These 25 players are set to help fantasy rosters immediately.

Another Arizona Fall League season is in the books. The league is a showcase of many great prospects from the 30 MLB prospects, with players who have played in the low minors all the way up to MLB.

Taking much from AFL stats is difficult given the hitter’s environments, lack of pitching, and limited number of games. Still, the league can provide momentum for prospects heading into 2026. Many of the players showcased in the league are set to make an impact in MLB during 2026. Here’s a look at the 25 most impactful players from this year’s Arizona Fall League for the 2026 fantasy baseball season.

Note: This isn’t a ranking of the best prospects, but rather the players who are likely to make the biggest MLB impact in 2026.

1. Kevin McGonigle, SS, Tigers

At the end of the 2025 season, Detroit’s biggest weakness was arguably shortstop. McGonigle may be ready to fill that void on Opening Day. He played 46 of his 88 games at Double-A, hitting .305-19-80 with 10 steals and an elite 59/46 BB/K in 397 plate appearances. His plate discipline carried over to the AFL, where he posted a 19/12 BB/K and hit .362-5-19 with three steals in 90 plate appearances. McGonigle should enter 2026 as one of the early AL Rookie of the Year favorites, and his advanced approach could ease his transition to MLB.

2. Rhett Lowder, SP, Reds

Lowder flashed promise in six MLB starts in 2024, but an injury-plagued 2025 left him somewhat forgotten. He made only five appearances this season and struggled, making him an ideal AFL candidate. His AFL run with Peoria was shaky—five runs and nine hits allowed over five innings—but his trademark command still stood out. A former first-round pick, Lowder owns elite control, including a 113/24 K/BB in 108.2 minor league innings in 2024. He’s an under-the-radar flier who could gain momentum with a strong spring.

3. Sam Antonacci, 2B/3B, White Sox

A 2024 fifth-round pick out of Coastal Carolina, Antonacci looks like a terrific find for Chicago. He resembles a traditional leadoff hitter, posting a .433 OBP and 48 steals across three levels last season. His plate discipline (69/73 BB/K) and high contact rate support optimism that he can sustain his .298 minor league average. He hit .378-3-14 with 11 steals and a 15/11 BB/K in 19 AFL games. Breaking camp with the White Sox may be aggressive—he has only 49 Double-A games—but his arrival on the South Side shouldn’t be far off.

4. Sebastian Walcott, SS/3B, Rangers

Walcott’s AFL stint lasted just one game before arm fatigue shut him down—a disappointing outcome for one of baseball’s highest-upside prospects. At just 19, he spent all of 2025 in Double-A, holding his own against older competition. The 6-foot-4 shortstop hit .255-13-59 with 32 steals in 552 plate appearances. His age-relative plate discipline is encouraging, and prospects with his tools often make sudden leaps. He’s likely to spend at least half of 2026 in Triple-A, but an earlier debut wouldn’t be surprising.

5. Daniel Espino, SP, Guardians

Prospect diehards know Espino well—he was a top arm as early as 2021. Injuries have derailed him, limiting him to five appearances from 2022–24 prior to this year’s AFL. While his injury history should temper expectations, Espino hit triple digits in Arizona. He remains the definition of a fantasy flier: enormous upside, enormous risk.

6. Hagen Smith, SP, White Sox

Among this year’s AFL pitchers, Smith may possess the only true frontline upside. The 2024 fifth overall pick from Arkansas features an upper-90s fastball and a vicious slider, though his Double-A control regressed to 6.7 BB/9 in 2025. That won’t fly in the majors, but he showed better command in his five AFL starts.

7. Jose Corniell, SP, Rangers

Corniell returned from injury in 2025 and remains under the radar. He earned a late-season MLB appearance after posting a 1.89 ERA in 13 starts across three minor league levels. Sitting at 96 mph with a strong cutter, he has shown plus command both before and after elbow surgery. Corniell could be a significant contributor in 2026.

8. Charlie Condon, 1B, Rockies

Condon displayed massive power at Georgia—37 homers in 2024—but has yet to fully tap into it with wood bats. He hit .268-14-58 over 433 plate appearances across three levels in his first full pro season. The power didn’t show in the AFL either, as he hit just one home run in 22 games, though he batted .337. Coors Field offers a perfect landing spot, and there’s no long-term roadblock at first base. Still, with only 55 Double-A games, a full year in the minors is plausible.

9. Esmerlyn Valdez, OF, Pirates

Pittsburgh’s strength is pitching, but Valdez offers legitimate future lineup potential. He was one of the AFL’s top performers, hitting .368-8-27 with a 19/12 BB/K in 80 plate appearances after a .286-26-86 campaign between High-A and Double-A. While top prospect Konnor Griffin gets more attention, Valdez—who turns 22 soon—has the makings of a high-impact power hitter. A second-half 2026 debut is within reach.

10. Max Anderson, 3B/2B, Tigers

McGonigle was the Tigers’ AFL headliner, but Anderson shouldn’t be overlooked. He broke out in 2025 at Double- and Triple-A, batting .296-19-88, and crushed the AFL with a .447-4-13 line and 18 walks in 69 plate appearances. That walk total is especially notable given his previous struggles with plate discipline. Continued progress could land him firmly in Detroit’s future plans.

11. Enrique Bradfield, OF, Orioles

Bradfield endured an injury-marred 2025, producing a sub-.700 OPS across four levels. Still, his elite defense and speed keep him relevant. He stole 17 bases in 20 AFL games after swiping 36 during the regular season and 74 in 2024. His consistently strong walk rates, including 41 in 312 plate appearances in 2025, remain a key part of his profile.

12. Braden Montgomery, OF, White Sox

The 12th pick in 2024, Montgomery didn’t meet expectations in his first full season. He hit .270-12-68 with 14 steals and an .804 OPS across three levels, finishing with 143 Double-A plate appearances. He typically adjusted quickly after promotions, but his college track record suggests more power—he hit 27 homers in his final season at Texas A&M. His AFL performance was uneven: one home run in 55 plate appearances, but six doubles and a triple. His ability to stick in center field may dictate his timeline.

13. Luis Perales, SP, Red Sox

It’s routine for teams to send pitchers returning from injury to the AFL, and rust is common—Perales walked 11 batters in 11.1 innings. His future may be in the bullpen, where his upper-90s fastball and devastating splitter have driven high strikeout totals. Still, Boston can hope that he regains sufficient command to remain a starter following elbow surgery.

14. Carson Roccaforte, OF, Royals

Kansas City needs offense wherever it can find it, and Roccaforte may soon be the club’s best center-field option. He hit .258-18-74 with 43 steals and a .373 OBP across High-A and Double-A in 2025. Strikeouts (162) are a concern, but he showed enough positives—including a .279-2-18 AFL line with seven steals—to stay on the radar. Expect him to spend the first half in the minors before pushing for a late-2026 debut.

15. Jake Bennett, SP, Nationals

Bennett turns 25 in December and projects as a back-end starter. The former Oklahoma standout logged a 2.27 ERA over 75.1 innings last season, but concerns remain about his modest velocity and declining strikeout rate. After missing 2024, his K/9 fell from 10.4 to 7.6, and he lacks a true out pitch. The rebuilding Nationals offer opportunity, though, and his strong command gives him a chance to contribute quickly.

16. Jared Thomas, OF, Rockies

Any offensive upside is magnified in Colorado, and Thomas brings reason for optimism. The 2024 second-rounder hit .300-14-60 with 33 steals and a .398 OBP between High-A and Double-A. His AFL approach regressed (3/28 BB/K), but he still hit .302-2-12 with eight steals in 67 plate appearances. With limited competition in Denver, Thomas could move quickly.

17. Hendry Mendez, OF, Twins

Though Mendez lacks star-level upside, he remains intriguing. He handled older Double-A competition well, hitting .299-11-62 with 10 steals and a 67/65 BB/K across time with the Phillies and Twins organizations. A lanky frame suggests room for more power if he adds loft. With his polish, he could help Minnesota by late 2026.

18. Nacho Alvarez Jr., 3B, Braves

Alvarez played a full AFL slate despite appearing in the majors each of the last two years, including 58 games in 2025. Atlanta likely sought to rebuild his confidence after an abbreviated season, and he responded by hitting .324-1-11 with five steals and more walks than strikeouts. His minor league track record points to a high-average hitter with some speed, though he probably profiles best as a utility infielder.

19. Max Muncy, 3B/2B, Athletics

The other Max Muncy broke camp with the A's in 2025 due to Zack Gelof’s injury but failed to seize the opportunity. He showed some pop with nine homers in 220 plate appearances and has hit as many as 19 in a pro season. He’ll compete for a roster spot in spring training but appears to have limited long-term upside.

20. Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, SS/2B/OF, Athletics

Kuroda-Grauer has performed well in the minors but may lack the power to be an everyday regular. He hit .296-2-47 with 27 steals and a 40/49 BB/K across High-A and Double-A, then hit .345 with seven steals in the AFL. Notably, he made six outfield appearances—his first as a pro—which expands his utility profile. He has fantasy-friendly skills but likely tops out as a versatile role player.

21. Drey Jameson, RP, Diamondbacks

Jameson has already proven he can get MLB outs, posting a 2.65 ERA over 68 innings since 2022. The question is his role, which shifted from starter to reliever following injury. He operated in the high-90s this season but has struggled with command. There’s a scenario where he becomes either a starter or a high-leverage relief arm, but projecting that for 2026 requires some imagination.

22. Luis De Leon, SP, Orioles

Teams can’t have too many live arms, and De Leon could emerge if he improves his control. He owns a career K/9 above 11 but continues to battle walk issues, including 12 free passes in 16.1 AFL innings. His mid-90s fastball and slider are legitimate, though. With only three Double-A appearances in 2025, expecting meaningful MLB contributions next season may be premature.

23. Karson Milbrandt, SP, Marlins

Milbrandt made significant strides in 2025, putting him near the top of Miami’s depth chart for help next season. He spent most of the year at High-A, posting a 3.26 ERA with 101 strikeouts in 77.1 innings. Control remains a concern, but he works consistently in the mid-90s with a strong curveball. He dominated the AFL, and even modest command improvements could lead to a 2026 debut.

24. Tommy White, 3B, Athletics

A 2024 draftee, White had an unspectacular first full season, hitting .275-12-51 with a sub-.800 OPS between High-A and Double-A. He performed better in the AFL (.292-3-20 with three steals in 86 plate appearances). White blasted at least 24 homers in each of his three college seasons at LSU, so there’s hope he can unlock more power in 2026 and earn a call-up.

25. Yondrei Rojas, RP, Blue Jays

Toronto found success in 2025 by uncovering young, unheralded relievers, and Rojas could be the next. He posted a 1.43 ERA in 30 appearances between High-A and Double-A, showing excellent command. The undersized right-hander touches the upper-90s and could move quickly through Triple-A to help the Blue Jays in 2026.

--Seth Trachtman