As the highest-ranked prospect to descend upon the Arizona Fall League in recent memory, it felt like only a matter of time until Kevin McGonigle made his presence felt on the elite prospect circuit. That time has certainly come.
McGonigle rode a torrid stretch at the plate while right-hander James Hicks, his Scottsdale teammate, continued to dominate on the mound as the pair earned Hitter and Pitcher of the Week honors respectively for Week 3 of the Arizona Fall League.
McGonigle (DET No. 1) slashed .500/.579/.875 with two home runs this week for the Scorpions, powering that production with a dramatic four-hit performance that he capped with a go-ahead 10th-inning homer (off a 99 mph sinker) on Oct. 24 against Salt River. That timely blast was one of his two homers on the week. He also scored four runs, collected four RBIs and 14 total bases and walked three times in four games played.
It was the kind of all-around offensive performance customary of MLB’s second-ranked overall prospect, who established himself as the best pure hitter in the Minors this season as he climbed the organizational ladder, reaching Double-A. McGonigle and his 70-grade hit tool produced everywhere he went, batting .305/.408/.583 with 19 homers and more walks (59) than strikeouts (46). He finished Week 3 hitting .366 over his first 11 Fall League games.
It’s been more of a slow-burn breakout for Hicks, a 2023 13th-round pick and the Astros’ No. 26 prospect. But he’s putting together one of the best Fall League seasons by a hurler in some time. After completing four more scoreless innings in his Oct. 24 start, Hicks has logged 11 unscored upon to begin his Fall League tenure, racking up 14 strikeouts in that span. Opponents are hitting only .139 against the 24-year-old righty this fall.
The Fall League can be a difficult place for pitchers to succeed. But don’t tell that to Hicks. He’s one of only 13 pitchers to string together at least 11 scoreless innings on the circuit since 2016, and only the third starter to do so. So far, he’s allowed only five hits and one walk across his three pristine outings.
