Confidan's MVP Night Ends the NL's Fall Stars Drought

The drought ends in the eighth

The National League prospects beat the American League 7-4 in the 20th annual Fall Stars Game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, the NL's first victory in the event since 2022. It was a tightly contested game, and an eighth-inning breakout swung it the NL's way. m:…9401

The rally started with Nationals catcher Kevin Bazzell, who doubled to right-center field and then came around to score on Padres infielder Justin DeCriscio's bunt RBI single. DeCriscio executed a safety squeeze to plate Bazzell with the decisive run. Bazzell also showed off his defense with a 1.86-second pop time on a steal attempt. m:…9401 m:…1794 m:…4385

Confidan's MVP night

Reds prospect Yerlin Confidan was named Fall Stars Game MVP after a double to center field and a bases-loaded walk for the NL. He was one of the night's clear standouts in a game built to showcase the next wave of talent. m:…9401

Philadelphia's Aidan Miller was the only member of the NL squad to deliver a multihit night. Ten members of MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list took the field, and the reports from the night suggest many of them could soon matter for their big league clubs. m:…9401 m:…1794

Susana sets the tone

Washington Nationals prospect Jarlin Susana set the tone as the NL's starter on a strikeout-heavy night. He cranked his fastball above 102 mph on five occasions, topping out at 103.1, while recording two strikeouts. m:…9401

Susana averaged 101.2 mph with his fastball and also had the highest spin rate of the night, 3,080 rpm on an 87.2 mph slide piece, during a scoreless first inning. He opened the game with 102.7 and 103.1 mph fastballs, living up to his billing as the Fall League's top mound prospect and hardest thrower. m:…1794

The rest of the next wave

Twins infielder Kyle DeBarge was the evening's top offensive performer, going 2-for-2 with a double, a walk, two runs scored and two stolen bases. He produced the game's top exit velocity with a 104.2 mph single. Luke Fox settled down after his trouble with DeBarge and struck out the side. m:…1794

Welbyn Francisca, the league's batting leader at .419, stood out with two of the best defensive plays of the evening at shortstop. The Fall League is a primary stage for evaluating top prospects, and this game gave teams one more look at players who could soon be integral pieces of their franchises. m:…1794 m:…4385

The three team accounts of the game agree on its shape: a close showcase decided late, with the pitching velocity and the eighth-inning rally as the two things to remember. The Fall Stars Game serves as a primary evaluation venue for MLB teams to assess the readiness of their top prospects, and this edition gave them plenty to assess. m:…4385

The arms matched the bats on the night. Susana averaged 101.2 mph with his fastball, opened the game with 102.7 and 103.1 mph fastballs, and recorded the highest spin rate of the night at 3,080 rpm on an 87.2 mph slide piece. At the plate, DeBarge's 104.2 mph single was the game's top exit velocity, and ten members of MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list took the field. m:…9401 m:…1794 m:…4385