Arizona Fall League Hot Sheet: Angels’ Niko Kavadas Slugs His Way To Top Spot In Week 4

1. Niko Kavadas, 1B, Angels

• Team: Mesa Solar Sox
• Age: 26
• Why He’s Here: .438/.550/1.063 (7-for-16) 7 R, 1 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBIs, 4 BB, 4 SO

The Scoop: Probably the least surprising news in the AFL is that Kavadas ranks second in the league in on-base percentage. Kavadas strikes out, but he has a career .409 MiLB on-base percentage. Kavadas has 15 walks in 14 AFL games. Thanks to his three homers this week, he also now ranks second in the league with six home runs. Kavadas has been playing some left field in the AFL, but he’s most likely still a full-time first baseman going forward thanks to his limited speed. (JC)

2. Alejandro Osuna, OF, Rangers

• Team: Surprise Saguaros
• Age: 22
• Why He’s Here: .455/.538/.682 (10-for-22), 9 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 4 BB, 3 SO

The Scoop: Osuna came into the Fall League as a stealth prospect. Now, he’s firmly flying above the radar. His 24 hits are second in the league behind only Josue Briceño, and his .512 on-base percentage ranks third in the league. His seven doubles, two of which came this past week, are tied for second. (JN)

3. Jac Caglianone, 1B, Royals

• Team: Surprise Saguaros
• Age: 21
• Why He’s Here: .412/.474/.824 (7-for-17), 4 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBIs, 2 BB, 2 SO, 1-for-2 SB

The Scoop: It’s been a very solid showing for Caglianone in the AFL, and last week likely rates as his best week to date. Caglianone had some gaudy displays of power this week, none more memorable than his 3-for-5 showing on Halloween. In that game, Caglianone put five balls in play at 106 mph or above, including a single at 117.3 mph. Caglianone is showing power and contact skills in the AFL, even if the swing decisions are somewhat limiting at present. The Royals 2024 first rounder ranks among the top first base prospects in the minor leagues entering 2025 and should be on the fast track to the major leagues. He’s likely to begin the season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas with a chance to debut in the second half of the season. (GP)  

4. Cody Freeman, INF, Rangers

• Team: Surprise Saguaros
• Age: 23
• Why He’s Here: .316/.350/.737 (6-for-19) 3 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 1 BB, 2 SO

The Scoop: Freeman turned around his AFL season this week. After seeing his batting average dip to .167 last week, he has been on a roll. Freeman has bounced all around the field at times with the Rangers. He was primarily a catcher in 2023, but this year, he returned to focusing on the infield, as he’s playing second and third base. As good as his week was offensively, however, he’s continued to struggle at third base. He had three errors this week and a .692 fielding percentage in eight games at third in the AFL. (JC)

5. Luinder Avila, RHP, Royals

• Team: Surprise Saguaros
• Age: 23
• Why He’s Here: 0-0, 1.50, 2 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 HBP, 3 BB, 8 SO

The Scoop: The Royals righthander moved into second in the AFL in strikeouts with a very solid week. Avila works well down in the zone with a big-breaking low-80s slider that pairs with a 93-95 mph sinker, and he also cut his fastball and mix in a hard, high-80s changeup. In a league without a lot of starters with swing-and-miss stuff, Avila is standing out. (JC)

6. Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics

• Team: Mesa Solar Sox
• Age: 21
• Why He’s Here: .533/.650/.933 (8-for-15), 4 R, 1 2B,  1 3B, 1 HR, 8 RBIs, 5 BB, 1 SO

The Scoop: Kurtz didn’t arrive in the desert until the AFL had passed the halfway mark, but he’s gotten mighty hot mighty quickly. The Wake Forest alum and 2024 first-round pick has eight hits in his first 18 Fall League at-bats, including a double, triple and home run. This past week was also a solid showcase for his batting eye, seeing as he finished with five walks and just one strikeout. (JN)

7. Carter Jensen, C, Royals

• Team: Surprise Saguaros
• Age: 21
• Why He’s Here: .600/.636/1.300 (6-for-10), 4 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 1 BB, 0 SO

The Scoop: Jensen is part of the Royals triumvirate of talented catchers—along with Blake Mitchell and Ramon Ramirez—and this past week he displayed his skills front and center. The 21-year-old backstop crunched a pair of home runs, doubling his total for the AFL campaign. Nearly half of his 11 Fall League hits have gone for extra bases, and he has walked as often as he’s struck out. (JN)

8. Adrian Pinto, 2B, Blue Jays

• Team: Scottsdale Scorpions
• Age: 22 
• Why He’s Here: .450/.500/.650 (9-for-20), 7 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBIs, 2 BB, 1 SO, 2-for-2 SB

The Scoop: Pinto has missed significant time over the last three seasons due to myriad injuries. He finished his 2024 regular season in a high note, however, hitting .300/.355/.571 with three home runs over his final 17 games. Pinto has carried that momentum over to the AFL, as he’s hit .316 with a .394 on-base percentage. Last week, Pinto had four multi-hit games, including a 2-for-5 showing on Saturday with a double and triple. Pinto has excellent plate skills with enough power and speed to flash sneaky upside. (GP) 

9. Denzel Clarke, OF, Athletics

• Team: Mesa Solar Sox
• Age: 24
• Why He’s Here: .412/.444/.706 (7-for-17), 6 R, 0 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBIs, 1 BB, 6 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: Clarke’s story remains the same, even in the Fall League: When he puts the ball in play, great things happen. Now, he just needs to do that more often. The Canadian outfielder is 20-for-51 this fall, with a double, a pair of triples, a home run and six stolen bases in seven chances. He’s punched out 15 times in 63 plate appearances, good for a manageable clip of roughly 24%. (JN)

10. Peyton Williams, 1B, Blue Jays

• Team: Scottsdale Scorpions
• Age: 24
• Why He’s Here: .353/.389/.706 (6-for-17), 2 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBIs, 1 BB, 7 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: Williams has been a regular on the Hot Sheet this Fall League season, and over 12 games, he is hitting .309/.321/.564 with seven extra base hits. This week, Williams connected for a pair of home runs in a huge game Tuesday, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs. The two home runs were mammoth shots, traveling 433 and 453 feet, respectively. Williams has strong plate skills for a slugger and the natural country boy power to drive the ball to all fields. Williams is a first base-only prospect, raising the pressure on his bat to produce. (GP)