Arizona Fall League Hot Sheet: Cubs Breakout Prospect Headlines Week 5

1. Jonathon Long, 1B, Cubs

• Team: Mesa 
• Age: 22
• Why He’s Here: .400/.526/.867 (6-for-15), 6 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBIs, 4 BB, 2 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: The Long Beach State product has carried the momentum from his breakout campaign in his first full professional season over to AFL play. Long is hitting .349/.443/.667 with six home runs. He started for the NL squad in the Fall Stars game and drove in two runs. Last week, Long had hits in all four games. He went an eye-popping 4-for-8 with two home runs and five RBIs between Tuesday and Wednesday. Long, who RoboScout identified as a sleeper early in October, enters the offseason as the Cubs prospect with the most helium for 2025. (GP) 

2. Jake Miller, LHP, Tigers

• Team: Scottsdale
• Age: 23
• Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Overall, Miller’s numbers this fall have been unsightly. Even during the outings when he was getting hit around, however, it was easy to see glimpses of his potential. A lively fastball here or a wicked slider there were just enough to keep you interested. As the AFL nears its final week, it appears Miller has rounded into form. His latest outing featured eight strikeouts, boosting his total to 20 punchouts against just three walks over 22 innings. (JN)

3. Caleb Durbin, 2B, Yankees 

• Team: Salt River 
• Age: 24 
• Why He’s Here: .462/.529/.846 (6-for-13), 6 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 3 BB, 1 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: The Arizona Fall League is Durbin’s oyster. After two outstanding seasons in the AFL, Durbin is a potential 40-man roster addition for the Yankees later this month. Durbin put together another outstanding week, finishing second in total bases (11) and third in OPS (1.375) and stealing his league-leading 23rd base. Durbin has shown speed, outstanding plate discipline and some sneaky pop. (GP) 

4. Ben Ross, SS, Twins

• Team: Salt River Rafters
• Age: 23
• Why He’s Here: .636/.692/.727 (7-for-11) 3 R, 1 2B, 3 HR, 2 BB, 1 SO

The Scoop: A four-hit game this week has helped turn around Ross’ AFL season at the plate, but this fall has also allowed him to again showcase his versatility. Ross has played shortstop, center field and third base. He has now played at least one game at every position other than catcher and pitcher as a pro. That ability to bounce around and play solid defense at numerous spots is a clear part of his path to a big league role. (JC)

5. Gabriel Rincones Jr., OF, Phillies

• Team: Glendale
• Age: 23
• Why He’s Here: .636/.667/.818 (7-for-11), 5 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBIs, 1 BB, 0 SO, 3-for-3 SB

The Scoop: Rincones is one of the Phillies’ best position prospects, but he’s been unable to stay on the field over the last two seasons. He’s making up time in the AFL for the second straight year, and weeks like his most recent have shown his upside. He’s got the power to fit in a corner outfield spot or at first base, but he’ll need to get more reps—especially at the upper levels—to keep himself on a path toward making his upside a reality. (JN)

6. Andrew Painter, RHP, Phillies

• Team: Glendale
• Age: 21
• Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: After two years of rehab, Painter re-emerged in the Fall League as the same top-shelf prospect he showed in 2022, when he jumped from Low-A to Double-A in his first full season as a pro. His arsenal is still sharp enough to julienne the finest prospects in the sport, and he’s struck out a dozen and walked two over 13 AFL frames. His upside is as high as any pitcher to come through the minors in at least the last decade, and Painter could make his big league debut as soon as this coming season if everything goes to plan. (JN)

7. Kala’i Rosario, OF, Twins

• Team: Salt River Rafters
• Age: 22
• Why He’s Here: .300/.500/.600 (3-for-10) 5 R, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 4 BB, 3 SO, 1 SB.

The Scoop: After an elbow injury cost Rosario two and a half months of the 2024 regular season, a return trip to the Arizona Fall League has helped him get almost 100 plate appearances to minimize the lost development time. He’s unlikely to defend his 2023 AFL home run title, but with his third home run of the AFL season this week, he’s now hitting .296/.388/.451 and showing he’s ready to compete for a spot on the Triple-A St. Paul roster when spring training rolls around. (JC)

8. Sammy Siani, OF, Pirates 

• Team: Scottsdale
• Age: 23 
• Why He’s Here: .400/.438/.600 (6-for-15), 4 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 1 BB, 4 SO, 2-for-2 SB

The Scoop: The Pirates’ 2019 supplemental first-round pick is one of the less-heralded breakouts of the Fall League. An outstanding defensive outfielder, Siani has shown some ability at the plate as well. Siani is hitting a robust .406/.472/.594 with three home runs and four stolen bases over 18 AFL games. Last week, Siani showed off his bat-to-ball skills, power and speed. Siani started in left field for the National League squad in the Fall Stars game and went 2-for-5. (GP) 

9. Juan Guerrero, OF, Rockies 

• Team: Salt River 
• Age: 23 
• Why He’s Here: .375/.333/1.000 (3-for-8), 2 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: Guerrero’s AFL campaign has been the polar opposite of his regular season. He’s hitting just .203 this fall after batting .304 over 121 games during the season. On the other hand, Guerrero now has four homers in 59 AFL at-bats after hitting just six in 473 at-bars in the regular season. Guerrero showed some of that surprising thump this week with a trio of extra-base hits and four RBIs. Guerrero is a fringe Top 30 prospect for the Rockies and is eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this offseason if left unprotected. (GP) 

10. Niko Kavadas, 1B, Angels

• Team: Mesa Solar Sox
• Age: 26
• Why He’s Here: .385/.429/.692 (5-for-13) 3 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 4 SO.

The Scoop: Kavadas’ second try at the Arizona Fall League has been a much better trip than his first stint in 2022. That year, he struck out in 24 of his 60 plate appearances while picking up five extra-base hits in 15 games. This time, he’s also struck out 24 times, but in 78 plate appearances. In 17 games, he has 12 extra-base hits, including six home runs. But Kavadas’ triple this week is the most remarkable aspect of his week and his stay in the AFL. His last, and only other, triple as a pro came on May 21, 2022. In four years at Notre Dame, he never tripled, although he did get one in the Cape Cod League in 2019. (JC)