We’re just two games into the fall league slate, but some familiar faces are off to hot starts. Check out Geoff Pontes’ feed for some video, including a home run swing from Ethan Salas.

Kala’i Rosario, OF, Twins: After a breakout season in 2023 with High-A Cedar Rapids, Rosario saw a sharp decrease in production in 2024 as he dealt with an elbow injury. After a quiet first night to begin his AFL tenure with Salt River, Rosario exploded in the fifth inning on Wednesday, hitting a 441-foot home run that came off the bat at 113.1 mph. Rosario’s tools–primarily his power–are interesting, but his bat-to-ball skills remain a concern. He’s looking to make up time this fall and show he’s once again healthy.

Kemp Alderman, OF, Marlins: Alderman is proving to be one of the best pure power hitters in the Arizona Fall League. After connecting for a home run in Peoria’s opening game, the Marlins slugger connected for his second home run in Peoria’s 5-3 win over Surprise. Alderman’s two home runs have left the bat at 109.1 mph on Tuesday and 105.4 mph on Wednesday. Alderman missed time with a hand injury in 2024 as he was limited to 77 games total across three levels.

Colt Emerson, SS, Mariners: Emerson was the highest-rated prospect entering the Arizona Fall League. Over his first two games, the Mariners infielder has been one of the most impressive players to start. After going 5-for-6 on Tuesday, Emerson went 3-for-5 with a double on Wednesday. Emerson has an impressive set of plate skills, showing bat-to-ball skills and a discerning eye. In time, many of Emerson’s doubles will begin to clear the fence, as he’s one of the most exciting prospects under 19 years old.

Jonathon Long, 1B, Cubs: Earlier this week, Dylan White’s RoboScout identified Jonathon Long as an underrated prospect. That looks prescient now, as Long went 3-for-6 with a home run in his AFL debut. The Cubs prospect started at first base for Mesa and had two extra-base hits, and five RBIs. Long was a primary catalyst in Mesa’s 19-3 drubbing of Scottsdale.

Connor Phillips, RHP, Reds: The 2024 season was not what Phillips hoped for. After making his MLB debut in 2023, many considered Phillips a potential option for the Reds rotation. Instead, Phillips struggled over his first 14 Triple-A starts posting a 10.11 ERA over 57 innings with more earned runs than strikeouts. The Reds demoted Phillips to the Arizona Complex League, where he didn’t pitch but worked on fixing his mechanics, which were clearly out of whack. Phillips returned on Aug. 21 and made five starts with Louisville, providing a performance more in line with his expectations coming into the year. On Wednesday, the good times kept rolling as Phillips tossed four scoreless in his AFL debut. Even more importantly, Phillips struck out seven of the 14 batters he faced with zero walks. Phillips was around the zone all day, sitting 97-98 mph touching 99 mph at peak. Phillips’ primary secondary on the day was his mid-80s sweeper, which generated eight whiffs. Phillips will look to continue his strong performances heading into an important offseason.

Yu-Min Lin, LHP, D-backs: The D-backs’ No. 9 prospect faced the challenge of pitching in Amarillo and the Double-A Texas League in 2024. Over 19 starts spanning 94.2 innings, Lin pitched to a 4.28 ERA, ranking in the top 15 of the league in ERA, BB% and K/BB. On the other hand, Min allowed a .280 opponents batting average and saw a spike in his home run rate. Both are often symptoms of Amarillo’s positive run environment. Lin made his fall league debut and tossed three scoreless innings, allowing three hits and zero walks while striking out three. Lin sat 90-91 mph on his sinker mixing a cutter at 87-88 mph, a curveball with depth, a slider and a changeup. Lin’s kitchen sink of secondaries fits his pitchability profile.

AL Central, West Organization Reports

Each month, we highlight one prospect from every organization for Baseball America subscribers in our organization reports. This month’s batch of updates is rolling out this week. Check out the latest on the following players:

• March Church, Rangers

• Michael Morales, Mariners

• David Shields, Royals

• Dylan Fien, Athletics

• George Wolkow, White Sox

• Joswa Lugo, Angels

Check back each morning for additional reports.

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