It's almost that time of year again.
Now with Labor Day in the rearview mirror, we're already looking ahead -- to the Arizona Fall League.
Soon, the annual elite prospect circuit should be revealing its rosters for the 2025 season, set to begin on October 6. Over the past 15 years, an average of 17 Top 100 prospects descend each year upon the Fall League, and this year, the White Sox have already announced three of their Top 100 guys -- lefties Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith and outfielder Braden Montgomery -- will be suiting up in Arizona.
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Who might join them?
On the latest MLB Pipeline Podcast, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo identified 11 top prospects they deemed Fall League candidates. Let's take a closer look at the players they want to see suiting up in Arizona.
Kevin McGonigle, SS, Tigers (DET No. 1/MLB No. 2)
It's already been a highly successful campaign for McGonigle, the 37th overall pick from the 2023 Draft, as he reached Double-A and, at 21 years old, all but cemented himself as the best pure hitter in the Minors. But he missed most of April and early May due to injury, and as such has only played in 79 games as of Wednesday. A little more than half of those have come at Double-A, where McGonigle has performed well (.910 OPS) without setting the world on fire like he did at lower levels. He could probably benefit from more at-bats ahead of 2026, which could be a big year for McGonigle in terms of impacting the big league club. If McGonigle does go to the Fall League, he'd be the highest-ranked prospect to do so since Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2018.
Jesús Made (MIL No. 1/MLB No. 5) & Luis Peña (MIL No. 2/MLB No. 16), INF, Brewers
The Brewers' pair of teenage phenom infielders have been linked their entire careers, and been promoted together repeatedly. So if this happens, it only makes sense for them to go to the Fall League as a pair. There aren't a ton of traditional reasons to think the Brewers might do this -- neither missed time to injury this season -- though Peña has slumped upon reaching High-A. But if Milwaukee wants to keep both of them on Jackson Chourio-type paths and move them to Double-A next year, why not send them to the Fall League to get a sense of what that next level is like?
Josue De Paula, OF, Dodgers (LAD No. 1/MLB No. 12)
The Dodgers haven't been shy about sending their better players to the Fall League, and next year could be a big year for De Paula, the MVP of the 2025 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. A knee injury cost De Paula about three weeks post-Futures Game, limiting him to 325 at-bats on the season through Wednesday. In Arizona, the 20-year-old could make up for lost at-bats while getting a little taste of what Double-A pitching might be like for next year.
Travis Bazzana, 2B, Guardians (CLE No. 1/MLB No. 15)
Bazzana might be the perfect Fall League candidate among the top-tier prospects. The top overall pick from the 2024 Draft missed almost two months to an oblique injury between May and July, and he seems destined to begin impacting the big league club in 2026. Heck, if he hadn't been hurt this season, he may be in the big leagues already. He's up in Triple-A now, but has only played a grand total of 18 games at the level as of Wednesday. He needs at-bats.
Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins (MIN No. 1/MLB No. 14)
Different leg injuries have limited Jenkins to about one season's worth of games over the past two years, so Jenkins looks like a perfect candidate to hit the Fall League with an eye toward making up for some of that lost time. Jenkins is at Triple-A now, so he'll be playing right up until the start of the Fall League season, making for a smooth transition. Not much is keeping Jenkins from the big leagues at this point other than lack of experience. and he could possess the best all-around toolset brought to the Fall League.
Aiva Arquette, SS, Marlins (MIA No. 2/MLB No. 38)
It's unusual to see guys come right out of the Draft and make their unofficial pro debuts in the Fall League, and that won't happen with Arquette, who has already started his career at High-A. But it makes sense for the seventh overall pick from the 2025 Draft to go to Arizona because Arquette, the consensus top college position player in his class, is clearly going to be in Double-A next season. Why not give him a head start with some early exposure to that level of pitching?
Aidan Miller, SS, Phillies (PHI No. 2/MLB No. 47)
The 27th overall pick from '23 struggled for most of the season at Double-A Reading, where it took some time for the 21-year-old to adjust to a heavy diet of breaking balls upon his arrival at the level. Miller really turned things around in the second half and is finishing strong, with an OPS north of 1.000 in August. It makes sense the Phillies might want to send him to Arizona to build on that late-season success and also get more defensive reps at shortstop.
Charlie Condon, 1B/OF, Rockies (COL No. 2/MLB No. 58)
The third overall pick from the '24 Draft also seems like a prime Fall League candidate. Condon suffered a broken wrist in Spring Training and didn't make his season debut until early May, then took some time adjusting to Double-A upon arriving at Hartford in early July. He's starting to look like the slugger he was in college, with nine homers in his first 45 games for the Yard Goats. Condon could also benefit from some defensive innings in the outfield if he heads to the Fall League, after playing primarily first base during the regular season.
Jonny Farmelo, OF, Mariners (SEA No. 7/MLB No. 80)
The Mariners have more Top 100 prospects than any team, and a number of Fall League candidates. But Farmelo may be the best fit. The 29th overall pick from '23, the 20-year-old has been limited to 26 games at High-A so far due to a knee injury that cost him more than 2 1/2 months this summer. But he's really exciting, with a dynamic mix of power, speed and athleticism. He obviously needs more reps if he's going to be ready to play in Double-A next year, and he could be one of the most electric prospects in Arizona if he goes.
Daniel Espino, RHP, Guardians (CLE No. 30)
A few years ago, Espino had maybe the best all-around stuff in the Minors. But he hasn't pitched in an official game since May 2022, undergoing knee issues and two shoulder surgeries over the ensuing three seasons. Still only 24, Espino could be a prime candidate -- and potential breakout star -- for the Fall League if his health allows, though that remains to be seen.
On the MLB Pipeline Podcast, Jonathan Mayo, Jim Callis and Sam Dykstra are your tour guides through all the unfolding stories and breaking news of baseball's top prospects. Each week, you'll find out about the stars of tomorrow from the guys who know today. Download, subscribe and help others find the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes or your favorite platform.