Two of the better prospects in baseball, Kevin McGonigle of the Detroit Tigers and Sebastian Walcott of the Texas Rangers, highlight the rosters of the Arizona Fall League, which began its 33rd season this week at ballparks across the Valley.
McGonigle and Walcott, both shortstops, rank second and sixth, respectively, on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects list. In all, 11 of Pipeline’s Top 100 are in the league.
The fall league is known as the “finishing school” for top prospects, with many of the top players in the majors making stops in the league.
Who are the best prospects in the fall league?
McGonigle (Scottsdale) and Walcott (Surprise) are the clear-cut most well-regarded players in this year’s league.
McGonigle, 21, put up monster numbers at three stops in the minors this year, topping out at Double-A. He hit a combined .305/.408/.583 with 19 homers and 31 doubles and more walks (59) than strikeouts (46).
Walcott held his own at Double-A Frisco despite playing the entire year at age 19. He hit .255 with 13 homers in 474 at-bats. Tall and long-levered, Walcott is sometimes compared to Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz.
Other top prospects in the fall league include Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Josue De Paulo (Glendale), Chicago White Sox outfielder Braden Montgomery (Glendale) and Colorado Rockies first baseman/outfielder Charlie Condon (Salt River).
Who are the Diamondbacks’ top prospects in the fall league?
The Diamondbacks’ most high-profile player is right-hander Drey Jameson, a hard-throwing reliever who has logged 68 innings in the majors but is playing in the fall league to make up for lost innings this year due to injury.
The club’s best pure prospect in the league is right-hander David Hagaman. Acquired from the Texas Rangers in the Merrill Kelly deal in July, he has flashed dominant stuff and impressive control, looking like a potential mid-rotation starter – if not more.
Other Diamondbacks prospects include infielder Jansel Luis, pitchers Yordin Chalas, Kyle Amendt, Lorenzo Encarnacion and Jacob Steinmetz, outfielder Jack Hurley and catcher Kenny Castillo.
All of the Diamondbacks prospects are on the Salt River Rafters.
Key dates for the 2026 Arizona Fall League season
Oct. 11: The fall league will play games in Tucson for the first time since 2002 when Kino Sports Complex hosts a tripleheader. Games begin at 12:30 p.m. with a matchup between Salt River and Surprise.
Oct. 18: Goodyear Ballpark will host a tripleheader of its own a week later on Saturday, Oct. 18. Glendale and Mesa kick things off at 12:30 p.m.
Nov 8: Home Run Derby at Sloan Park.
Nov. 9: AFL Fall Stars Game at Sloan Park.
Nov. 13: League quarterfinals at Scottsdale Stadium. For the first time, all six teams in the league will qualify for the postseason with the addition of a quarterfinal round. The top two finishers in the regular season advance to the semifinal round.
Nov. 14: League semifinals at Salt River Fields.
Nov. 15: League championship game at Salt River Fields.
For more information, visit the league’s web site at MLB.com.