The San Diego Padres farmhand, who has been playing for the Peoria Javelinas during the Arizona Fall League, gave the fans in attendance something to cheer for and gave the Friar Faithful something to hope for. Alex McCoy, the 6-5, 260-pound outfielder hit a 503-foot home run in the first round of the AFL Home Run Derby held at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Ariz. on Saturday night.
McCoy’s blast was one of seven first-round home runs hit by the right hander, but he was knocked out of the derby in that round by the eventual champion, Aaron Parker of the Toronto Blue Jays organization, 12-7. For McCoy, his appearance at the AFL Home Run Derby resulted in yet another headline home run from the AFL this season. The slugger has been drawing attention from fans of the Padres and baseball alike for his ability to hit the long ball.
The question for McCoy is whether or not his power can translate at the MLB level. Admittedly, he is still aways off from being called up to Petco Park, but after San Diego sent James Wood, another power-hitting outfielder, to the Washington Nationals in the Juan Soto trade, it would be nice to see a homegrown power-hitter rise through the ranks to make his MLB debut with the Padres. The knock on McCoy is his number of strikeouts, but that is to be expected with any young slugger. The hope is that the coaches throughout the San Diego minor league system can help him make adjustments so he can make his debut sooner than later.
The AFL Fall Stars Game will be played tonight at 5 pm PST.
Padres News:
- Ty France had an impressive season in his return to the Padres but did he impress Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball? Read what grade France earned for his 2026 performance, here.
- Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors is reporting there are multiple teams showing interest in France in free agency.
Baseball News:
- Seiya Suzuki may be the top free agent on the market not names Tarik Skubal according to MLB.com.
- The New York Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate will have a new name in 2027.
