The Arizona Fall League opens its 34th season on Oct. 3, and the six-club circuit will again serve as a late-season proving ground for prospects who are either already on the national board or looking to force their way onto it. Dodgers outfielder Eduardo Quintero, Tigers outfielder Zyhir Hope and White Sox third baseman/outfielder Caleb Bonemer arrive among the Top 100 names, but Arizona has always made room for players who show up with less noise and leave with a much bigger profile.
The result
More than 3,000 Fall League alumni have reached the Major Leagues, and last autumn supplied another reminder that the league can move a player quickly. Sam Antonacci, Jake Bennett and Esmerlyn Valdez entered the circuit without broad prospect acclaim, then used their Arizona performances as a springboard before succeeding as Major League rookies this season.
Owen Ayers made an even sharper climb. The catcher was 24 and had not played beyond Single-A when he reported last fall. He earned the AFL’s Breakout Player of the Year honor and has since become a Top 100 prospect.
This year’s under-the-radar group has plenty of hitters with impact bats, a pair of unusually athletic outfielders in Scottsdale and several pitchers carrying either premium stuff or a significant health story.
Behind the plate and around the infield
-
Boston Smith, C, Peoria (Mariners): Smith has already changed organizations twice. In his first full professional season, he posted a .274/.424/.566 line and hit 31 home runs. That production gives Peoria a catcher with patience and real damage potential.
-
Myles Bailey, 1B, Mesa (Cubs): Bailey showed the loudest raw power and the strongest exit-velocity marks in the 2026 Draft class. His Fall League assignment follows his recovery from a broken ankle.
-
Luke Hill, 2B, Surprise (Guardians): Hill built his reputation at Mississippi on command of the strike zone and consistent contact. In his first full season in pro ball, he added more pop to that foundation.
-
Chase Harlan, 3B, Glendale (Dodgers): Harlan is gaining ground among third-base prospects, turning elite raw power into game production. He hit 14 homers in 86 games this season.
-
Wyatt Sanford, SS, Glendale (Pirates): Sanford brings a dependable glove and a bat that made a major second-year jump. After recording a .760 OPS with five homers in 64 games during his debut season, he delivered a .963 OPS and 19 home runs over 77 games in year two.
Outfielders built for Arizona
Scottsdale will have two of the league’s most dynamic athletes. Giants outfielder Dakota Jordan offers perhaps the broadest all-around tool package in the circuit, led by top-of-the-scale raw power and speed. Brewers outfielder Braylon Payne is in similar company physically, with an argument for the Minor Leagues’ best blend of exit velocity and running ability.
Surprise’s Zion Rose, the sixth overall selection in the 2026 Draft, adds another high-ceiling outfielder. The Royals prospect brings a combination of hitting feel, raw strength and athleticism that should play well in the Arizona environment.
Mesa’s Breyson Guedez will serve as a designated hitter. The Athletics teenager is considered unusually polished at the plate for his age, and he supplied a memorable look at his strength during Spring Breakout with a 425-foot home run.
Arms with a chance to rise
-
Briggs McKenzie, LHP, Glendale (Braves): McKenzie enters Arizona as a strong candidate to take a step forward in 2027. His slider stands out for both spin and sharp sweep.
-
Patrick Forbes, RHP, Salt River (Diamondbacks): Forbes was dominant in his professional debut when available, though elbow and flexor trouble sidelined him for three months. His Fall League work will bring a close look at how he returns.
-
Sam Horn, RP, Glendale (Dodgers): Horn was once Missouri’s quarterback and showed first-round-caliber pitching ability in college. His path has included Tommy John surgery and a fractured tibia, making the Arizona innings another important chapter for the right-hander.
The Fall League’s calendar is short, but its value is often found in the players who arrive with something unfinished. For this group, October offers at-bats and innings against quality competition, along with the chance to make a longer-term impression before the offseason settles in.
