Throughout October and November in the Phoenix metropolitan area, exciting prospects are everywhere. If you’re already subscribed to this newsletter, you likely know that.
At MLB Pipeline, we’re closely following the six-week showcase that runs from Opening Day on Oct. 7 through the Championship Game on Nov. 16. We’re rolling out our Fall League Overviews, providing updates and quotes from prospects representing all 30 farm systems in the desert this fall. We’re also present at every game across the Valley of the Sun, from Surprise in the northwest to Mesa in the southeast.
Part of the job is witnessing and sharing insights on the top talents here. The abundance of skills got me thinking: what if we combined the best attributes of the Fall League players into one ultimate position player? A sort of prospect “Voltron” (or “Megazord” for Power Rangers fans). Let’s give it a try:
Hit: Colt Emerson, SS, Mariners (60 grade)
The 22nd overall pick in the 2023 Draft quickly rose to the top of Seattle’s prospect rankings following an impressive start to his first full season at Single-A Modesto, where he hit .293 with a .440 on-base percentage. He displayed excellent plate discipline, drawing 35 walks while striking out just 27 times in 40 games.
Although injuries, including a broken left foot and an oblique issue, slowed him down at High-A Eugene, he’s regained momentum in the Fall League.
By Monday, seven of his 10 batted balls surpassed the hard-hit exit velocity mark of 95 mph, and he had only swung and missed on three of 24 pitches captured by Statcast. His six doubles were also the most in the league, tripling anyone else’s total through four games.
While it’s still early, these results align with his scouting report. Emerson’s sharp eye and smooth left-handed swing produce line drives all over the field. The next challenge will be generating more lift to turn those hard-hit balls into home runs. However, he just turned 19 in July, and there’s a plan for that in Seattle’s Build-A-Prospect model…
Power: Xavier Isaac, 1B, Rays (65)
You can’t go wrong choosing between Isaac or Jac Caglianone, the 2024 sixth overall pick. Some might even argue for Kemp Alderman, the Marlins’ No. 12 prospect, who hit five home runs in the AFL’s first week. Caglianone showed impressive power at Florida, hitting 68 homers in his last two seasons and leading Division I with 33 in 2023.
However, Isaac gets the nod here because of his proven performance in pro ball with wood bats. As the No. 36 overall prospect, he has a career .497 slugging percentage in the Minors, and despite reaching Double-A in his second full season, he hasn’t played in a hitter-friendly league yet.
Lance Brozdowski pointed out in a YouTube analysis that Isaac had an average exit velocity of 94.0 mph across High-A and Double-A, the highest in the Minors for players with 200 or more balls in play. That’s comparable to MLB stars like Juan Soto (94.2), Ketel Marte (94.0), and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (93.8), and even higher than Yordan Alvarez (93.1) and Bobby Witt Jr. (92.7).
Isaac’s impressive contact skills are significant, even though he struggled with strikeouts this summer, particularly in Double-A, where he had a 40.6% strikeout rate. But pairing his power with Emerson’s hit tool minimizes that concern. Isaac is excited to take his power to the Fall League, and he could thrive in the desert air.
Run: Zyhir Hope, OF, Dodgers (70)
Many in the industry have identified Hope as a potential breakout player this fall. Selected in the 11th round of the 2023 draft, he boasts four tools that are graded 55 or higher.
He impressed during his time with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, hitting .287/.415/.490 over 54 games, despite being hindered by a left shoulder injury. His most notable asset is his speed, which is rated as plus-plus. Although he was efficient on the bases in the Cal League, stealing eight bases in 10 attempts, it’s possible his shoulder injury, which could be aggravated by headfirst slides, limited his aggressiveness.
Hope was acquired from the Cubs in last offseason’s trade for Michael Busch. His home-to-first times range from 4.0 to 4.1 seconds, and his exceptional range positions him as a potential center-field option for Glendale and beyond.
Arm: Brock Wilken, 3B, Brewers (65)
Wilken’s power was his standout trait coming out of Wake Forest, where he set the ACC career record with 71 home runs over three seasons. This was a key factor in his selection by Milwaukee with the 18th overall pick in the 2023 draft.
Although his below-average speed might suggest a potential shift from third to first base, his strong arm continues to earn him opportunities at third. Some scouts gave his arm a top-tier grade before the Draft, and that evaluation has proven accurate in the Fall League, where Statcast recorded two of his infield throws exceeding 86 mph on soft grounders.
Field: Edwin Arroyo, SS, Reds (60)
Tre’ Morgan is regarded as the top defensive first baseman in the Minors, while Ethan Salas receives praise for his impressive ability to manage pitchers at such a young age. However, if we were to build the ideal prospect, we’d choose shortstop—a crucial position that doesn’t require constant crouching.
Arroyo’s exceptional body control and his skill in chasing down balls deep in the hole earned him a spot in the Top 100. Unfortunately, a torn labrum in his left shoulder during Spring Training prevented us from seeing those abilities on the Minor League field this season. Now back with Glendale, Arroyo is working to regain lost ground, and since the injury was to his non-throwing arm, his defense at shortstop could recover quickly.
With that, we complete the profile of a five-tool prospect at a premium position—essentially crafting a player like Witt using various talents from across Arizona.
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