's Week 1 top performers
The Minor League season may be over, but that doesn't mean the prospect action has stopped. The Arizona Fall League began its 34th iteration on Oct. 3, giving many of the game's future stars a platform to put their skills on display. Each week, we'll recap the circuit's top performers. The first edition features an extra handful of games boomeranged around from Opening Weekend.
This Blue Jays prospect has some of the best raw tools in the Fall League
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – In the span of time it takes to fold a bag of all-dressed chips and pop on a clip, Jake Cook ran the 30-yard dash at the MLB Draft Combine in June 2025. Zooming to an event-best time of 3.51 seconds, it was a lightning quick snapshot of how fast his rise has been.
Marlins' Fall League contingent led by dynamic 20-20 threat acquired in Weathers deal
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Back on Jan. 13, Dillon Lewis got a phone call: He was invited to Spring Training. A member of the Yankees, he began to pack his bags and exhale -- he made it through the offseason without getting traded. About four hours later, his phone rang again: He had been shipped to the Marlins as part of the four-prospect return in the Ryan Weathers trade. So, still bound for spring camp after all, albeit with a brand-new organization.
Consider O's RHP prospect Reilly both older and wiser after return from Tommy John surgery
There haven’t been many opportunities for Patrick Reilly to pitch on or around his birthday throughout his life, so he marked his 25th in style with a successful first outing for Peoria in the Arizona Fall League. With his dad, Mike, in town for the occasion, the two enjoyed a steak dinner on Wednesday. The Orioles prospect went to bed early, then mowed through a stout Glendale lineup on Thursday, striking out six over three frames of one-run ball.
Giants prospect Wentz's whirlwind first-year journey takes him to the desert
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- On July 12, Dalton Wentz was having a terrible time on the golf course with his dad. It wasn’t so much the 9-iron or his putter that was bugging him but the fact that Day 1 of the 2026 MLB Draft had come and gone and his name hadn’t been called. As Day 2 dragged on, he headed to the links and accepted that he might be heading back to college, his professional dreams deferred for at least another year. “My agent called me and he goes, ‘Congratulations,’” said Wentz.
National treasure: Jorgelys Mota showcases raw power with 455 foot homer in Fall League
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. –- Jorgelys Mota knows a thing or two about making a loud first impression. The Nationals prospect opened eyes across the organization when he demolished a 115 mph, 434-foot tape-measure shot during Grapefruit League action on Feb. 21, the hardest-hit and farthest home run hit by the club all spring. His first at-bat in the Arizona Fall League upped the ante.
Tooled-up O's prospect Honeycutt using Arizona Fall League as proving ground
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – It often takes longer than a couple years for a Draft class to make its impact felt at the Major League level, but the draftees chosen at the top in 2024 were no ordinary group. Travis Bazzana (No. 1 pick) and Chase Burns (No. 2) were All-Stars this season. Jac Caglianone (No. 6) was the American League’s Player of the Month in August. Hagen Smith (No. 5) has been a postseason star as a rookie, while Trey Yesavage (No. 20) was one in his own right last year.
D-backs' lefty prospect Ariola brings elite K rate to Arizona Fall League
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- There were 2,402 pitchers who accrued at least 30 innings this season across the Minor Leagues -- and nobody struck out a higher percentage of hitters than the D-backs' Joe Ariola (45.8%). The 6-foot-2 southpaw doesn't throw in the triple digits. He doesn’t spin the ball at an astronomically high rate. His extension is solid but not particularly notable. But he's intrinsically focused on winning the battle with two strikes in the count. Once there, he goes for the punchout.
Tigers' Peck refining craft on the diamond in Fall League
GLENDALE, Ariz. –- One of the unique difficulties the Arizona Fall League presents for hitters is the sheer variety of arms they have to face on an at-bat-to-at-bat basis, often without much prep. But name a full-season Tigers affiliate and John Peck played there in 2026 -- including a one-month stint in The Show. “It's just been a roller coaster of a year, ups and downs,” said Peck. “But it's all worked out.
Latest pivot takes promising Mets prospect Mathis to Arizona Fall League
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- No prospect ever expects to be traded but it’s particularly surprising when it happens in late June, far before the crunch of the Trade Deadline. Combating the timing oddity for Cole Mathis was that the Mets acquired him while he was on the injured list due to an achy left wrist.
LIVE: Angels' Nimmala squares off with O's Irish in AFL nightcap on Opening Day
Saturday marks Opening Day for the Arizona Fall League, which will enjoy its 34th season of action across the desert. The premier prospect circuit offers the game’s up-and-coming talent a chance to put their skills on display. Some players will be making up for lost time during the 2026 campaign. All of them will be setting the stage for ‘27.
The Arizona Fall League begins Saturday! Here's what you need to know
Saturday marks Opening Day for the Arizona Fall League, which will enjoy its 34th season of action across the desert. The premier prospect circuit offers the game’s up-and-coming talent a chance to put their skills on display. Some players will be making up for lost time during the 2026 campaign. All of them will be setting the stage for ‘27.
D-backs' No. 5 prospect adds to breakout year by catching shutout, mashing HR in playoffs
When Carlos Virahonda began the 2026 season, he was with Single-A Visalia, with whom he had finished the previous year. Viewed as an athletic and strong-armed backstop who had yet to see his power emerge during game action, the 20-year-old was literally half a country away from the upper Minors and the Double-A Texas League playoffs. But over the past five-plus months, Virahonda has emerged as the biggest breakout prospect in the D-backs system.
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