finished his season in <\/a>Triple-A, just a step ahead of McGonigle.\u00a0<\/p>\nAnderson has been a standout in the AFL, boasting a .488 average and a 1.552 OPS in 41 at-bats for the Scorpions. The 23-year-old second baseman has found his groove during his first extended trip in Arizona.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2018ve been loving it,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cThis is my first time really out in Arizona. I thought the weather was gonna be a lot hotter, but it’s been perfect.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Along with posting ludicrous offensive stats, Anderson has been focused on his glove during the offseason and is trying to improve his game defensively.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLocking in on the defensive side of the ball here, focused on hitting the ball as well, of course, but not as much as I am when it comes to defense,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cGetting stronger and being prepared at third base and shortstop for next spring\u2026 everything else will fall into place if I just stay locked in and keep a consistent offseason.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the players in the Arizona Fall League are focused on the competition, self-improvement, and hard work that comes along with the offseason, it never hurts to hit the links, throw a line in the water and enjoy the Arizona weather.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all happy to be out here playing baseball,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cEnjoying the golf and all the stuff out here with the boys, everyone’s bonding, hanging out at the pool, it’s good times for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
This <a target=”_blank” href=”https:\/\/cronkitenews.azpbs.org\/2025\/11\/05\/cfp-poll-big-12-asu\/”>article<\/a> first appeared on <a target=”_blank” href=”https:\/\/cronkitenews.azpbs.org”>Cronkite News<\/a> and is republished here under a <a target=”_blank” href=”https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nd\/4.0\/”>Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGolfing, fishing and fielding: MLB prospects make the most of time in the Valley during Arizona Fall League<\/p>\n
Dane Palmer, Cronkite News
\nNovember 5, 2025<\/p>\n
SURPRISE \u2013 As the Arizona Fall League barnstorms through the Valley, some of MLB\u2019s top prospects can be found golfing, fishing and jumping into the pool during their downtime. The AFL is in full swing, making its rounds as the premier experience for minor league talent to hone their skills and play competitive baseball during what is normally considered the offseason.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Every autumn, prospects from every major league team come together in Glendale, Mesa, Scottsdale, Surprise, Peoria and Salt River to show off their talents. All 30 MLB teams are affiliated with the six AFL teams, sending their top prospects to get in some offseason work in games that run through mid-November.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The talent level in the fall league is elite as always with eight top 100 prospects participating this year, including a pair of top 10 prospects. Past players who blossomed into modern-day MLB stars, such as Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Ronald Acu\u00f1a and Aaron Judge, all spent time in the AFL before bursting onto the world scene.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Texas Rangers\u2019 Sebastian Walcott and the Detroit Tigers\u2019 Kevin McGonigle, both infielders and both No. 1 prospects, will use their fall league performance to work toward making the major league roster next season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Other top prospects such as Charlie Condon, the Colorado Rockies’ No. 2 prospect, will use the AFL as a way to elongate a season that was interrupted multiple times by a struggle with injuries.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI had been told basically the day after I broke my wrist to not make any offseason plans because it’s gonna be made up of these kinds of events,\u201d said Condon, who plays first base and outfield. \u201cI\u2019m definitely excited to be out here and to finish these games up.\u201d<\/p>\n
While preparing for his time in the AFL and recovering from injury, Condon found himself baiting a hook and exploring fishing holes in Arizona.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMe and a couple of the other guys who were rehabbing did our best to find some fishing around here,\u201d Condon said. \u201cWe got some catfish and some carp, while we had some time to fill down here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Condon wasn’t the only player looking for hobbies to fill his free time in Arizona. McGonigle headed for the links, enjoying some of the premier golf courses in Arizona.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI shot an 81 out here and that’s the best I\u2019ve ever shot,\u201d McGonigle said. \u201cI’m looking to break 80 at some point while I\u2019m here, but it’s tough\u2026I started playing about three years ago, and I feel like it doesn’t affect my (baseball) swing, so I just play whenever I get the chance.\u201d<\/p>\n
McGonigle, a native of Aldan, Pennsylvania, has rocketed his way up through the minor leagues and finished the season in Double-A, helping the Tigers’ high-A affiliate win the Midwest League title on his way. McGonigle hopes to force the Tigers’ hand to continue to push him through the ranks with strong performances and give him a chance at the major league level.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeeping the same attitude, playing the same way I played since I was younger, and playing the game the right way\u2026that will help me get up there at some point,\u201d McGonigle said.<\/p>\n
Max Anderson, another Scottsdale Scorpion, and McGonigle’s teammate, has been on fire early in the AFL season. Anderson, the No. 9 prospect for Detroit, finished his season in Triple-A, just a step ahead of McGonigle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Anderson has been a standout in the AFL, boasting a .488 average and a 1.552 OPS in 41 at-bats for the Scorpions. The 23-year-old second baseman has found his groove during his first extended trip in Arizona.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2018ve been loving it,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cThis is my first time really out in Arizona. I thought the weather was gonna be a lot hotter, but it’s been perfect.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Along with posting ludicrous offensive stats, Anderson has been focused on his glove during the offseason and is trying to improve his game defensively.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLocking in on the defensive side of the ball here, focused on hitting the ball as well, of course, but not as much as I am when it comes to defense,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cGetting stronger and being prepared at third base and shortstop for next spring\u2026 everything else will fall into place if I just stay locked in and keep a consistent offseason.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the players in the Arizona Fall League are focused on the competition, self-improvement, and hard work that comes along with the offseason, it never hurts to hit the links, throw a line in the water and enjoy the Arizona weather.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all happy to be out here playing baseball,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cEnjoying the golf and all the stuff out here with the boys, everyone’s bonding, hanging out at the pool, it’s good times for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
This article first appeared on Cronkite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AFL-20251026-HK-2-1024x683.jpg\")
Colorado Rockies No. 2 prospect Charlie Condon, right, prepares to tag the runner on a pickoff attempt during the Rafters’ game against the Desert Dogs Oct. 26. (Photo by Hana Kaufman\/Cronkite News)<\/p>\n