Thursday, September 03, 2015

Giants sending seven prospects to Arizona Fall League and the blogs go wild!!

Subject: Tweet by GIANT Potential on Twitter

GIANT Potential (@giant_potential)
#SFGiants heading to Fall League: Black, Blackburn, Rogers, Mejia, Slania, Arroyo, Williamson, Slater. Full team here milb.com/roster/index.j…

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The Twitter-sphere and the blog-o-sphere both lit up once the Arizona Fall League rosters were announced and with good reason.

I liked the comments from Baseball America about Arroyo being a hitting machine in the Panik and Duffy mode. Ray Black at 103 MPH bears watching if for no other reason than to see if he has the potential to join Hunter Strickland in future Giants bullpen that does not include the Fab Four of Affeldt, Romo, Casilla and Lopez. Mejia's left-handedness makes him important. Future starter of reliever? Stay off the PED's so we can find out, please. This is big for Mac Williamson and Austin Slater, especially Williamson. His development may determine what happens with Bird and/or Aoki.

And Clayton Blackburn. Oh, Clayton Blackburn!! I hope this doesn't mean he doesn't show in September for the big club. I'm afraid that is exactly what it means, meaning more Ty Blach, less Clayton Blackburn. FREE CLAYTON BLACKBURN!!!


from McCovey Chronicles:
http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2015/9/1/9241813/afl-rosters-sf-giants-arizona-fall-league
Mejia and Blackburn are both AFL vets, with Arroyo, Slater, Williamson, Black, and Slania going for the first time. Of the seven, Arroyo is probably the best prospect, coming straight out of the GIants' factory of high-contact middle infielders, but with a better draft pedigree than any of them. He's hitting .308/.348/.471 for the San Jose Giants*, even though he's just 20 years old.

*For contrast, Matt Duffy is hitting .302/.342/.445 for the Giants this year, so picture a shortstop in Class-A doing exactly what Duffy has done for the Giants this year, and you have a very rough idea of how impressive Arroyo has looked. Even the K/BB numbers are similar.

When it comes to the most intriguing prospects, it's kind of a toss-up. At this time last year, Mejia was a better bet to be the Chris Heston of the 2015 Giants, but then he was suspended 50 games for a stimulant to start this season. Clayton Blackburn could contribute to the rotation as soon as next year, and Mac Williamson has an outside shot to pair with Norichika Aoki in the outfield.
Ray Black, though, throws 103 MPH.

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from Baseball America:
baseballamerica.com
THE STARS: A year ago, scouts who watched Indians outfielder Clint Frazier came away expecting to see more from the No. 5 overall pick in the 2013 draft. This season, Frazier rebounded with a strong season for high Class A Lynchburg and an outstanding second half. The 20-year-old Frazier will share an outfield with fellow Indians outfielder Bradley Zimmer, the team's 2014 first-rounder and Lynchburg teammate for most of the season until Zimmer, 22, earned a promotion to Double-A Akron in July . . . Giants shortstop Christian Arroyo hits everywhere he goes. Batting .308/.348/.471 in 84 games this season for high Class A San Jose, the 20-year-old Arroyo is an aggressive hitter with a knack for barreling the baseball.
INTERESTING: The Red Sox didn't send Yoan Moncada to the AFL, but first baseman Sam Travis will be there after splitting the regular season between high Class A Salem and Double-A Portland . . . Twins Double-A outfielder Adam Brett Walker swings and misses a ton, which is a major red flag, but he also brings outstanding power, which should play well in the hitter-friendly AFL . . . Tigers outfielder Mike Gerber doesn't have Walker's power, but his simple, efficient swing stays in the hitting zone a long time. The Tigers conservatively sent Gerber, 22, to the low Class A Midwest League, where he batted .296/.357/.469 in 129 games, so the better pitching he'll see in the AFL will give a better gauge of the Tigers' 15th-round pick from a year ago . . . Ray Black missed his first two pro seasons due to a shoulder injury, so he's a 25-year-old reliever who only pitched in the high Class A California League this year. He walked 22 batters in 23 innings, but he also struck out 48 (a ridiculous 18.8 K/9) with a triple-digits fastball . . . Joining Black in the big velo, where-is-the-ball-going camp is Twins righthand reliever Nick Burdi, who pitched well in high Class A Fort Myers before running into trouble upon his Double-A promotion.
REHABBING: Giants lefthander Adalberto Mejiaisn't rehabbing from an injury, but he is building up innings after sitting out until June because he tested positive for the stimulant sibutramine. After throwing 108 innings in 2014, Mejia has pitched 47 1/3 innings with a 2.47 ERA in Double-A Richmond this year. While Mejia might be a candidate to help the Giants next season, it would be a big jump in workload if he did it as a starter, even with the AFL exposure.

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Giants Top Minor League Prospects

  • 1. Joey Bart 6-2, 215 C Power arm and a power bat, playing a premium defensive position. Good catch and throw skills.
  • 2. Heliot Ramos 6-2, 185 OF Potential high-ceiling player the Giants have been looking for. Great bat speed, early returns were impressive.
  • 3. Chris Shaw 6-3. 230 1B Lefty power bat, limited defensively to 1B, Matt Adams comp?
  • 4. Tyler Beede 6-4, 215 RHP from Vanderbilt projects as top of the rotation starter when he works out his command/control issues. When he misses, he misses by a bunch.
  • 5. Stephen Duggar 6-1, 170 CF Another toolsy, under-achieving OF in the Gary Brown mold, hoping for better results.
  • 6. Sandro Fabian 6-0, 180 OF Dominican signee from 2014, shows some pop in his bat. Below average arm and lack of speed should push him towards LF.
  • 7. Aramis Garcia 6-2, 220 C from Florida INTL projects as a good bat behind the dish with enough defensive skill to play there long-term
  • 8. Heath Quinn 6-2, 190 OF Strong hitter, makes contact with improving approach at the plate. Returns from hamate bone injury.
  • 9. Garrett Williams 6-1, 205 LHP Former Oklahoma standout, Giants prototype, low-ceiling, high-floor prospect.
  • 10. Shaun Anderson 6-4, 225 RHP Large frame, 3.36 K/BB rate. Can start or relieve
  • 11. Jacob Gonzalez 6-3, 190 3B Good pedigree, impressive bat for HS prospect.
  • 12. Seth Corry 6-2 195 LHP Highly regard HS pick. Was mentioned as possible chip in high profile trades.
  • 13. C.J. Hinojosa 5-10, 175 SS Scrappy IF prospect in the mold of Kelby Tomlinson, just gets it done.
  • 14. Garett Cave 6-4, 200 RHP He misses a lot of bats and at times, the plate. 13 K/9 an 5 B/9. Wild thing.

2019 MLB Draft - Top HS Draft Prospects

  • 1. Bobby Witt, Jr. 6-1,185 SS Colleyville Heritage HS (TX) Oklahoma commit. Outstanding defensive SS who can hit. 6.4 speed in 60 yd. Touched 97 on mound. Son of former major leaguer. Five tool potential.
  • 2. Riley Greene 6-2, 190 OF Haggerty HS (FL) Florida commit.Best HS hitting prospect. LH bat with good eye, plate discipline and developing power.
  • 3. C.J. Abrams 6-2, 180 SS Blessed Trinity HS (GA) High-ceiling athlete. 70 speed with plus arm. Hitting needs to develop as he matures. Alabama commit.
  • 4. Reece Hinds 6-4, 210 SS Niceville HS (FL) Power bat, committed to LSU. Plus arm, solid enough bat to move to 3B down the road. 98MPH arm.
  • 5. Daniel Espino 6-3, 200 RHP Georgia Premier Academy (GA) LSU commit. Touches 98 on FB with wipe out SL.

2019 MLB Draft - Top College Draft Prospects

  • 1. Adley Rutschman C Oregon State Plus defender with great arm. Excellent receiver plus a switch hitter with some pop in the bat.
  • 2. Shea Langliers C Baylor Excelent throw and catch skills with good pop time. Quick bat, uses all fields approach with some pop.
  • 3. Zack Thompson 6-2 LHP Kentucky Missed time with an elbow issue. FB up to 95 with plenty of secondary stuff.
  • 4. Matt Wallner 6-5 OF Southern Miss Run producing bat plus mid to upper 90's FB closer. Power bat from the left side, athletic for size.
  • 5. Nick Lodolo LHP TCU Tall LHP, 95MPH FB and solid breaking stuff.