Arizona Fall League Hot Sheet: Top AFL Prospect Colt Emerson Gets Off To Fast Start

1. Colt Emerson, SS, Mariners 

• Team: Peoria Javelinas 
• Age: 19 
• Why He’s Here: .550/.550/.850 (11-for-20), 3 R, 6 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 6 RBIs, 0 BB, 4 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: The precocious shortstop showed off his plus hit tool all throughout the first week of the AFL season. He kicked things off in style on Tuesday, going 5-for-6 in his first game with four doubles. Emerson is the catalyst of a loaded Peoria roster that features numerous Top 100 prospects. His bat-to-ball skills, adjustability in his swing and projectable power make him one of the most exciting players in the league this season.

2. Kemp Alderman, OF, Marlins 

• Team: Peoria Javelinas 
• Age: 22 
• Why He’s Here: .412/.474/1.294 (7-for-17), 5 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 5 HR, 6 RBIs, 2 BB, 4 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: Over the first week of the season, Alderman set the pace in the AFL home run chase. The Marlins prospect started four games and homered in all of them, finishing with five for the week. His high watermark came on Thursday at Goodyear where Alderman slugged a pair of home runs, including a 116.8 mph shot that traveled 410 feet. He showed off his easy plus power and punished AFL pitching throughout the first week. There’s still some approach and contact concerns with Alderman, but his ability to hit for power is not up for question.

3. Thayron Liranzo, C, Tigers 

• Team: Scottsdale Scorpions
• Age: 21 
• Why He’s Here: .556/.600/1.111 (5-for-9), 2 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: The Scottsdale roster is loaded with power hitters like Bryce Eldridge, Josue Briceno, Termarr Johnson, Peyton Williams and Liranzo. Among that group, the Tigers signed the brightest. Liranzo showed off his switch-hitting power this week, particularly in Thursday’s home game where Liranzo hit doubles from both sides of the plate, as well as his first home run of the AFL season. The Tigers acquired the 21-year-old catcher from the Dodgers in the Jack Flaherty trade, and he looks like an excellent return at this point. 

4. Josue Briceno, C/1B, Tigers 

• Team: Scottsdale Scorpions 
• Age: 20 
• Why He’s Here: .375/.444/.938 (6-for-16), 5 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 6 RBIs, 2 BB, 5 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: Entering Saturday’s showdown against Glendale, Briceno was an afterthought for the Hot Sheet. However, a three-home run performance—including a shot versus one of the top pitching prospects in the game in Andrew Painter—cemented Briceno’s place. It was the first three-home run game in the AFL since 2015, as the Tigers young catcher enjoyed a truly historical performance. The home runs accounted for half of Briceno’s hits on the week. Briceno has strong plate skills for a power hitter and doesn’t sell out to get to his easy plus raw power. 

5. Garrett Martin, OF, Yankees 

• Team: Salt River Rafters 
• Age: 24 
• Why He’s Here: .545/.571/1.182 (6-for-11), 5 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 2 BB, 3 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: Martin has had an unusual path to this point in his career, spending two years in Juco before bouncing around to multiple colleges and eventually signing with the Yankees as a undrafted free agent. Martin struggled over the first half of the regular season but turned it on in August. His first week in the AFL was notable, as he recorded multi-hit games on both Thursday and Saturday. In Saturday’s game, Martin went 3-for-5 with a home run and double, driving in three runs. Martin is a good athlete for his size, with power and more speed than you’d expect. A strong AFL could put him into the prospect conversation entering 2025. 

6. Robert Hassell, OF, Nationals 

• Team: Salt River Rafters
• Age: 23 
• Why He’s Here: .538/.571/.923 (7-for-13), 3 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBIs, 0 BB, 0 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: The third time looks like it may, in fact, be the charm for Hassell in the Arizona Fall League. The Nationals prospect put together an excellent week, as he drove in a league leading seven RBIs while collecting seven hits and no strikeouts. At 23 years old, Hassell is at a crossroads, as he Rule 5 eligible this offseason. He is very likely added, but a strong performance could mean he finds potential suitors with another club looking to add a talented hitter likely looking for a change of scenery. 

7. Jett Williams, SS, Mets

• Team: Scottsdale Scorpions 
• Age: 20 
• Why He’s Here: .364/.462/.818 (4-for-11), 2 R, 1 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBIs, 2 BB, 3 SO, 0-for-1 SB

The Scoop: After an injury-plagued season, Williams is looking to leave 2024 in the past. Williams showed off his contact, approach and speed this week, finishing tied for the league lead in triples (2). Williams consistently showed loud tools and twitch, impressing scouts. The extra reps in the AFL will do Williams good as he looks to put himself in the picture for the Mets active roster at some point in 2025. 

8. Connor Phillips, RHP, Reds 

• Team: Glendale Desert Dogs 
• Age: 23 
• Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: While the final five starts of 2024 saw Phillips return to form, 2024 overall was a season to forget. After a disastrous first three months, the Reds demoted Phillips to their Arizona Complex League roster to work on his mechanics. He didn’t emerge until late August and finished the season on a high note. Phillips continued his ascent with a dominant performance against Salt River on Wednesday, sitting upper-90s and mixing a hard sweeper as he struck out half the batters he faced in a scoreless four-inning debut. 

9. Moises Ballesteros, C, Cubs

• Team: Mesa Solar Sox
• Age: 20 
• Why He’s Here: .412/.450/.647 (7-for-17), 4 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBIs, 2 BB, 1 SO, 0-for-1 SB

The Scoop: Mesa had a busy week to open the season, hosting the league’s opening game on Monday and closing the week at Surprise in the single Sunday game. One constant throughout the week for the Solar Sox was Ballesteros, who showed off his excellent bat-to-ball skills and some power. He homered on Sunday against Surprise, raising his RBI total to six on the season. While concerns persist around his catching, there’s little to no question about Ballesteros’ ability to hit.  

10. Jake Cunningham, OF, Orioles 

• Team: Surprise Saguaros  
• Age: 22 
• Why He’s Here: .438/.471/.813 (7-for-16), 4 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBIs, 1 BB, 5 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: The Orioles’ 2023 fifth round pick played 91 total games across both levels of A-ball in his full-season debut. It certainly wasn’t what Cunningham or the Orioles hoped for, however, as he hit just .220/.312/.308 with only four home runs. After the first week of the AFL season, Cunningham has already replicated 50% of his in-season home run total. Cunningham hit a 114.6-mph grand slam in the second inning of a matinee game at Scottsdale on Thursday, finishing 4-for-5 in what was one of the best performances of the week. He closed the week with another home run Sunday on a ball that left the bat at 113.2 mph. Cunningham is showing high-end exit velocities with athleticism to match.