2016 Top Prospects

[SFGRTB]

LF:
1. Mac Williamson Tier III (MLB/AAA)
2. Jarrett Parker Tier IV (MLB/AAA)
3. Byron Murray Tier IV (A/A-)

The difference between Mac and Jarrett is very small. I keep going back and forth between who's ahead, but I like Mac's more well rounded game more than Parker's. Mac was really slowed by the injury, but late in the 2015 season and into the AFL, he started to show the player he was before. He has solid corner OF power and a good idea at the plate, which should allow good OBP and reasonable K numbers. His defense plays in LF or RF, thanks to a terrific arm and good instincts. Parker has fantastic power, not to Shaw's extent, but we saw first hand what it is at his best. Still has major contact issues and strikes-out way too often to be an everyday player IMO. His defensive ability is a big problem too. He's athletic out there, but shows poor judgment in routes and lacks a good first step. Murray is a project. Young dude Will probably report to Augusta. He has a nice power/speed combo.

CF:
1. Johneshwy Fargas Tier IV (A+)
2. Ronnie Jebavy Tier IV (A/A+)
3. Mikey Edie Tier III (AZL/A-/A)

3 fantastic names, and 3 very good players. The Giants are absolutely stacked organizationally up the middle, from catcher all the way to CF. Fargas has good speed, not burning speed though which is what you'd expect out of a guy with 60 steals. He a very good defensive player, but very little bat to speak of. There's some hope that he ends up gaining some strength (only 165 lbs.) and can show even a little power, but at this point he's a reserve OFer, pinch runner. His slow path through the minors is concerning. Jebavy is one of my favorite minor league players. He's the best defensive outfielder in the Giant's system, and he plays hard. He's really like Aaron Rowand out there, but more athletic ability. The one thing that will hold him back is his ability to make contact. He has the speed/defense and decent power, but unless he can make more contact, he's no more than a defensive specialist/pinch hitter. He'll probably move to Augusta, but I really hope he jumps to San Jose. Edie is a project. Some are more bullish on him than I am, but he has nice raw talent. He'll probably make a debut in a full-season league after signing from Venezuela in 2013.

RF:
1. Hunter Cole Tier IV (AAA/AA)
2. Steven Duggar Tier IV (A+/A)
3. Gustavo Cabrera Tier III (A)

Hunter Cole was a former infielder converted to full-time outfield just this year. He's a very similar hitter to Slater, high contact but the power is starting to come around. His versatility will get him far. If he keeps hitting and shows doubles power, could be a useful 3rd outfielder. Needs more experience in the outfield though. Duggar has nice tools, and was recently voted to have the best plate discipline in the Giants minor leagues by Baseball America. Strong arm, and a solid all-around hitter. Nice breakthrough potential in 2016 where he should be in a nice hitter's park in San Jose. Cabrera is back after the nasty freak injury where he nearly lost his hand. He was once the next super prospect of the Giants' system. Next year he should be ready to roll in a full season league where he looks to get his career on track.

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[SFGRTB]

SP:
1. Tyler Beede Tier III (AA/AAA)
2. Clayton Blackburn Tier IV (AAA/MLB)
3. Phil Bickford Tier III (AZL/A-/A)
4. Adalberto Mejia Tier IV (AAA/MLB)
5. Chase Johnson Tier IV (AA)
6. Jordan Johnson Tier III (A+/AA)
7. Sam Coondrod Tier III (A+)
8. Andrew Suarez Tier IV (A+/AA)
9. Chris Stratton Tier V (AAA/MLB)
10. Michael Santos Tier III (A)

I was only going to do 5, but I couldn't leave some guys off. Beede is a consensus top 5 guy. He has one of the biggest arsenals in the system. Throws 3 types of fastballs, curve, slider, changeup. It's a matter of repeating his new delivery, and getting in better shape. If he puts it all together, he could be a great number 2. I'm going more with number 3 guy, similar to Mike Leake, maybe a tad more K's and BB's. Blackburn and Mejia could step in right now to a ML rotation and have success. Blackburn is an innings eater who will rely on command and deception. Led the PCL (extreme hitters league) in ERA. Mejia has a great fastball from the left side, and flashes a plus change and slider. Needs more consistency, but he could be anywhere from number 3 starter to reliever. Scouts LOVE this kid. Bickford has an electric fastball, but he is a ways away. At this point, he needs innings. Last year, he worked a lot in the AZL on mechanics and getting a feel for pitching. The training wheels are firmly on. Not sure the Giants are ready to send him to a full season league yet. Chase and Jordan Johnson are 2 great secrets of this organization. Chase has a big time fastball, and decent secondary stuff. He'll continue to start, but I think he profiles better as a reliever. Jordan meanwhile might have the best set of pitches in the Giants minor leagues. His upside is as high an any other, but injuries will keep him down. His delivery scares people, it's high effort and doesn't look pretty. If he can stay healthy, he's a fast riser. Number 2 potential. Coonrod is similar to Chase, 100mph fastball but I think fits better in the Pen. He has improved immensely since becoming a pro, slashing his walks while continuing to throw hard. He was a closer in college, but converted to a starter and took off. Potential big riser. Suarez and Stratton profile similarly stuff-wise. Stratton is no longer the high 90s guy he was in college, more of a control/contact pitcher now. He's on the brink of MLB, but I personally am not a believer. Suarez is a low 90s lefty who pitches to contact. Huge injury concerns, but expects to rise through the system quick. Santos is a project arm. Big body, built like a prototypical starter (6'-4", broad chest), he too throws a big fastball, and a plus slider. Hasn't been able to stay on the field though. Very young (20 yo), so plenty of time. Upside is very high.

RP:
1. Ray Black Tier I (AA/AAA/MLB)
2. Steve Okert Tier III (AAA/MLB)
3. Jacob Smith Tier III (AA/AAA)
4. Ian Gardeck Tier III (AA/AAA)
5. Kyle Crick Tier III (AA/AAA)
6. Daniel Slania Tier IV (AA/AAA)
7. Radolfo Martinez Tier IV (A+)
8. Derek Law Tier IV (AA/AAA)
9. Caleb Smith Tier III (A/A+)
10. Kendry Melo Tier IV (A)
11. Cory Taylor Tier III (A/A-)
12. Tyler Cyr Tier IV (A/A+)

The one and only Tier I in the system I think belongs to Ray Black. If he can stay healthy and gain a little consistency with his slider/slurve, he can be a shut-down reliever. Scouts have said that only maybe Aroldis Chapman has a better fastball. Consistently 100 mph, never usually below 97 and it doesn't look like he's trying out there. Mix in a slider that has some insane tilt on it and he's just unfair. Unfortunately, I don't think he's ever pitched back-to-back nights because of his injury history, which is obviously a huge part of being a reliever. That's the step he is going to work on this year, and if the Giants and Black feel comfortable, he really doesn't need to do much in the minors. He just needs to stay out there at this point. Okert is in the mold of Affeldt, good stuff from the left side, and can go multiple innings. Got jumped by Osich. Smith and Gardeck were added to the 40 man roster because they posses big fastballs and are knocking on the door to the bigs. Crick, ugh. His mechanics are a mess, I'm sure his head is a mess too. Feel bad for the kid. His stuff still plays at the majors, but it would be a minor miracle if he gets that far. Slania has good LOOGY potential. Martinez has a good fastball, but had massive control issues coming into 2015. Really worked to smooth those out and had a good year. The anti-Crick, but with less stuff. Law was once the top of this list, but Tommy John slowed him down. Last year he was learning his new arm, so 2016 will be interesting to see if he can get back to what he was, which was nasty and funky. Could shoot up list. Caleb Smith has a 95 mph fastball, and he's a lefty. Great combo. Melo and Taylor I think will be converted to starters next season by the Giants. Taylor really impresses me and could rise up like Coonrod has. Cyr was the first 2015 Giants draftee to play in a full-season league. Strikeout stuff, could be a quick riser.

Overall:

Tier I: 1
Tier II: 1
Tier III: 18
Tier IV: 20
Tier V: 6

 

[calsnowskier]

I think I would make the following changes to tiers...

Brown from V to IV - If my understanding of your tiering is accurate, a IV is an MLB backup (projected) and a V is a career minor leaguer. I think Brown has a very good chance of having a career as an MLB backup catcher.

Shaw from III to IV - I think he MIGHT be something special. You are probably right in calling him a III, though. These ratings are not set in stone, and from what we know about him right now, calling him a III is probably the safest bet.

Ryder - I dont have a proposed change because he is still raw, but seeing him rated as a V is a bit shocking. He was neck-and-neck with Arroyo when they were drafted, now there is no question which is the higher-rated prospect.

 

[SFGRTB]

I think I would make the following changes to tiers...

Brown from V to IV - If my understanding of your tiering is accurate, a IV is an MLB backup (projected) and a V is a career minor leaguer. I think Brown has a very good chance of having a career as an MLB backup catcher.

Shaw from III to IV - I think he MIGHT be something special. You are probably right in calling him a III, though. These ratings are not set in stone, and from what we know about him right now, calling him a III is probably the safest bet.

Ryder - I dont have a proposed change because he is still raw, but seeing him rated as a V is a bit shocking. He was neck-and-neck with Arroyo when they were drafted, now there is no question which is the higher-rated prospect.

I had Brown at a IV and changed him to a V before I posted it. On one hand, yes I think Brown could make a career as a backup catcher. His upside is so limited to that though, it felt wrong for me to rank him along the same lines of Parker/Slater etc. He is replaceable.

Ryder was another one I had at IV but then changed to V at the last minute. Probably a little too harsh on him, 2016 will be big, really curious where he plays too.

One I made a mistake. Stratton was meant to rank as IV not V.

 

[calsnowskier]

Even these tiers are hard to define because these are just kids and there ability is so fluid. Cabrera, for example, has the ability to potentially be a I, but because of his injury and lack of clarity with where he is now because of it, rating him a III is not unfair. I would not complain about a IV on him. Crick is another one. IF he can fix his control, he has the potential to be a I or II. But if he can't, he is not even a V.

 

[LHG]

Catcher:
1. Aramis Garcia Tier III (A+/AA)
2. Trevor Brown Tier V (AAA/MLB)
3. Matt Winn Tier V (A/A+)

Giants are in good hands with Susac and Posey right now, and they have another excellent catching prospect on the mend. Garcia is a bat-first catcher, with above-average power for a catcher. Great eye for hitting. Needs a lot of work on defense though, great arm strength and showed excellent 2.0-2.2 pop time consistently (time from when catcher is in squat to throwing to a base), but he seems to lack the instincts and reaction time for catchers. Defense has drastically improved since he was drafted, but he has a ways to go. Matt Winn is a defensive specialist, and anything he can develop with the bat is gravy. Trevor Brown is a MLB backup catcher.

1st Base:
1. Chris Shaw Tier III (A+)
2. Ricky Oropesa Tier V (AAA)
3. Brian Ragira Tier V (AA)

Chris Shaw's defensive limitations caps his ceiling in the NL, but he has true 30+ homer upside with a high OBP potential. His raw power is right up there with Bryant, Schwarber types, but he doesn't make as much contact therefore again limiting his upside. Whether he ends up at 1st or LF, his bat is what will get him to the bigs and he's a legit middle of the order, tier II bat. He should be a fast riser too, he'll skip Augusta and go straight to San Jose. If he crushes it there, he could even end up in Richmond. Below Shaw, it's a steep drop off. Oropesa's power potential keeps him afloat as a platoon, bench bat. Ragira is a college bat, who got worse after repeating San Jose. Gets a pass because he still has nice tools, but he'll end up as organizational depth.

2nd Base:
1. Austin Slater Tier IV (AAA)

Okay, I kinda cheated here. The Giants are loaded in the middle infield, especially in the lower minors. Most are currently shortstops, but not all are going to stick. It's tough now to know what the Giants have planned for some of these guys the upcoming season, so I'm not going to designate some guys as future second baseman. I will speculate though. Kelby Tomlinson just barely accumulated enough PT to be considered a veteran, so at the moment, Slater is probably the closest thing to a high-profile prospect at second, but he's also going to play outfield. His bat and versatility will get him to the bigs. I'm honestly surprised he doesn't switch hit. He's a super-sub. He's a similar batter to Duffy, quick, compact stroke. Less raw power.

Shortstop:
1. Christian Arroyo Tier II (AA/AAA)
2. Lucius Fox Tier III (AZL/A-/A)
3. Jalen Miller Tier III (AZL/A-/A)
4. Kelvin Beltre Tier IV (AZL/A-/A)
5. C.J. Hinojosa Tier IV (A/A+)

Arroyo is the class of the system, a consensus number one. He has an incredible bat, and he keeps getting stronger. He's actually stronger than the Giants anticipated, to a point where he could move to LF at some point. The talk is that in 2016, he will split time between shortstop and second base, and is expected to reach AAA by the end of the year. He's still a little too aggressive at the plate, but he barrels up everything and there's some thought 50+ XBH power. His path to the bigs will be at 2B, 3B or LF and his PT in the minors is clear. The rest of the group is immensely talented, but no one except the Giants know where these guys will start the season. Fox is the best athlete in the system and possibly the highest ceiling guy. I think he projects fantastically in CF, where he could use his athleticism to his full potential. He's a top of the order bat. For the time being, he'll stick at SS. He's not a typical international signing where he'll take time to reach the states, he's played in America in high school, therefore he could start on a full-season team. I think it's still more likely though (given the talent at the SS position around him) that he starts in extended Spring Training, moves on to the Arizona Summer league and maybe finishes in Salem. Or, given his background, I wouldn't be surprised that he jumps all the way to Augusta. Miller is another great athlete who probably projects better at 2B or CF as he gets bigger. He has more power potential than Fox, but very similar skill set. Signed out of high school, he could be taken slow, repeat AZL and move on to Salem. I think it's more likely though that he moves on to Augusta and forms a DP combo with Beltre. Beltre has already move around on defense in his short career. The bat is farther ahead of Miller's and Fox's, but his defense isn't as high. Future utility player. Hinojosa had a dreadful college experience, but he was highly touted in High School and a top Freshman of the year candidate. His limited pro experience has been smooth. Bat first, aggressive hitter. I think he'll make the jump all the way to San Jose, but is a candidate to move to 2nd or LF down the line.

3rd Base:
1. Miguel Gomez Tier IV (A+/A)
2. Jonah Arenado Tier IV (A+)
3. Ryder Jones Tier V (AA/A+)

Remember all that weight Panda lost that one season? Well, it fused together again to make a 5-11 185 pound version of it's former self. Miguel Gomez is seriously a lighter Panda clone. Extremely aggressive at the plate (5 BBs in 276 ABs), but puts the bat on the ball (only 24 K's) and gets hits. He's old for the league, but he was a late bloomer signee in 2011. He's a switch hitter, plays 3rd base and catches more than on occasion. Rough defensively on both ends, but it will be his bat that gets him to the bigs. I think he'll see an aggressive promotion to San Jose. Arenado, younger brother of Nolan, had a real nice start in Augusta last year with the bat, but really tailed off the second half. His defense is no where near his brothers', and he'll likely eventually move to 1st. He's still really young, and he put up 35 XBH in Augusta, which is impressive. A more hitter friendly environment in San Jose could be beneficial to him. Ryder Jones was right up there with Arroyo when he was drafted as the future of the Giants. He's fallen behind as the bat still hasn't really developed yet. Injuries have been a factor. Still young, he's got time to get on track, but guys are coming for him. He might not be ready for AA, but the guys behind him might force him to move up.

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I love it, SFGRTB! One thing, Kelvin Beltre actually played mostly 2nd base in 2015 (10 vs 3 at shortstop).

 

[SFGRTB]

Even these tiers are hard to define because these are just kids and there ability is so fluid. Cabrera, for example, has the ability to potentially be a I, but because of his injury and lack of clarity with where he is now because of it, rating him a III is not unfair. I would not complain about a IV on him. Crick is another one. IF he can fix his control, he has the potential to be a I or II. But if he can't, he is not even a V.

I really like Tiers for upper level talent, and for starting pitchers. For relievers and raw talent, it's really tough. At that point, I usually do an "average" or midpoint. It's a flawed system no doubt. If I were doing this for a job, it would be much more thorough.

Crick, I was close to leaving him off. That's how bad 2015 was. His stuff is just that good though, so he survives another year on the radar. My thinking is that if he gets to the bigs, it will be as a reliever, but he won't be consistent enough to be a shut down guy. He has the ability to get R/L out though, so he's a step above ROOGY status.

 

[SFGRTB]

I love it, SFGRTB! One thing, Kelvin Beltre actually played mostly 2nd base in 2015 (10 vs 3 at shortstop).

Thanks!

Yeah Beltre was signed as a SS and played the majority there in his first season in 2014. He was bumped off SS thanks to 2015 draftee Jalen Miller. I will be interested to see how these guys are sorted out. Fox, Miller, and Beltre are all pretty much starting the race at the same time, so where they are placed will tell a lot. Could see Beltre moving to 2B in Augusta with Miller at SS. Or vice-versa. That is a major question among a lot of the scouts and prospect junkies that only the Giants minor league personnel know as of now.

 

[LHG]

Thanks!

Yeah Beltre was signed as a SS and played the majority there in his first season in 2014. He was bumped off SS thanks to 2015 draftee Jalen Miller. I will be interested to see how these guys are sorted out. Fox, Miller, and Beltre are all pretty much starting the race at the same time, so where they are placed will tell a lot. Could see Beltre moving to 2B in Augusta with Miller at SS. Or vice-versa. That is a major question among a lot of the scouts and prospect junkies that only the Giants minor league personnel know as of now.

No problem. Some of the younger guys who struggled in Salem or the AZL will probably start the year in extended and then get placed in Salem.

 

[Stokes1931]

Five SJ Giants Named Organizational All-Stars

The official blog of the San Jose Giants, Class A Advanced affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.
Five SJ Giants Named Organizational All-Stars


Christian Arroyo has been named to the MiLB.com Giants Organizational All-Star team

Five 2015 San Jose Giants – Christian Arroyo, Hunter Cole, Aramis Garcia, Chase Johnson and Ryan Lollis – were named to the MiLB.com San Francisco Organizational All-Star team today. Of the 12 players represented on the team, nine are former San Jose Giants.


The San Francisco farm system posted a combined .526 winning percentage in 2015 with San Jose and Short-Season Salem-Keizer advancing to the playoffs. The Giants reached the California League Championship Series last September while the Volcanoes were eliminated in the first round Division Series. The Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels finished one game out of a playoff spot.

2015 RECORDS
Triple-A Sacramento: 71-73 (.493)
Double-A Richmond: 72-68 (.514)
Class-A Advanced San Jose: 72-68 (.514) – lost in Championship Series
Class-A Augusta: 65-73 (.471)
Short-Season Salem-Keizer: 39-37 (.513) – lost in Division Series
Rookie-level AZL-Giants: 31-25 (.554)

Arroyo headlines the list of 2015 San Jose position players named to the organizational All-Star team. The former first round pick had a banner year with the Giants collecting the team MVP award while also being named to the postseason California League All-Star team. Arroyo hit .304 this season – fourth-highest in the San Francisco farm system among qualifying hitters. He also contributed 28 doubles, nine home runs and 42 RBI’s in 90 games.

Cole’s combined batting average of .301 between Augusta, San Jose and Richmond this season ranked fifth in the Giants system. After opening the year with the GreenJackets, Cole joined San Jose in late-April and enjoyed a terrific first half to earn midseason league All-Star honors. Cole played in 54 games for the SJ Giants and batted .313 with 11 doubles, five triples, six home runs and 37 RBI’s. The right fielder then hit .292 in 51 games with Richmond after his late-June promotion.

The veteran Lollis had a standout 2015 season across three levels in the Giants farm system. The outfielder opened the year in San Jose and hit an impressive .345 with one home run over 30 games. He also had a brief stint with Richmond before spending the majority of the second half in Sacramento. His .340 combined batting average in the minor leagues this season (109 games) led all hitters in the San Francisco farm system. Additionally, Lollis saw action in five games with San Francisco in 2015 making him one of the few players to jump from San Jose to the major leagues in the same year.

Garcia also received mention on the organizational All-Star team, primarily for his production while playing for Augusta. The slugging catcher mashed 15 home runs and collected 61 RBI’s to go with a .273 batting average for the GreenJackets before an early-August promotion to San Jose. Garcia hit just .227 in his 20 regular season games with the Giants, but supplied several key hits during the playoffs to help the club reach the Championship Series. Garcia finished the postseason with a .333 batting average and two home runs. The former second round pick is a candidate to open the 2016 season back in San Jose.




Chase Johnson led the Giants farm system with 129 strikeouts in 2015

Finally, Johnson was the lone 2015 San Jose pitcher named to the organizational All-Star team. It was a breakout year for the former third round draft pick as Johnson fashioned an 8-3 record with a 2.43 ERA in 18 starts for the Giants. Johnson also struck out 111 batters in 111 innings. The hard-throwing right-hander had a sparkling 0.94 ERA in the second half before a mid-August promotion to Richmond. Johnson’s 129 strikeouts between San Jose and Richmond this year led the entire Giants farm system.


Past San Jose Giants recognized by MiLB.com this week include Kelby Tomlinson (second base), Jarrett Parker (outfielder), Mac Williamson (utility) and Josh Osich (relief pitcher). All four players finished the 2015 season in San Francisco. Tomlinson hit .321 between Richmond and Sacramento to rank second in the farm system (behind only Lollis) while Parker’s 23 homers in Triple-A was also second in the system. Williamson’s 73 RBI’s between Double-A and Triple-A was fourth-best and Osich led the Giants minor league system with 21 saves, most of which came in Richmond.

First baseman Chris Shaw, third baseman Jose Vizcaino, Jr. and left-handed starting pitcher Mark Reyes round out the organizational All-Star team. Shaw, a supplemental first round pick in this year’s draft, led the Northwest League with 12 saves while playing for Salem-Keizer. Vizcaino hit .288 with six home runs for the Volcanoes while Reyes had a tremendous year in the Augusta rotation posting a 9-6 record with a 2.13 ERA in 23 starts.

MiLB.com San Francisco Organizational All-Star Team

C – Aramis Garcia, San Jose/Augusta
1B – Chris Shaw, Salem-Keizer
2B – Kelby Tomlinson, Sacramento/Richmond
3B – Jose Vizcaino, Jr., Salem-Keizer
SS – Christian Arroyo, San Jose
OF – Hunter Cole, Richmond/San Jose/Augusta
OF – Ryan Lollis, Sacramento/Richmond/San Jose
OF – Jarrett Parker, Sacramento
Utility – Mac Williamson, Sacramento/Richmond
SP (right-handed) – Chase Johnson, Richmond/San Jose
SP (left-handed) – Mark Reyes, Augusta
RP – Josh Osich, Sacramento/Richmond

 

[Stokes1931]

A Look Back: Christian Arroyo's MVP Season In San Jose


The official blog of the San Jose Giants, Class A Advanced affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.
A Look Back: Christian Arroyo’s MVP Season In San Jose
By Joe Ritzo


Christian Arroyo hit .304 with nine home runs and 42 RBI’s in 90 games last season to win San Jose’s team MVP award

Since 1988, the San Jose Giants have honored their top player each year with the team Most Valuable Player award. Nine out of the last 11 winners have reached the major leagues, notably Brandon Belt, Joe Panik, Mac Williamson and Adam Duvall.


In 2015, Christian Arroyo won the San Jose Giants highest honor after an exceptional year at the plate and in the field. The former first round draft pick was San Jose’s opening day starter at shortstop, persevered through an early-season injury and shined throughout the second half in leading the Giants to the playoffs. Arroyo, who was the youngest player on the team (20), also won the club’s Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards.

“I think the biggest thing for me was staying within myself and not trying to do too much,” said Arroyo. “It’s just seeing and driving the baseball. Knowing that I’m not a power guy – I’m a doubles and basehit guy. I need to get on base and let the power guys drive me in.”

Batting second in the order, Arroyo burst out of the gates with an excellent opening week of the season. The top prospect appeared poised for a big first half, but then suffered an oblique injury on April 15 that knocked him out of action until late-May. In his absence, the Giants struggled with a record well below the .500 mark.

“Everything happens for a reason,” reflected Arroyo. “All you can do is rehab and get back into your groove. The medical staff in Arizona helped me return to the field as quickly as possible. I came back and felt I didn’t really skip a beat.”

Upon returning to the lineup, Arroyo continued to torch California League pitching while anchoring the shortstop position. Not coincidentally, the Giants surged in the standings. He hit .314 during the month of June before batting at a .324 clip in July as San Jose jumped into the playoff race. Arroyo then hit four home runs in August while maintaining a batting average over .300. With Arroyo in the lineup last season, the Giants were 49-41 (.544) compared to 23-27 (.460) when he was not. His presence solidified the club, both offensively and defensively.

“He’s a natural hitter,” said San Jose Giants hitting coach & acting manager Lipso Nava. “He’s got great bat speed and a fluid swing. He has tools.”

“Christian is a line drive, gap to gap hitter,” noted San Francisco Giants farm director Shane Turner. “He has a good idea of the strike zone and hits very well with runners in scoring position. He likes to be up in those situations.”

With Arroyo leading the charge, San Jose finished strong during the regular season to earn the club’s 11th playoff appearance in the last 12 years. Overall, Arroyo ended the year with a .304 batting average (seventh in the California League) in 90 games played. He produced 28 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 42 RBI’s. Despite missing six weeks during the first half, Arroyo led the team in hits, was second in doubles and runs scored and fourth in home runs and RBI’s. He hit over .300 in both the first half (.300) and second half (.307) and batted .309 with runners in scoring position. He also made his mark defensively posting the second-best fielding percentage (.963) among all regular shortstops in the league.

“He has good hands, a really quick release and an accurate arm,” added Turner. “We’re really excited about him.”

Other Arroyo highlights last season included a 5-for-5 night in Stockton on June 30 to tie the club record for hits in a single game. Arroyo went 11-for-17 (.647) with two home runs during that series against the Ports to win Cal League Offensive Player of the Week honors. Arroyo had multi-hits in 34 out of his 90 games last season, including nine three-hit games, a four-hit game and the aforementioned five-hit outburst. His best stretch in the field came from June 12 to July 26 when he committed just one error at shortstop over a 34-game span.

Highlight: Arroyo mashes home run in key late-season win over Bakersfield

“He’s probably the most up-and-coming talent in our organization right now,” said San Francisco Giants minor league roving infield instructor Gary Davenport, who managed Arroyo at Short-Season Salem-Keizer in 2014. “He can hit an outside fastball as well as anyone that I’ve seen come through San Jose and we’ve had a lot of really good ballplayers come through here.”

At the conclusion of the regular season, Arroyo was also named to the postseason California League All-Star team – one of only two San Jose Giants selected (Chase Johnson). Baseball America has rated Arroyo the #1 overall prospect in the San Francisco organization entering the 2016 season. MLB.com currently ranks Arroyo as the #2 prospect in the system (behind only pitcher Tyler Beede).

Looking ahead, Arroyo almost certainly will be given an invitation to major league camp next year where he’ll get a chance to showcase his abilities in San Francisco spring training games. He’ll likely open the regular season with the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels.

“He’s very talented and mentally tough,” stated Davenport. “Will he be a shortstop (long term)? Who knows, but we’ll probably do the same thing with him as we did with Panik. Keep him at short as long as you can and if you can learn there, second or third base should be an easy transition for him. I expect really big things. The kid has it all.”

“I don’t think there’s going to be any issue with him going up (to a higher level),” added Nava. “He just needs to understand that this game is about failure as he sometimes takes things really hard. I wish him the best. He’s going to be a heck of a player.”

 

[SFGRTB]

I was completely remiss to ignore Jose Vizcaino Jr. in my rankings. I was reading an article earlier today, and it reminded me of his production last year. He signed early after being drafted and almost played a full season in Salem. Unlike his dad, Junior should be much more of a run producer. He should develop solid power from the hot corner.

If I could edit the ranking, I would rank Vizcaino 1st, with a tier IV ranking. Should be slotted in in Augusta, but I think he is ready for San Jose. They could move Arenado to 1st upon graduation to San Jose, but where does Miguel Gomez play? The Giants have a lot of interesting decisions on the left side in the lower minors. Arenado and Gomez are poor defenders, Vizcaino is a good defender, and maybe the most polished hitter. He should be slotted at 3rd base most of the time. Gomez probably DH's or plays 1st and Arenado could repeat. Ryder Jones will be forced to AA.

Here's the article I read. It's about the Giants minor league All-Stars from the 2015 season.

Shortstop Christian Arroyo leads San Francisco Giants Organization All-Stars | MiLB.com News | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball

 

[Stokes1931]

I was completely remiss to ignore Jose Vizcaino Jr. in my rankings. I was reading an article earlier today, and it reminded me of his production last year. He signed early after being drafted and almost played a full season in Salem. Unlike his dad, Junior should be much more of a run producer. He should develop solid power from the hot corner.

If I could edit the ranking, I would rank Vizcaino 1st, with a tier IV ranking. Should be slotted in in Augusta, but I think he is ready for San Jose. They could move Arenado to 1st upon graduation to San Jose, but where does Miguel Gomez play? The Giants have a lot of interesting decisions on the left side in the lower minors. Arenado and Gomez are poor defenders, Vizcaino is a good defender, and maybe the most polished hitter. He should be slotted at 3rd base most of the time. Gomez probably DH's or plays 1st and Arenado could repeat. Ryder Jones will be forced to AA.

Here's the article I read. It's about the Giants minor league All-Stars from the 2015 season.

Shortstop Christian Arroyo leads San Francisco Giants Organization All-Stars | MiLB.com News | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball

Gomez has all the makings of a DH. He is simply awful in the field. While Arenado made a ton of errors last year, he may turn out to be a decent defender. You are right to keep an eye on Vizcaino. I think he starts in Augusta, but might make the jump to San Jose early in the year or out of ST. He's a big kid, 6' 3".

 

[Stokes1931]

The top 10 Giants prospects of 2016, according to Baseball Prospectus

1. Christian Arroyo, SS
2. Lucius Fox, SS
3. Tyler Beede, RHP
4. Jalen Miller, SS
5. Phil Bickford, RHP
6. Samuel Coonrod, RHP
7. Christopher Shaw, 1B
8. Kyle Crick, RHP
9. Aramis Garcia, C
10. Adalberto Mejia, LHP

Baseball Prospectus | 2016 Prospects: San Francisco Giants Top 10 Prospects

 

[Stokes1931]

The State of the System: The good news is that the Giants win the World Series every other year. The bad news is that even with the usual collection of hard-throwing right-handers, this is the weakest San Francisco system in years.

The Top Ten

1. SS Christian Arroyo
2. SS Lucius Fox
3. RHP Tyler Beede
4. SS Jalen Miller
5. RHP Phil Bickford
6. RHP Samuel Coonrod
7. 1B Christopher Shaw
8. RHP Kyle Crick
9. C Aramis Garcia
10. LHP Adalberto Mejia

​

1. HR, 5 SB in 409 PA’s at High-A San Jose
Future Tools: 60 hit, 55 arm
Role: 50+—Solid-average regular up the middle

The Arroyo pick was mocked by many as a significant reach, but it appears the Giants knew what they were doing. His feel for hitting is outstanding, and his line-drive swing and above-average bat speed allow him to make consistent hard contact. He’s an assertive hitter who will swing early in the count, and his ability to make good contact on pitches outside the zone makes him a classic “bad-ball” hitter. Like many young hitters, that assertiveness can lead to aggressiveness, which can lead to weak contact/strikeouts. There's also fringe-average power—mostly to the pull side—with the occasional double into the right-center gap

Arroyo’s hit tool makes him a potential starter at every infield position except first base, which is good, because he’s likely to move off shortstop at some point. He’s a fringe-average runner with fringe-average range, and though he gets rave reviews for his instincts, they can only take a player so far. The bat plays best at second base, but a non-traditional third baseman who can hit .300 with 10-12 homers is also possible.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: Yeah, it’s another one of those systems. The best version of Arroyo is probably similar to former Giants’ second baseman Freddy Sanchez, in that almost all of his value will be derived from his batting average ability. If he’s a .290-plus hitter, he’ll contribute enough in the other categories to be a MI option in mixed leagues. If not, he’s best reserved for NL-only and very deep mixed formats.

Major League ETA: 2017

​

2. Lucius Fox, SS
DOB: 07/02/1997
Height/Weight: 6’1” 175 lbs.
Bats/Throws: S/R
Drafted/Acquired: Signed July 2015 out of the Bahamas for $6 million
Previous Ranking(s): Not Applicable
2015 Stats: N/A
Future Tools: 70 speed, 55 hit
Role: 50—Average regular up the middle

Fox, who played high-school ball in Florida, likely would have been a top-20 pick in last year’s draft had he not been declared an International Free Agent in April, a ruling that earned him an extra $4 million or so. He oozes athleticism and has a swing that works from both sides of the plate, staying through the zone with quick wrists and very little wasted movement. There’s more power from his natural right side at this point, which will probably change as he gets stronger; still, anything more than 40 power is unlikely because of his size/swing plane. The approach as a Florida prep left a lot to be desired, though there’s plenty of time for that to develop.

He has the speed and arm strength to stick at shortstop, but plenty of scouts I spoke with believe his ultimate landing spot is center field. The Giants will give him every chance to stay in the infield, and if he can he’s a potential .280/.350/.400 player who can steal 40 bases.

Please note that I did not make a Batman joke. [Editor’s note: no fewer than seven Batman jokes were removed during editing. You’re welcome, Earth.]

Bret Sayre's Fantasy Take: There’s just so much lead time here, but the upside is worth getting him drafted in deep dynasty leagues this offseason. That said, if he’s being taken before the third round, it’s a poor pick. There’s certainly 30-40 steal potential, and in today’s depressed speed context, that makes him attractive. Though, in five years, there could be a lot of speed out there. We have no idea.

Major League ETA: 2020

​

3. Tyler Beede, RHP
DOB: 05/23/1993
Height/Weight: 6’4” 200 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R/R
Drafted/Acquired: Drafted 14th overall in the 2014 MLB Draft, Vanderbilt University; signed for $2.6132 million
Previous Ranking(s): #4 (Org.)
2015 Stats: 3.97 ERA, 124.2 IP, 44 BB, 86 K at High-A San Jose and Double-A Richmond
Future Tools: 65 fastball, 55 change
Role: 50—Mid-rotation starter

Beede has the stuff you look for in a top-of-the-rotation starter. He's got a four-seam fastball that will touch 97, as well as a two-seamer with the downward movement that creates ground-ball outs. He keeps the same arm speed on his change, and the late fade makes it a swing-and-miss pitch to both left- and right-handed hitters. The curveball is rarely a strike, but the hard downward spin can fool hitters sitting on something else.

Control and command have been his issues, but it appeared he had turned a corner earlier in the year, walking nine batters in just under 53 innings for San Jose. Then, upon his promotion to Richmond, he walked 35 in 72. Some of that might have been wear at the end of his first full professional season, but he often struggles to repeat his delivery and battled poor control in college. With the stuff to be a frontline starter but the command of a no. 5, Beede likely splits the difference. There’s a lot of volatility.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: Volatility is not a bad thing at all when it comes to investing in dynasty league pitchers, and Beede has it in spades. Given the raw stuff and the strong player development staff that the Giants have in place, Beede is the top mixed league fantasy prospect in this system for me—it’s tough to match his SP2 upside, even if he’s pretty unlikely to get there.

Major League ETA: 2017

​

4. Jalen Miller, SS
DOB: 12/19/1996
Height/Weight: 5’’11” 175 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R/R
Drafted/Acquired: Drafted in the third round of the 2015 MLB Draft, Riverwood International Charter HS (Sandy Springs, GA); signed for $1.1 million
Previous Ranking(s): Unranked
2015 Stats: .218/.292/259, 0 HR, 11 SB in 197 Plate Appearances at complex level Arizona League
Future Tools: 60 run, 50+ hit
Role: 45—Fringe-average regular up the middle

Miller was the fourth player taken by the Giants in the 2015 draft, but his ceiling is the highest of any player they signed, as reflected by his over-slot bonus. His best assets are strong wrists, which help him get through the zone with plus bat speed. There is some glide to his swing, creating some timing issues, but his natural bat-to-ball skills give him a chance to possess a solid-average—maybe higher—hit tool. There’s also some loft to the swing plane, and there’s fringe-average power potential if he maxes out physically.

Like Arroyo—and almost every other shortstop in the minor leagues—there’s a good chance he’s going to have to play a different position. Even with his plus speed, his range is only average, and even with a quick release, his arm grades at just average. He should be plus at second base, but Miller profiles best as a utility infielder who can play all over the infield and give you 10-12 homers and 20-plus stolen bases off the bench. If the range improves and he can stick at shortstop, that’s an everyday player.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: If you love Lucius Fox, you’ll like Miller. If you’re in a dynasty league that rosters fewer than 250 prospects, you’ll love neither. There’s just too much value in a roster spot to let Miller occupy one in any league shallower than that, even if he could steal 30 bags one day.

Major League ETA: 2018

 

[Stokes1931]

​

5. Phil Bickford, RHP
DOB: 07/10/1995
Height/Weight: 6’4” 200 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R/R
Drafted/Acquired/Bonus: Drafted 18th overall in the 2015 MLB Draft, Southern Nevada College; signed for $2.3338 million
Previous Ranking(s): No. 33 on top 125 MLB Draft prospects
2015 Stats: 2.01 ERA, 22.1 IP, 13 H, 6 BB, 32 K at Arizona Instructional League
Future Tools: 70 fastball, 50 slider
Role: 45—Back-end starter/high-leverage reliever

Bickford has a lot in common with Beede. Both are hard-throwing right-handed pitchers, both are former first-round picks of the Blue Jays who chose to attend college, and both are now Giants pitching prospects. Coincidence? Probably.

Bickford’s arm strength is elite, and when he’s working in short spurts, he’ll touch the high 90s with a four-seam fastball that has late life. His slider is maddeningly inconsistent; he struggles to repeat his three-quarters arm slot, and it will vary from a 40 pitch that he can’t locate to a 60 with hard tilt. The change is very much a work in progress, and like the slider its grade varies wildly from appearance to appearance. The control is ahead of the command, but he does a good enough job filling the strike zone that he should be able to start. However, because the stuff is so much better in shorter outings, it shouldn’t surprise anyone if he ends up making his living as a reliever.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: The problem with Bickford isn’t that he can’t start, it’s that he’s unlikely to be a valuable fantasy commodity if he does. Best case scenario, he'll light up the radar gun without getting as many swings and misses as he should, and he'll reside as a decent SP4. Think present-day Nate Eovaldi..

Major League ETA: 2018

​

6. Samuel Coonrod, RHP
DOB: 09/22/1992
Height/Weight: 6’2” 225 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R/R
Drafted/Acquired/Bonus: Drafted in the fifth round of the 2014 MLB Draft, Southern Illinois University; signed for $330,000
Previous Ranking(s): Unranked
2015 Stats: 3.14 ERA, 111.2 IP, 103 H, 34 BB, 114 K at Low-A Augusta
Future Tools: 60 fastball, 60 slider
Role: 45—Back-end starter or high-leverage reliever

Coonrod was one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2015 season, and although he was on the older side for the level, his stuff suggests that this is sustainable—for the most part. His four-seam fastball sits 90-94, and when he reaches back for more he’ll touch 97. He complements that pitch with an above-average slider. He has shown improving feel for the pitch and can now throw it for a strike, something he didn’t do much of while at Southern Illinois. He’ll mix in a 40 change, an offering that doesn’t have much life and that is delivered with an occasional drop in arm speed and slot.

If the Giants were to move Coonrod to the bullpen, he’d be a future closer, but no one can blame them for seeing if he can pitch every fifth day. His ability to miss bats with two pitches while throwing strikes makes it a realistic possibility.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: At this point, Coonrod remains a player just to track in fantasy leagues, despite the temptation to pounce based on his performance and potential future home park. He’s still far more likely to be a reliever long-term, and dynasty leagues are not kind to relief prospects (nor should they be).

Major League ETA: 2017

​

7. Christopher Shaw, 1B
DOB: 10/20/1993
Height/Weight: 6’4” 260 lbs.
Bats/Throws: L/R
Drafted/Acquired/Bonus: Drafted 31st overall in the 2015 MLB Draft, Boston College; signed for $1.4 million
Previous Ranking(s): No. 46 on top 125 MLB Draft prospects
2015 Stats: .287/.360/.551, 12 HR in 200 plate appearances at short-season Salem-Keizer
Future Tools: 60 power, 50 hit
Role: 45—fringe-average regular at first/bench bat

If you’re looking for power from the left side, Shaw is your man. He’s massive, and his natural strength and ability to transfer that weight allows him to take the ball out to any part of the field. He’s not just a power hitter, though, as he shows patience at the plate, routinely working counts into his favor or drawing walks. The swing can get violent with added length and there’s plenty of swing-and-miss, so he’ll pile up strikeouts.

Shaw played both the outfield and first base at Boston College, but don’t let that fool you; he’s a 20 runner who has no chance of being a professional outfielder (though he does have an above-average throwing arm). That puts a lot of pressure on his bat, and ultimately this is a player who profiles best as either a platoon first baseman/DH or a weapon off the bench.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: There’s enough potential with the bat here to take Shaw in the first three rounds of dynasty drafts over the next few months, but he’s likely a better bet in on-base leagues than batting average ones. The big lefty could be a .260 hitter with 25-plus homers in time, but let’s wait until he gets to full season ball to get too interested here.

Major League ETA: 2018

​

8. Kyle Crick, RHP
DOB: 11/30/1992
Height/Weight: 6’4” 220 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R/R
Drafted/Acquired/Bonus: Drafted 49th overall in the 2011 MLB draft, Sherman HS (Sherman, TX), signed for $900,000
Previous Ranking(s): #2 (Org.)
2015 Stats: 3.29 ERA, 63 IP, 47 H, 66 BB, 73 K at Double-A Richmond
Future Tools: 70 fastball, 60 slider
Role: 45—Reliever

In a system filled with frustrating prospects, Crick is the most frustrating.The Giants finally had enough last season, as they threw in the towel on his starting career and moved him to the bullpen. He’ll show two out-pitches, led by a four-seam fastball that touches 99 and sits 92-96 with heavy sink. His slider is another strikeout pitch with hard bite, and those two offerings alone make him a guy who can give right-handers fits.

Crick’s flaws recede a bit in the bullpen role, but they’re still present. His control/command are woeful, and he lacks a competent third offering to get left-handed hitters out, as seen in the .432 on-base percentage they had against him in 2015. Go to the “right” game and you’ll see about 15 different arm slots, which, as you might guess, isn’t conducive to throwing strikes.

If someone can finally get Crick to throw strikes, he’s a potential closer. Right now he’s just not reliable enough to project as a high-leverage reliever.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: As far as dynasty relief prospects go, Crick is one of the better ones out there. That statement is the very definition of damning with faint praise. If you can still trade him based on name recognition, you should probably do that.

Major League ETA: 2016

 

[Stokes1931]

​

9. Aramis Garcia, C
DOB: 01/12/1993
Height/Weight: 6’2” 220 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R/R
Drafted/Acquired: Drafted 52nd overall in the 2014 MLB Draft, Florida International University; signed for $1.1 million
Previous Ranking(s): Unranked
2015 Stats: .264/.342/.431, 15 HR, 1 SB in 447 Plate Appearances at Low-A Augusta and High-A San Jose
Future Tools: 50+ power, 50 arm
Role: 40—Backup catcher

When you hear the term “offensive-minded backstop,” they’re describing Garcia. Despite his struggles in San Jose, his strength and above-average bat speed give him above-average power. The swing is compact, and though he doesn’t have elite hand-eye coordination, he makes enough hard contact to project at least a fringe-average hit tool. He’s a smart hitter who recognizes pitches well and will draw his share of walks (he can be too passive, however, which puts him behind in too many counts).

Garcia works hard behind the plate, but he’s a below-average defender at this point. The arm is only average, and his lack of athleticism leads to slow pop times. He also struggles to block pitches in the dirt at times, and his framing skills need to show growth.

Still, Garcia has enough offensive upside to profile as a backup big leaguer. The ceiling isn’t huge, but he can fill a role as a backup/platoon behind the plate or at first base.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: If Garcia were a strong defender, there would be some reason for optimism in dynasty leagues, but his bat doesn’t project to be good enough to carry his poor defense at the position—and his bat won’t make him important for our purposes at another position. Garcia is best left for two-catcher formats and very deep leagues.

Major League ETA: 2017

​

10. Adalberto Mejia, LHP
DOB: 06/20/1993
Height/Weight: 6’3” 240 lbs.
Bats/Throws: L/L
Drafted/Acquired/Bonus: Signed March 2011 out of Dominican Republic for $350,000
Previous Ranking(s): #2 (Org.)
2015 Stats: 2.45 ERA, 51.1 IP, 38 H, 18 BB, 38 K at Double-A Richmond
Future Tools: 55 change, 55 fastball
Role: 40—No. 5 starter/swingman

Mejia missed the first 50 games of the season after testing positive for Sibutramine — a weight loss stimulant — and while the stats were fine after his return, the overall stuff took a step backward. He still shows a quality change from his quick arm and will touch 94 mph with his four-seamer. Unfortunately, the slider was slurvy for the most part, and he struggled to throw strikes, a recurring problem for the southpaw. In (albeit limited) looks at him in the AFL, he was much better, with the change flashing plus and more feel for both the fastball and slider. His waistline has grown significantly in his time with the franchise, leading to questions about his eventual durability..

If Mejia shows the same stuff he did in Arizona in 2016 he’ll shoot up this list, but because of the lost developmental year—and the fact that the AFL is such a small sample—it’s tough to have a lot of trust in this type of profile.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: It seems strange to say at this point in a poor list, but Mejia might be the second-most valuable name in the Giants system for fantasy purposes because of his combination of proximity and potential. He still could be an SP4 who is stronger in the ratios than the strikeouts, but we’ll probably know pretty quickly into 2016 whether he’s worthy of a roster spot or not.

Major League ETA: 2018



Five who are just interesting:

Ray Black, RHP – Black throws harder than you do. In the AFL he was lighting up 101 with his four-seamer, which rarely dips below 96. He’ll also show an above-average curveball at times, but when he overthrows it it stays flat and slurvy (and he overthrows it quite often). He also has well below-average control right now (25 walks in 25 innings in San Jose), so as with Crick it’s hard to picture him pitching in pressure situations. Yet when you can miss bats like he does (51strikeouts in those same 25 innings), there’s always a chance.

Mac Williamson, OF – If you’ve followed the Giants closely, you probably know that developing outfielders hasn’t exactly been the team’s strong suit. It’s not terribly likely, but Williamson has the best chance of becoming an outfield regular in years. There’s plus power in his right-handed bat thanks to his size and natural loft, and he has the extension necessary to hit line drives to every part of the field. Having the tool only goes so far, however, as Williamson gets extremely pull-happy, and the swing’s length and lack of bat speed mean he’s going to strike out. A lot. His arm is plus and he’s a deceptively good athlete, so if he can hit enough you could justify playing him every day in right field. It’s far more likely he’s a lefty-killer off the bench.

Andrew Suarez, LHP – Suarez was one of the best senior arms in the class (he was the Nationals’ second-round pick in 2014 but chose to return to Miami), and though he doesn’t offer much upside, the floor is high. He commands both his two- and four-seam fastballs to both sides of the plate, and while he's been seen as high as 96 MPH, he's in the 91-94 range more often than not. He’ll show three off-speed pitches with varying level of success; the best is a slider that will occasionally flash plus. Both his curveball and change are potentially 50 pitches, and he throws all four pitches for strikes from an easy delivery that he repeats well. There’s nothing particularly sexy about this arsenal, but four competent pitches and the ability to throw strikes make him a potential starter with very little margin for error.

Austin Slater, IF/OF – Slater is the type of player who doesn’t have a set position, but doesn’t really need one. He possesses a toned down version of the “Stanford Swing” (high-contact, go the other way, nuts to power), but he was never going to be a big power hitter anyway. There is enough bat speed and strength to put the ball into the gaps and put his plus speed to work. He spent most of the year at second base, but the Giants had him play the outfield corners in the AFL, and his speed and above-average throwing arm play well there. He’s not an everyday player, but Slater’s versatility makes him interesting, and he could help the Giants’ bench at some point this summer.

Mac Marshall, LHP – Marshall was victim of MLB’s insane draft rules when Brady Aiken wasn’t signed, as his seven-figure agreement was voided. The Astros’ loss was the Giants’ gain. Marshall shows three average pitches, the best being a change that will routinely flash plus with late fade. He won’t miss many bats with his 90-92 four-seam fastball and somewhat-slurvy slider, but because he throws strikes with all three pitches from a smooth delivery, there’s a great chance of him pitching at the back of someone’s rotation someday.

 

[Stokes1931]

Top 10 Talents 25 And Under (born 4/1/90 or later)

1. Joe Panik
2. Christian Arroyo
3. Matt Duffy
4. Lucius Fox
5. Tyler Beede
6. Jalen Miller
7. Phil Bickford
8. Sam Coonrod
9. Christopher Shaw
10. Kyle Crick

For the first time in several years this Giants list is not headlined by left-handed stud Madison Bumgarner. That change alone results in a dramatic shift in the overall quality of this under-25 ranking, even though reality says the Giants still have a wealth of “young” talent at the big league level in 20-somethings Bumgarner, Buster Posey, Brandon Belt,Brandon Crawford, Hunter Strickland, and Chris Heston.

Among those young players who still qualify for this list, second baseman Joe Panik has made those who believed in him coming out of college look smart, while other evaluators are left wondering how the Giants yet again found an underrated and highly productive player. Panik is an all-around player who can hit for average, get on base in other ways, and shows an ability to drive the ball to the gaps, making him an extremely valuable commodity in any lineup.

While Christian Arroyo is an intriguing shortstop option, and he ultimately should carry additional defensive value, Panik’s demonstrated major-league performance and all-around ability reduce risk and make him a better bet for this type of list.

For as much as Panik surprised some evaluators with his big-league performance, third baseman Matt Duffy has proven to be an even more perplexing developmental case, with hitting ability and power playing to levels few imagined as he came out of Long Beach State. Duffy is the Giants' everyday guy at the hot corner for at least the foreseeable future, and with that level of certainty it is impossible to push for a raw prospect like Lucius Fox to rank ahead of him.

With the remainder of the under-25 list comprising the same prospects listed above, there appears to be a lack of young talent in San Francisco. As alluded to earlier, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Further, even though they're too old for this list there are additional players such as Andrew Susac, Jarrett Parker, and Josh Osich in the primes of their careers and with enough ability to contribute to the big-league roster.

Regardless of the appearance of this 25-and-under list and the overall prospect ranking, the Giants remain well positioned to challenge their rivals in the National League West. They may not have the flash, make the headlines, or have the money of some of their division opponents, but the Giants are a young, talented team with considerable potential left. —Mark Anderson



The Executives

Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations: Brian Sabean
Senior Vice President and General Manager: Bobby Evans
Vice President, Scouting and International Operations: John Barr

Say this about the Giants: They know what they want, and outside of the outfield stuff, they do as good of a job as anyone of developing their type of player. Barr and company have received their share of criticism for their selections (Arroyo, Joe Panik, etc.) but the player development team—led until 2013 by Fred Stanley—has done a great job of maximizing those players’ seemingly limited skill sets. Say what you will about process over results, but front-office members don’t get fired because their bosses were unsatisfied with the “process” of draft picks.

With that being said, San Francisco’s player development hasn’t been without flaws. Outside of Fox they haven’t spent big on the international free agents—or developed those they have spent money on—and the Dombrowski-esque love for hard-throwing right handers with no command or feel for pitching has left this system in trouble. Some of that falls on the player-development staff, but it also falls on the front office for failing to recognize that high-probability isn’t such a bad thing to have in a system. When the majority of your system is low-floor, medium-reward, you probably aren’t setting yourself up for future success, and I only say probably because there’s a non-zero chance the Giants will win the World Series every other year regardless.

 

[SFGRTB]

It really is deja vu today..... (see post 15)

 

[Stokes1931]

It really is deja vu today..... (see post 15)

Dammit! I thought the date on the BBP was today, so I thought this might be an update. But it is dated 12-08-15.

Still, good stuff can always be read twice, right?