Top performers of 2023 Fall Stars Game

MESA, Ariz. – The Arizona Fall League’s highest-ranked prospect lived up to his billing in the annual Fall Stars Game on Sunday night, and several other less famous farmhands also rose to the occasion.

White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery, ranked No. 17 on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list, won MVP honors after going 2-for-2 with a home run to help the American League to a 6-3 victory over the National League. Though his third-inning blast was one of four homers in the contest, several pitchers also stood out as the two teams combined for 26 strikeouts while mustering just 13 hits.

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Here are 12 players who performed well on the AFL’s biggest stage:

Eric Brown Jr., SS, Brewers
Not known for his power, Milwaukee’s 2022 first-round pick teed off on an 82-mph slider from Rays right-hander Logan Workman and smacked a 383-foot homer with an exit velocity of 98 mph in the fifth inning. The Brewers' No. 10 prospect also provided a pair of nifty plays at shortstop, showing off his strong arm to retire Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter in the fourth inning and deftly turning a chopper from Mariners DH Tyler Locklear into an out in the fifth.

Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa, RHP, Rangers
A 30th-round pick out of Pierce (Wash.) CC in 2019, Hoopii-Tuionetoa hasn’t allowed a run in eight regular-season AFL innings and worked a perfect fourth in the Fall Stars Game. He sat in the mid-90s with his fastball and struck out Phillies second baseman Oliver Dunn and Padres left fielder Jakob Marsee (SD No. 12) on heaters.

Jordan Leasure, RHP, White Sox
Part of the Lance Lynn/Joe Kelly trade with the Dodgers in July, Leasure continued to be one of the most dominant relievers in the Fall League. Chicago's No. 18 prospect worked a scoreless seventh, hitting 98 mph and fanning both Cubs outfielder Kevin Alcántara (CHC No. 4) and Mets first baseman JT Schwartz on fastballs for called third strikes.

Kyle Manzardo, 1B, Guardians
The best pure hitter in the AFL, Manzardo has shown more power than usual in the developmental circuit and provided the loudest home run of the night. MLB's No. 58 overall prospect pummeled a middle-of-the-plate fastball from Dodgers right-hander Kendall Williams in the fifth, driving it 433 feet at 111 mph.

Juan Mejia, RHP, Rockies
Another of the AFL's more overpowering relievers, Mejia needed just 10 pitches to navigate a perfect seventh. He whiffed both Twins right fielder Kala’i Rosario (MIN No. 19) and Manzardo with a slider that parked at 83-84 mph.

Colson Montgomery, SS, White Sox
Constantly compared to two-time World Series MVP Corey Seager, Montgomery took home some hardware of his own. After singling in his first at-bat, he crushed a mid-90s fastball from Dodgers left-hander Ronan Kopp (LAD No. 16) 409 feet at 105 mph in the fourth.

Andrew Moore, RHP, Reds
Moore came to the Reds in July 2022 as part of a four-player package from the Mariners for Luis Castillo and sat in the mid-90s while throwing 13 of 17 pitches for strikes during a perfect sixth. He ran a fastball back over the outside corner to catch Rays catcher Dominic Keegan looking to end an 11-pitch at-bat and whiffed Royals left fielder Peyton Wilson on a changeup.

Will Robertson, OF, Blue Jays
Robertson is building off the best Minor League season of his four-year pro career with a strong fall. He joined the home run parade by tagging a Kopp breaking ball for a 400-foot homer at 100 mph in the fourth. After not recording an outfield assist in 93 Double-A games, he threw out Marsee trying to stretch a double into a triple in the second.

Tekoah Roby, RHP, Cardinals
The best pitching prospect in the Fall Stars Game, Roby was also the most efficient, needing just nine pitches (eight strikes) in a perfect first. Acquired from the Rangers in the Jordan Montgomery trade in July, St. Louis' No. 5 prospect struck out a pair of Top 100 prospects -- the Guardians' Chase DeLauter (MLB's No. 85) on a breaking ball and Manzardo on a 97-mph fastball.

JT Schwartz, 1B, Mets
Schwartz turned in the best defensive play of the contest, making a diving grab of a flair by Athletics DH Max Muncy (OAK No. 7) in foul territory during the eighth. The 2021 fourth-rounder from UCLA went 0-for-2 at the plate.

Victor Scott II, OF, Cardinals
Scott stands tied for the Minor League lead with 94 steals, ranks third in the AFL with 16 in just 22 games and continued to run wild in the Fall Stars Game. The No. 4 Cards prospect reached base three times in three trips on a double and a pair of walks, and he stole three bases off three different pitchers, including third base twice.

C.J. Van Eyk, RHP, Blue Jays
Coming back from Tommy John surgery that cost him the 2022 season, Van Eyk drew the start for the AL and struck out three straight hitters following Scott’s leadoff double. Van Eyk got Phillies right fielder Gabriel Rincones on a curveball, Brewers first baseman Wes Clarke on a 93-mph sinker and Dunn on a changeup, all swinging.