Ranking The 10 Hottest Arizona Fall League Prospects

Image credit: Kevin McGonigle (Photo by Bill Mitchell)

We’re continuing our usual Hot Sheet installments into the fall by ranking the hottest prospects in the Arizona Fall League each week. Contributing this week were BA staffers Geoff Pontes, Josh Norris, Jesús Cano and Ian Cundall.

Just as with our regular in-season Hot Sheet, our weekly AFL list simply recognizes how the hottest prospects in the minors did in the past week—it’s not a re-ranking of the Baseball America Top 100 Prospects.

We host our weekly Hot Sheet Show on YouTube at 3:30 p.m. ET on Mondays.

1. Kevin McGonigle, SS, Tigers

Team: Scottsdale
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .462/.533/1.308 (6-for-13), 6 R, 0 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 7 RBIs, 2 BB, 0 SO

The Scoop: The league’s best player had the league’s best week. McGonigle, who ranks behind only Pittsburgh’s Konnor Griffin in the hierarchy of the sport’s best prospects, has been outstanding all fall in the desert, but this week he took the cake. In just three games, he hit a triple and three home runs, moving his extra-base hit total from eight to 12 in the process. McGonigle didn’t strike out, either, leaving him with just 10 punch outs in 81 AFL plate appearances. (JN)

2. Carson Roccaforte, OF, Royals

Team: Surprise Saguaros
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: .417/.429/1.000 (5-for-12), 2 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 1 BB, 4 SO

The Scoop: It took until early November for Roccaforte to finally leave the yard for the first time this fall. But when the Royals prospect found his power stroke, he didn’t stop at one. The 23-year-old went deep in back-to-back games, flashing the pop that produced 18 homers during the regular season. However, lingering swing-and-miss concerns have kept him from fully translating his power into consistent in-game production. Roccaforte is hitting .292/.407/.508 with a .915 OPS. (JC)

3. Sam Antonacci, 2B, White Sox

Team: Glendale Desert Dogs
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .545/.688/.818 (6-for-11), 7 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 2 BB, 2 SO, 2-for-2 SB

The Scoop: With just a few games left in the AFL season, Antonacci is putting a bow on an outstanding 2025 campaign. This past week, he logged a pair of three-hit games, scoring an impressive seven runs over 13 plate appearances. He homered on Friday in his final game of the week, smacking a trio of hard-hit balls, including a single at 107.1 mph. Antonacci isn’t known for his power, as his plus bat-to-ball skills and speed are his carrying tools. He does, however, show average underlying exit velocity data, hinting at untapped power. Antonacci reached Double-A in 2025, spending 49 games there and producing a line 52% better than the average Southern League hitter. (GP)

4. Christopher Suero, C, Mets

Team: Scottsdale
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .500/.571/.750 (6-for-12), 4 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 2 BB, 1 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: Suero slugged his fifth home run on Nov. 5 and finds himself tied with Kevin McGonigle for second in the league heading into the final week of the AFL season. During the minor league season, Suero produced impressive exit velocities and consistently hit the ball at good angles. That has carried over to the AFL, as this latest home run was measured at 107.7 mph with a 42 degree launch angle. He also added his seventh stolen base this week, continuing to show an intriguing power/speed combination for a catcher. (IC)

5. Enmanuel Tejeda, 2B, Yankees

Team: Mesa Solar Sox
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .667/.692/.750 (8-for-12), 3 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 4 RBIs, 1 BB, 1 SO, 5-for-5 SB

The Scoop: Tejeda made headlines on Nov. 4 by going 5-for-6 with three stolen bases in a game against Scottsdale. According to the league, Tejeda’s effort was a bit of box scorigami, as it marked the first time anyone in the AFL had paired five hits with three steals. Such a feat hadn’t happened in the minor leagues since Diamondbacks prospect Jakey Josepha turned the trick in the Arizona Complex League. Overall, Tejeda’s AFL has been a tale of two months. The infielder had just seven hits in 14 October games. In November, he’s up to 10 hits in four games. (JN)

6. Trenton Denholm, RHP, Guardians

Team: Surprise Saguaros
Age: 25
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Denholm entered the AFL with a focus on refining his knuckleball, hoping it could become a reliable part of his arsenal. While he generated two outs with the pitch this week, the righthander has continued to fool hitters all fall with his diverse mix. The 25-year-old struck out six in his latest outing, leaning on a deceptive changeup, heavy sinker, sharp curveball and a well-placed fastball-cutter combination to keep opponents off balance. (JC)

7. Patrick Clohisy, OF, Braves

Team: Glendale Desert Dogs
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: .429/.467/.500 (6-for-14), 4 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 4 RBIs, 1 BB, 1 SO, 4-for-4 SB

The Scoop: Clohisy had 79 stolen bases during the regular season, which was good for third in all of the minors. He entered the week tied with Enrique Bradfield for the AFL lead with 17, but regained it outright with a 4-for-4 stolen base performance. He also had a pair of multi-hit games, including a four-hit performance on Nov. 5. Clohisy continued to show solid contact skills, as well, striking out only once. His 13% strikeout rate is seventh-lowest of all qualified hitters in the AFL. (IC)

8. Chen-Wei Lin, RHP, Cardinals

Team: Glendale Desert Dogs
Age: 24
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 6.57, 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: A native of Taiwan, Lin made waves after signing with the Cardinals, impressing with solid command and a fastball that would regularly hit 100 mph. After an outstanding 2024, Lin struggled in 2025 as his command backed up. Things have been up and down for Lin in the Arizona Fall League, but his start on Thursday was likely his best. He went three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out five. The 6-foot-7 Lin has above-average extension, sits mid 90s on a four-seam fastball that touches 101 mph and also blends in a slider and changeup. (GP)

9. Hagen Smith, LHP, White Sox

Team: Glendale Desert Dogs
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: All fall, Smith has been splendid. This past week was no exception. As the league winds toward its conclusion, the White Sox lefty spun a pair of perfect innings against Peoria on Nov. 4. The outing was Smith’s first of the AFL without allowing a walk. He was a whiff machine against Javelinas, getting nine misses on 14 swings, including a 6-for-7 mark with his fastball. All told, Smith now has 21 strikeouts in 14 AFL innings, and he’s allowed just four runs (all earned) on seven hits and six walks. (JN)

10. Luis De Leon, LHP, Orioles

Team: Peoria Javelinas
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: De Leon has enjoyed a notable AFL season. The Orioles lefthander started the Fall Stars game for the American League and ranks third in the league in strikeouts. De Leon has navigated the tricky run environments of the Arizona Fall League well. He made one appearance last week, striking out four over two innings and not allowing a run. He sat 94-96 mph, mixing a four-seam and a two-seam variation on his fastball. De Leon’s sinker gets true sink with heavy armside run, while his changeup features true negative vertical break with up to 20 inches of armside run. De Leon’s primary breaking ball is a mid-80s slider with cut. (GP)