Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is on fire at the plate for the Toronto Blue Jays. No surprise, especially for those who watched him play for Surprise.
That was in 2018, when the future slugger hit .351 with 17 RBI in 19 games for the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League at age 19. He is one of many stars in the 2025 post-season among more than 1,200 players who have gone from the AFL to MLB.
TORONTO: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a grand slam in Game Two of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre on Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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In the first two games of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, Guerrero has gone 6-for-9 with 2 homers and 6 RBI. Fellow AFL alums George Springer (Mesa, 2012) and Ernie Clement (Mesa, 2019) also have homered for the Blue Jays in consecutive victories of 10-1 and 13-7.
AFL graduates on the 2025 post-season stage include Aaron Judge, Julio Rodriguez, Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, Jazz Chisholm. Max Fried, Andres Munoz, Parker Meadows, Kyle Tucker and Christian Yelich.
According to MLB.com, 41% (33 of 80) of players named to the 2025 MLB All Star Game were AFL alums, including 10 starters.
SURPRISE, AZ: Vladimir Guerrero Jr of the Toronto Blue Jays bats during the Arizona Fall League All Star Game at Surprise Stadium on Nov. 3, 2018. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Among members of the AFL Hall of Fame are Dusty Baker, Terry Francona, Nomar Garciaparra, Roy Halladay, Todd Helton, Matt Holliday, Derek Jeter, Andrew McCutchen, Mike Piazza, Albert Pujols, Jimmy Rollins, Max Scherzer, Mike Trout and Michael Young. To qualify, an AFL alum must have played 5+ years in MLB and won at least two major MLB awards.
Opening Night
The 32nd AFL season opens tonight at 9:30, Eastern Time, as the Scottsdale Scorpions host the Peoria Javelinas.
Peoria features three of the Cincinnati Reds’ top six prospects as ranked by MLB Pipeline, headlined by 19-year-old catcher Alfredo Duno. He’s listed No. 2 behind infielder Sal Stewart, who played 18 games for the Reds this year and went 2-for-4 in Cincinnati’s NL Wild Card series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
ATLANTA: Alfredo Duno of the Cincinnati Reds waves to fans during player introductions at the 2025 MLB All-Star Futures Game at Truist Park on July 12, 2025. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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The powerful right-handed hitter is sometimes compared to nine-time all-star Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals. Duno had a fine 2025 season at Class A Daytona, where he hit .287 and led the Florida State League in homers (18), RBI (81) and walks (95). Signed for $3.1 million as an international free agent in 2023, the AFL will be a good test for Duno defensively. Teams often send speedy base-stealing prospects to the AFL and Duno’s plus-rated arm will meet its’ match.
Right-hander Rhett Lowder, the Reds’ No. 5 prospect, will look to get back on track after a 2025 season derailed by forearm, oblique, and shoulder injuries.
A year ago, he had a 1.17 ERA in six late-season starts for Cincinnati at age 22. This year, the first-round pick signed for $5.7 million in 2023 had a 10.61 ERA in only 5 starts in the low minors.
Infielder Cam Collier had 20 homers in 2024 for High-A Dayton at age 19. He had surgery on his left thumb this past March and hit only four homers across three minor-league levels when he returned. He got $5 million to sign as a 2022 first-round choice and is listed as the Reds’ No. 6 prospect.
BOWIE, MD: Kevin McGonigle of the Erie SeaWolves hits a home run against the Chesapeake Baysox at Prince George’s Stadium on Aug. 12, 2025. (Photo by Thomas Takele/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
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Peoria features Kevin McGonigle, the 21-year-old hit machine listed as the Detroit Tigers’ top prospect and No. 2 overall. He missed seven weeks with a sprained right ankle – and still managed to hit .305 with 19 homers, 31 doubles and 80 RBI over 88 games in the minors this year.
The first-round pick in 2023 has played mostly shortstop since signing for $2,847,500. Some scouts maintain McGonigle’s ordinary arm and range are better suited for second base and he may be tried there this fall. His quick left-handed swing makes him a candidate to win a job in Detroit next spring.
Other Top Prospects
There are eight other players on AFL rosters that are among the top 100 prospects overall as ranked by MLB Pipeline:
6. Sebastian Walcott, SS/3B, Texas Rangers (Surprise)
13. Josue De Paula, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers (Glendale)
32. Aidan Miller, SS, Philadelphia Phillies (Surprise)
35. Braden Montgomery, OF, Chicago White Sox (Glendale)
61. Charlie Condon, 1B/OF, Colorado Rockies (Salt River)
62. Blake Mitchell, C, Kansas City Royals (Surprise)
75. Jonny Farmelo, OF, Seattle Mariners (Peoria)
88. Hagen Smith, LHP, Chicago White Sox (Glendale)
MESA, AZ: Chase DeLauter of the Peoria Javelinas bats during the 2023 Fall Stars game at Sloan Park on Nov. 5, 2023 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
MLB Photos via Getty Images
Others may be added such as Chase DeLauter, the No. 58 prospect overall and second ranked in the Cleveland Guardians’ system. He was originally on the Surprise roster for a second straight year. Instead, the oft-injured outfielder was added to Cleveland’s playoff roster and made his MLB debut in the AL Wild Card series.
DeLauter became only the sixth player to make his MLB debut in the playoffs. He and Adalberto Mondesi are the only ones to do it after playing in the AFL. Mondesi played for Peoria at age 18 in 2014 and made his MLB debut for the Kansas City Royals in the 2015 World Series.
DeLauter played for Peoria in 2023, hitting .299 with 5 homers, 27 RBI and 5 steals in 23 games. He returned last year for Surprise, hitting .240 with 1 homer and 11 RBI in 12 games.
The 2025 AFL Teams
Players from five MLB organizations comprise the six AFL clubs. The 2025 teams and their affiliations are:
- Glendale Desert Dogs: Blue Jays, Braves, Cardinals, Dodgers, White Sox.
- Mesa Solar Sox: Athletics, Cubs, Marlins, Rays, Yankees.
- Peoria Javelinas: Mariners, Orioles, Padres, Reds, Twins.
- Salt River Rafters: Angels, Diamondbacks, Pirates, Red Sox, Rockies.
- Scottsdale Scorpions: Astros, Giants, Mets, Nationals, Tigers.
- Surprise Saguaros: Brewers, Guardians, Phillies, Rangers, Royals.
2025 AFL Featured Dates
- Oct. 6: Opening Night, 9:30 p.m.
- Oct. 11: Kino Sports Complex tripleheader, starts at 3:30 p.m.
- Oct. 18: Goodyear Ballpark tripleheader, starts at 3:30 p.m.
- Nov. 8: Home Run Derby, Sloan Park, 8:30 p.m.
- Nov. 9: Fall Stars Game, Sloan Park, 8 p.m.
- Nov. 13: Division Series, Scottsdale Stadium, starting at 3:30 p.m.
- Nov. 14: Semifinals, Salt River Fields, starting at 3:30 p.m.
- Nov. 15: Championship Game, Salt River Fields, 6:30 p.m.
All times listed are Eastern Time.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckmurr/2025/10/06/vladimir-guerrero-jr-showed-star-sparkle-in-arizona-fall-league/
