Excitement Mounts for Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game and Home Run Derby: Promising Prospects on Display
ICARO Media Group
**Anticipation Builds for Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game**
Baseball enthusiasts are eagerly counting down to one of the most thrilling events for prospect watchers: the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game. Set to take place this Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, fans can catch the live action on MLB Network and MLB.com. A day prior, the excitement kicks off with the AFL Home Run Derby, streamed live on Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
As anticipation grows for these events, let's delve into some intriguing questions from the MLB Pipeline community.
A standout subject of discussion is Yankees' prospect Caleb Durbin. Despite not being on a Top 30 list, Durbin has the potential to make a significant impact in the major leagues by 2025. The versatile player is just one stolen base shy of tying the all-time single-season Fall League record of 24 and boasts an impressive .935 OPS. Yankees GM Brian Cashman has hinted at Durbin as a potential second baseman in New York for the 2025 season, adding to the rising anticipation.
Durbin has primarily played second base, yet his defensive flexibility, having covered three infield and two outfield positions this fall, allows him to be a consistent lineup fixture. With a solid performance at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2024 under his belt, including 10 home runs and 29 steals in 82 games, Durbin seems promising for the Yankees’ 40-man roster.
On the pitching front, Reds reliever Luis Mey has shown potential despite command issues at Double-A. Mey hasn’t allowed a hit in 7 2/3 innings while only walking two during his stint in Glendale this fall, marking significant command improvement. The Reds will need to protect Mey from the Rule 5 Draft, and if his progress continues, he could evolve into a high-leverage reliever for Cincinnati next season.
Another intriguing prospect is Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki. Rumored to potentially join the United States leagues this offseason, Sasaki would rank as the No. 1 prospect on the Top 100 list. His extraordinary skills, including a fastball exceeding 100 mph, a dominant splitter, and an excellent slider, position him as a top prospect similar to Shohei Ohtani's arrival in 2018.
Harry Ford of the Mariners, ranked No. 4 in the team’s Top 30 prospects and No. 49 overall, also draws attention. Despite his offensive prowess and athleticism currently overshadowing his defensive skills, Ford possesses the traits necessary to develop into a solid catcher, dispelling notions of a position change in the near future.
Lastly, Rockies’ Robert Calaz has impressed since signing in January 2023. With a 1.040 OPS over 105 professional games, Calaz’s raw power and speed make him a potential name to watch. Maintaining his production and keeping his strikeout rate in check could see Calaz break into the Top 100 prospects by 2025.
As excitement builds for the Arizona Fall League events, these prospects exemplify the sensational talent making waves in the baseball world.