6 Arizona Fall League Players Flying Under The Radar

The Arizona Fall League might be baseballâ€s best-kept secret, but it also feels a bit like the Wild Southwest.

For every top prospect such as Kevin McGonigle, Sebastian Walcott, and Charlie Condon, there are just as many lesser-known players trying to make a name for themselves and one day earn a spot on a 40-man roster–either by impressing their organization, or one of the 29 others canvassing the circuit ahead of the roster deadline in November.

And while the headliners draw most of the attention, others have shown they can hang with the gameâ€s elite, turning the AFL into a proving ground where reputations are built and futures take shape.

Owen Ayers, C, Cubs

Ayers missed the final two months of the 2025 season because of surgery to repair a hamate injury. Before the setback, the 24-year-old was putting together a solid campaign, slashing .238/.341/.420 with six home runs and 47 RBIs. He wasted no time finding his rhythm after returning, earning AFL Player of the Week honors in his first week back. During his rehab, Ayers worked closely with Cubs hitting coach and former player Desi Wilson, emphasizing improved timing at the plate. In 65 games this season, Ayers posted a 90th percentile exit velocity of 104.5 mph while maintaining roughly league-average contact skills. Defensively, catching remains his primary area of growth. He only transitioned to the position full-time in 2024 at Marshall, the year the Cubs selected him in the 19th round of the draft. Ayers’ early work behind the plate in Arizona paints an impressive picture.

Sam Antonacci, 2B, White Sox

Yes, Antonacci may be under the radar nationally. But ask White Sox farm director Paul Janish, and heâ€ll tell you that the organization doesnâ€t view Antonacci as an unknown at all. Janish noted that Antonacci, the clubâ€s 2024 fifth-round pick out of Coastal Carolina, made a strong early impression with his competitive at-bats and consistent approach. The 22-year-old doesnâ€t lean on power, having hit five home runs this past season, but he rarely misses in the zone. He also shows advanced plate discipline, drawing 69 walks to nearly match his 73 strikeouts. Antonacci is versatile, having played every infield position this season. While a third baseman at Coastal Carolina, his primary home was second base in 2025 and that may suit his game and on-base skills best.

Darlin Saladin, RHP, Cardinals

Saladin finds himself in familiar territory. After Cardinals left him unprotected in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft and he went unselected, Saladin once again enters the offseason eligible for selection. This time, however, heâ€s giving the Cardinals more to think about. The 22-year-old has opened his AFL campaign with seven scoreless innings across three outings, striking out 10.

Command remains his biggest obstacle — heâ€s also walked five — and it was a recurring issue during the regular season. The 5-foot-11 righthander saw his walk rate climb to 11.5% (up from 6.7% in 2024) while his strikeout rate dipped from 27.4% to 19.8%. Saladin has yet to pitch above High-A Peoria, but his stuff has ticked up in Arizona. He works from a traditional three-quarters slot and his fastball, which sat around 92 mph during the season, has ticked up to 94–95 mph in the AFL. He complements it with three secondary offerings—a slider, curveball and changeup. If he continues to build on his strong fall showing, he could make a compelling case for a spot on the Cardinals†40-man roster.

Raudi Rodriguez, OF, Angels

The 22-year-old was named Baseball Americaâ€s Angels Minor League Player of the Year after slashing .281/.372/.470 with 14 home runs and 83 RBIs. He delivered that breakout campaign while making a smooth transition from right field to center. A 19th-round pick in the 2023 draft, Rodriguez signed for $100,000 and endured two challenging seasons in the ACL before breaking out at Low-A this year. He became just the 20th player since 2006 to record double-digit totals in doubles (21), triples (14) and home runs, along with 30 or more stolen bases in a single minor league season. That’s rare all-around production, and he has picked up where he left off, slashing .421/.522/.632 with a homer and nearly as many walks (eight) as strikeouts (10) through 12 games.

Tucker Musgrove, RHP, Padres

Making up for lost time after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023,  Musgrove is using the Arizona Fall League to regain his rhythm and showcase his potential. Drafted in the seventh round by San Diego that same year, the former two-way standout from NAIA Mobile has transitioned into a full-time pitching role and made his pro debut this season with Low-A Lake Elsinore. He tossed just 20 innings as the Padres carefully managed his workload, but Musgrove is showing no signs of rust this fall.

His four-seam fastball has consistently reached the upper 90s, touching 99 mph with late life and plenty of swing-and-miss. He pairs it with a high-velocity sinker that generates weak contact and a sharp slider that keeps hitters off balance. Musgrove’s athleticism and competitiveness also stand out. At 23 years old, Musgrove is steadily rebuilding his workload and proving that his stuff remains just as electric post-surgery—an encouraging sign for both his development and the Padres†pitching depth moving forward.Â

Padres RHP Tucker Musgrove punched out Kevin McGonigle on a 99 mph sinker 🔥

Musgrove had a LOUD inning of relief in his AFL debut. pic.twitter.com/CExxwmG4vg

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) October 7, 2025

Axiel Plaz, C/1B, Pirates

Itâ€s easy to see why most of the attention in the Pirates†system has centered on Esmerlyn Valdez and Tony Blanco Jr. But while the spotlight has been elsewhere, Plaz has quietly put together a strong fall campaign. Though he hasnâ€t homered yet, his steady production and consistent at-bats have stood out as a positive sign for Pittsburghâ€s developmental depth.

Plaz has collected hits in seven of his eight Arizona Fall League appearances, highlighted by a four-hit performance in his debut game. The 20-year-old appeared in 66 games during the regular season after missing time with an undisclosed injury, and his performance this fall suggests heâ€s finding his rhythm again at the plate. For a young player still working his way back to full strength, Plazâ€s approach and consistency have been encouraging indicators of his progress. Plaz does hit the ball hard, as his 90th percentile exit velocity is 108 mph, but his chase rate was a concerning 35% in 2025.Â

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