The second week of the 2025 Arizona Fall League season is in the books. It was a great one for a pair of Pirates prospects, particularly power-hitting outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez. Additionally, the breakout of Astros pitching prospect Anderson Brito continues.
Pirates prospects have big weeks
It was a very good week for two notable Pirates prospects: Esmerlyn Valdez and Tony Blanco Jr.
Valdez had a titanic week for the Salt River Rafters, as he blasted five home runs and six total extra-base hits across the week. Between the regular season, playoffs, and Arizona Fall League, the Pirates outfielder has 34 total home runs on the year.
As for Blanco Jr., the son of the former Nationals infielder Tony Blanco had a good week of his own. Blanco Jr. hit .583 with a home run. His home run, off Guardians prospect Rorik Maltrud, went 464 feet. It is, as of now, the longest home run hit in the Arizona Fall League this season.
Coming in second for this season was a 454-foot long blast courtesy of Cubs prospect Cole Mathis.
Strong run for Brito thus far
Astros prospect Anderson Brito has been excellent in the AFL, as he makes up for lost time. Not only has Brito hit triple digits with his fastball but the young pitcher for the Houston organization has been fooling hitters with regularity.
Brito is currently second in the AFL this season with 13 strikeouts, all across just five innings of work. The only pitcher ahead of him in that regard is Nationals prospect Jake Bennett (17).
And as far as swings-and-misses are concerned, Brito has been near the top of that category this season:
| Player | Team | Whiff% |
|---|---|---|
| Trevor Kuncl | Reds | 51.5% |
| Karson Milbrandt | Marlins | 50% |
| Anderson Brito | Astros | 46.2% |
| Koen Moreno | Cubs | 43.5% |
| Tyler Davis | White Sox | 43.5% |
| Jake Bennett | Nationals | 42.3% |
Alvarez Jr. producing in AFL
Braves infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr. is one of the few Major Leaguers playing in the Arizona Fall League this October. Thus far, he’s been producing down in the winter ball league.
Alvarez picked up five hits over the past week. But on top of that, he also had six walks. As noted in our Glendale Desert Dogs preview, Alvarez Jr. — an on-base machine in his Minor League days — hasn’t been able to replicate his success at the MLB level thus far.
Statistical standouts
Here are other notable performers from the Arizona Fall League this past week:
- INF Max Anderson (SCO/DET): three home runs, 2.289 OPS over three games
- C Walker Janek (SCO/HOU): three home runs, 15 RBI, 1.052 OPS over four games
- C/OF Chris Suero (SCO/NYM): two home runs, 1.214 OPS over three games
- OF Enrique Bradfield Jr. (PEJ/BAL): seven hits, seven stolen bases over four games
- INF Seaver King (SCO/WSH): eight hits, nine RBI over four games
- P Karson Milbrandt (MSS/MIA): seven strikeouts, one hit over three innings
- P Luke Sinnard (GDD/ATL): six strikeouts, one earned run over five innings
- P Welinton Herrera (SRR/COL): six strikeouts, no earned runs over three innings
Stats as of the last seven days.
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