Rangers Prospects Help Lead Surprise Into AFL Championship Game
Nov 14, 2026 4:59 PM

The Texas Rangers were all over the action in the Arizona Fall League as the Surprise Saguaros took down the Desert Dogs to advance to the championship.

After a long, hard-fought season, the Surprise Saguaros are officially into the Arizona Fall League Championship Game.

On Friday, Surprise took down the Glendale Desert Dogs in resounding 10-4 fashion to claim victory in the semifinals.

Five Texas Rangers prospects took the field for Surprise as the orginization continues to have a deep impact on the team’s success this season.

Rangers' Walcott back in action

Texas top prospect Sebastian Walcott got the start at shortstop and picked up one hit in four at-bats.

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Walcott led off the second inning by lifting a flyout to center field. In the third, he ripped a 116-mph line drive into left field and would later steal second and third base before coming around to score.

In the fourth, Walcott grounded back to the pitcher and in the sixth, struck out in what would be his final at-bat.

Rangers outfield prospect Paxton Kling also got the start for the Saguaros and, much like he has throughout the entire Fall League, had a big impact on this one.

Kling drew a walk during his first at-bat of the game in the second and swiped second base. In the third, he picked up another walk and steal. He finished his day by striking out in the fourth and grounding out in the sixth.

Texas catching prospect Julian Brock got the start behind the dish and went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks.

Brock worked a five pitch walk in the second before walking on six pitches in the third. He struck out in the fifth and the seventh.

McConnaughey shines on the mound

On the mound, Rangers prospect Mason McConnaughey came up huge for Surprise throwing four innings, allowing just two hits while striking out five and not walking a single batter.

McConnaughey came on in the second and worked a 1-2-3 inning with a pair of punchouts. In the third, it was another 1-2-3 frame. In the fourth, he allowed a pair of two-out singles but got an inning ending strikeout to strand them both.

The Texas prospect finished his outing with a 1-2-3 fifth, recording a strikeout, a groundout, and a pop out.

Alejandro Chiquillo also took the mound for the Saguaros and went three innings, allowing three hits and two runs but managed to strike out five.

Surprise will now take on the Peoria Javelinas in the Championship Game on Saturday night, which will be broadcast live on MLB Network.

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