Browsing: Performers

MESA, Ariz. — Outfielder Raudi Rodriguez emerged as one of the Angels’ best offensive prospects this year, slashing .281/.372/.470 with 14 homers and 38 steals at Single-A during his full-season debut. He has been of the toughest outs in the Arizona Fall League as well, batting .421/.507/.614 with eight extra-base hits in 17 contests.

Rodriguez didn’t ease up in the 19th annual Fall Stars Game, earning MVP accolades while helping the American League to a 5-4 victory. He got the scoring started in the second inning by smoking an 86-mph slider from Jack Dallas (Phillies) for an RBI single at 111 mph, the third-hardest hit ball of the game. He topped that in the seventh inning with a 112-mph single off a 96-mph fastball from Carson Montgomery (Padres) in the seventh.

Fall Stars Game coverage:

All told, Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, plating another run with a bases-loaded walk in the fifth. Here are 11 other standouts from the AFL’s signature event:

Sam Antonacci, 2B, White Sox (No. 11)
Antonacci is known for his bat-to-ball skills and on-base ability, and both were crucial to the AL’s victory. He drove in a fifth-inning run with a bases-loaded walk against Koen Moreno (Cubs), then provided the walk-off winner in the bottom of the ninth with a sacrifice fly against Darlin Saladin (Cardinals).

Anderson Brito, RHP, Astros (No. 7)
Brito features some of the best stuff in the Fall League and showcased it during a scoreless third inning. He matched Karson Milbrandt (MIA No. 18) for the hardest fastball of the day at 99.0 mph, delivered another at 98.9 mph and averaged 98.1 mph with his heater. He also produced three of the five best spin rates on curveballs, ranging from 2,646 to 2,686 rpm.

Cam Collier, 1B, Reds (No. 6/MLB No. 94)
Collier has a history of coming through in showcase events, including hitting the first home run in Spring Breakout history and winning MVP honors at the 2024 Futures Game. In his first plate appearance, he produced the hardest-hit ball of the night (113 mph) with an eighth-inning single off a 91-mph cutter from Jimmy Kingsbury (Mariners).

Luis De León, RHP, Orioles (No. 21)
One of the AFL’s best starters this fall, De León needed just 10 pitches to open the game with a perfect top of the first inning. Right fielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. (BAL No. 4) helped with a nice running catch on a line drive by Seaver King (WSH No. 7), but De León took care of the rest of his business by himself. He struck out Nick Morabito (NYM No. 16) on an 86-mph slider and Parks Harber (Giants) on an 85-mph splitter, and he also delivered three sinkers at 96-97 mph.

Kevin McGonigle, SS, Tigers (No. 1/MLB No. 2)
The highest-ranked prospect in the Fall League went 0-for-2 at the plate but did a couple of little things to help the AL build an early lead. When King smacked a grounder off Brito’s glove in the third inning, McGonigle raced in and made a barehanded play to nip the speedster at first base. He led off the bottom half with a walk and raced to second when a wild ball four by Jesús Broca (Brewers) eluded catcher Owen Ayers (Cubs). That led to a run, as McGonigle went to third on a flyout and scored on a grounder by Max Anderson (DET No. 9).

Blake Mitchell, C, Royals (No. 2/MLB No. 62)
Though he’s one of the best catching prospects in baseball, Mitchell has scuffled through much of the Fall League’s regular season. He shook off those struggles to lash a 104-mph double — the game’s lone extra-base hit — off a 95-mph slider by Dallas in the second and came around to score the game’s first run. He also walked and scored in the fourth.

Braden Montgomery, OF, White Sox (No. 1/MLB No. 35)
The top White Sox prospect made things happen on the basepaths for the American League, scoring a run after walking twice. He also slugged a 98.7 mph flyout from the No. 2 spot in the order.

Felix Neon, home plate umpire
Neon called a fine game behind the plate, even if players challenged his calls seven times. The ABS system upheld six of them, with his only miss a strike call on a ball 7/10ths of an inch off the plate.

Cade Smith, RHP, Yankees (No. 19)
Smith missed most of the season with shoulder issues but has been one of the most efficient pitchers in Arizona, logging a 2.13 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and .159 average-against in 12 2/3 innings. That continued in the Fall Stars Game, as he required just nine pitches (eight strikes) to spin a perfect fourth. He retired two of the developmental circuit’s most dangerous hitters, right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez (PIT No. 15) and Ayers, while primarily working with a 77-83 mph curveball.

Hagen Smith, LHP, White Sox (No. 5/MLB No. 88)
The lone Top 100 prospect to pitch in the game, Smith navigated a single and a walk to deliver a scoreless second with two strikeouts. He fanned Chris Suero (NYM No. 15) and Starlyn Caba (MIA No. 5) on his signature pitch, a slider that ranged from 82-86 mph, and worked from 95-98 with his fastball.

Miguel Ugueto, OF, Cardinals
Ugueto went from the Minor League phase of the 2024 Rule 5 Draft to the National League’s biggest hero. He turned an 84-mph slider from Dariel Fregio (Tigers) into a two-run single, capping a three-run rally to tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the ninth.

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The Seattle Kraken defeated an Edmonton Oilers roster that featured Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard and starting goaltender Stuart Skinner 4-1 in their third pre-season game.

The Kraken got the scoring started in the first period despite minimal efforts on goal, but they never felt like the game was ever getting away from them.

Jagger Firkus tapped in a power play goal on a rebound, and Logan Morrison scored his first of the pre-season, before Ben Meyers and Jani Nyman scored insurance markers in the third period. Joey Daccord and Nikke Kokko turned away 24 of the 25 shots they faced.

Here are three standout performers from last night’s win:

The 21-year-old blueliner took part in his first pre-season game of the season and fit in perfectly. He recorded 18:13 of ice time, and despite not recording any points, Jugnauth looked comfortable with the puck on his stick and in the defensive zone.

His defensive skills were put to the test on several occasions, including defending consecutive 2-on-1s that featured McDavid, the world’s best hockey player. Jugnauth stayed calm and composed, deflecting a pass by Draisaitl intended for McDavid and then later forcing Ekholm into a weak shot and negating any passing lane to send the puck to McDavid.

In the third period, Jugnauth defended a 3-on-1, once again deflecting a pass before the Oilers could get off a Grade A chance.

Firkus is a point producer, and he has been throughout his entire junior career and in the early stages of his pro career. Last night, we got a glimpse of how Firkus can leave his imprint on hockey games.

The power play goal capped off the strong performance, but the 21-year-old was making nifty passes and was eager to get the puck into high-danger scoring areas. He finished the game with a goal and three shots on target in 14:39 of ice time.

Meyers and Morrison each finished with a goal and an assist in last night’s game, and the duo looked like they fit in at the NHL level. They each filled the score sheet and were effective offensive chance creators throughout the game.

Meyers finished with two shots on goal, four hits and two blocks in 17:10 of ice time, while Morrison put up three shots on goal, one hit and one block in 13:21 of ice time. Meyers and Morrison are likely on the outside looking in for an NHL roster spot, but with the injuries the Kraken are facing, the pair have moved up the depth chart and could be one of the first names called up from the AHL to start the season.

Honorable mention to Oscar Fisker Molgaard, who has come as advertised in his first two pre-season games. The 20-year-old has two assists, but his attention to detail and defensive acumen have been noticeable.  If he can carry the momentum into the start of the AHL season, Fisker Molgaard could see some NHL action towards the tail end of the season.

Several Kraken Prospects Shine In Pre-Season Opener Against Canucks
The Seattle Kraken kicked off the beginning of pre-season with a 5-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks, dressing several NHL players and top prospects.

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With the calendar flipped to September, the 2025 MiLB regular season is winding down and postseason play getting ready to…