San Francisco Giants 2021 Pre-Season Top 50 Prospects

The San Francisco Giants were a bottom of the barrel team in terms of prospect talent over the last few years. In terms of WAR, Austin Slater has been the best prospect out of their farm in the last 5 years. So…that’s not a good look. But wait! I see the light. Three years into his stay overseeing the baseball operations in the bay, Farhan Zaidi and team have cultivated a crop of kids who are going to one day end up in second place behind the Padres. Seriously though, I wound up surprised with the depth hiding in San Francisco and Giants fans should start getting excited for the future.

Note: These Top 50 lists are all done through a fantasy baseball-focused lens. Many players who are ranked higher or lower on other platforms will get a boost here. For example, players who profile as middle relievers or glove-first infielders likely won’t have much fantasy relevance, so they won’t be ranked as highly.

1. Marco Luciano, SS

Age: 19

Highest Level: A

A top 15 overall prospect. There’s plenty of information about this player out there, so why waste time regurgitating? I like his smooth swing. His approach at the plate his a decade beyond where it should be. He is the crown jewel of the organization as well as international prospect scouting hounds.

ETA: 2022

2. Joey Bart, C

Age: 23

Highest Level: MLB

For the uninitiated, I hate catching prospects with respects to dynasty. That said, if you’re going to by on a catching prospect to hit, look no further than Joey Bart. My colleague Shelly Verougstraete bought in big time, and who am I to disagree? Some might point to initial struggles in his first taste of the big leagues, but that is the “catch” with backstops. They’re spending more time watching video of their own team’s rotation, not the opposing club.

ETA: Debuted

3. Heliot Ramos, OF

Age: 21

Highest Level: AAA

It’s his season to shine. 2019 showed he can make the necessary adjustments to succeed after laying waste to the Cal Leage as a teenager. Ramos should show generate plenty of excitement with his power/speed combo to wag the dog, diverting from his K issues. Expect him to debut in late 2021.

ETA: 2022

 

4. Alexander Canario, OF

Age: 20

Highest Level: A

Canario was on his way to becoming a name among prospect circles afer putting on a show in Rookie and low-A ball during the 2019 campaign. Sadly, a torn labrum will slow him down (especially the big power he put on display) to start 2021, but this former J2 footnote is shooting up lists. If he continues to cut down on the strikes as he grows, he’ll be the jelly to Luciano’s peanutbutter.

ETA: 2022

 

5. Luis Matos, 3B/OF

Age: 18

Highest Level: Rk

My organizational pick to have value skyrocket across all leagues this year. Destroyed DSL and was an under the radar snag at J2. No more. At 2 rookie stops as a 17 year old, he tore up the competition posting a .367/.489/.566 slash line with some nice speed. A full season in 21 should push him into the consciousness of dynasty

ETA: 2023

6. Will Wilson, 2B

Age: 22

Highest Level: AA

The prize for trading Zack Cozart. The start of his professional baseball career was stunted by a global pandemic He was invited to to the alternate camp. A former top prospect from NC State, he has a strong glove which should keep him in the mix throughout the infield and provide enough at bats to keep him viable in most 14 team mixed dynasty leagues.

ETA: 2021

7. Casey Schmitt, 3B/P

Age: 21

Highest Level: A

This is a bit cavalier, I will admit. I am putting Schmitt above Patrick Bailey due to his multi-positional eligibility and thus more avenues to arrive to the bigs. When it comes to dynasty valuation, I’ll take the “more ways to succeed” over the pedigree due to pick. Doubly so the deeper your league becomes.

ETA: 2022

8. Sean Hjelle, P

Age: 23

Highest Level: AA

SO TALL. Like too tall. Even for a normal, non-MLB type human. Uncomfortably tall. This helps the righty deliver less than plus velocity offerings in an imposing, downward angle which draws plenty of groundballs. According to scouts, his delivery is repeatable which is remarkable given the bugaboo’s for most Giant…humans.

ETA: 2021

9. Seth Corry, P

Age: 22

Highest Level: A+

Nice frame. Good velocity. Polished with control. He could wind up being the best projectable starter of this bunch, but he needs to start climbing the minor league ladder as quick as possible.

ETA: 2021

10. Hunter Bishop, OF

Age: 22

Highest Level: A+

He was the one guy I wanted to see in 2020. His wildly successful final collegiate season was what all league managers dream on. While I am not giving any creedance to an initial debut where he was very likely gassed while striking out an alarming clip, he is walking a unfairly COVID induced thin line. Best case scenario is that he does well and progresses as expected. If he’s 23 and doesn’t perform well in AA next year, it’s gonna look real bad real quick.

ETA: 2021

11. Luis Toribio, 3B/OF

Age: 20

Highest Level: A

Older and slightly less attractive than Matos. His eye popping power is big enough to dream that even San Francisco’s home park couldn’t keep a ball in the park. His pitch recognition is apparent, walking at a healthy clip. Giants fans would do well to expect a Luciano, Matos, Toribio heart of the order starting in late 2022.

ETA: 2022

 

12. Patrick Bailey, C

Age: 21

Highest Level: A+

Power on both sides of the plate. Bat lags well behind Bart. He knows how to prepare for a game and mitigates a lot of those initial concerns about catchers learning to catch in the bigs. Don’t be surprised if he becomes a defensive first catcher while Bart slides over to 1B.

ETA: 2022

13. Jairo Pomares, OF

Age: 20

Highest Level: A

The young Cuban emigre can put the ball all over the field and likely has the best bat to ball contact in the organization. I like him better than Bishop long term.

ETA: 2023

14. Jim Glowenke, MI

Age: 

Highest Level: A

The compensation for losing Will Smith to the Braves, Glowenke provides some immediate high floor to a rather bare cupboard of Giants middle infield options. That’s a nice way of saying he won’t stick at short, but his bat should carry him enough to be a pretty nice 2B option in dynasty formats.

ETA: 2023

15. Kyle Harrison, P

Age: 19

Highest Level: A

Qualifiers aside on young pitchers, he has a nice slider to pair with a good change while sitting in 92. There’s definitely upside to keep an eye on.

ETA: 2024

16. Blake Rivera, P

Age: 23

Highest Level: A+

Welcome to your first of what feels like a clown car full of pitchers with a curveball who will end up in the bullpen. That said, Rivera might be the best of the bunch.

ETA: 2021

17. Nick Swiney, P

Age: 21

Highest Level: A

I get the feeling that Swiney was picked because of the perceived relationship between him and 1st round pick Patrick Bailey. After scouting both Bailey and Swiney myself, I really appreciate his ability to repeat delivery. Still, when you top out at 90, there’s a lot left to be desired in terms of upside even if he’s a lefty.

ETA: 2022

18. Ricardo Genoves, C

Age: 21

Highest Level: A+

Big boy. sturdy frame. Doesn’t have the upside of Bart or Bailey. Yet worth a flier in deep leagues given the aforementioned limits on the other two.

ETA: 2023

19. Grant McCray, OF

Age: 19

Highest Level: A

Here’s your sleeper prospect. Dude has the tools to become a top 5 organizational prospect by year’s end.

ETA: 2023

20. Dedniel Nunez, P

Age: 24

Highest Level: A+

A Rule 5 pick. I am always interested with Zahidi snags a player. Strong K/BB skill gives me vibes of a dark horse closer candidate.

ETA: 2021

21. Prelander Berroa, P

Age: 20

Highest Level: A

Oh look, another projectable reliever. This one has a high octane fastball that can make him a late inning, high leverage type.

ETA: 2022

23. Kai-Wei Teng, P

Age: 22

Highest Level: A+

I still have hope that Teng can wind up a starter. He is seemingly durable with three secondary offerings with the cambio being his most reliable secondary. He has a nice approach to pitch mix and he seemingly can be a backend innings eater.

ETA: 2022

24. Logan Wyatt, 1B

Age: 23

Highest Level: 

Oh goody. A contact focused 1B with a sub-.780 OPS. So…a worse Chris Shaw?

ETA: 2022

25. Sean Roby, 3B

Age: 22

Highest Level: A+

Can hit the ball a country mile. Can also power a small country with the wind he generates on his many misses. If you could combine Roby’s strength with Wyatt’s contact you’d have a perennial All Star.

ETA: 2022

26. Gregory Santos, P

Age: 21

Highest Level: A+

His trajectory declined almost as soon as it began. An achy shoulder has put this once promising prospect in the “What Could’ve Been File” and we’re now staring down the barrel of a reliever.

ETA: 2023

27. Connor Cannon, 1B

Age: 22

Highest Level: A+

60 grade name. 40 grade bat. Big time beer softball slugger vibes (ie big power, big body, bad knees).

ETA: 2022

28. Dilan Rosario, SS

Age: 19

Highest Level: Rookie

The young Puerto Rican has plenty of leash to continue figuring out if he can tap into a solid hit tool, but Rookie ball wasn’t so kind to him.

ETA: 2024

29. Trevor McDonald, P

Age: 19

Highest Level: Rookie

Another name to watch the newswire on during the 2021 campaign. It’s too early to write him off, but there’s enough there to assume reliever tag.

ETA: 2024

30. Jesus Gomez, P

Age: 19

Highest Level: Rookie

His second time through rookie ball showed he could refine his skillset to cut down on walks and increase weak contact. There’s not much out there on the Venezuelan lefty, which means there’s ample opportunity to eventually buy low.

ETA: 2024

31. P.J. Hilson, OF

Age: 20

Highest Level: Rookie

His hit tool is – to put it nicely – ghastly. Unbecoming might be a better word. He’s incredibly fast though and has enough power to keep a watchful eye on a 2021 season where the hit tool shows enough to hop on board and pray for pay dirt.

ETA: 2023

32. Esmerlin Vincio, P

Age: 17

Highest Level: Rookie

Vinicio is that third level dream in Inception. You literally need to dream within a dream within a dream to see what might become of this player. However, if you want to place a futures bet on any of the Giants pitchers listed within this writeup having the highest WARP in 2030, he’s who I am putting my money on. Now…which bookie is taking these odds again?

ETA: 2024

 

33. Melvin Adon, RP

Age: 26

Highest Level: AAA

If there’s one thing the Giants have in spades, it’s hard throwing relievers. Adon is the cream of the crop here when it comes to actual pitch offerings. An 80 grade fastball touching 100+ with a nice biting slider gives me goosebumps. So for all those leagues buying in on high leverage relievers that will eventually be on a team some day, here’s Adon.

ETA: 2021

34. Camilo Doval, RP

Age: 23

Highest Level: AAA

Ladies and gentleman, I present to you the curious case of a strange delivery for a future reliever.

ETA: 2021

35. Caleb Baragar, RP

Age: 26

Highest Level: MLB

Caleb made the show last year and wasn’t…bad? One too many hard hit balls, two too few strikeouts. But hey, on a hot day in June when the Giants are playing the Pirates? I might add him as a spot start.

ETA: Debuted

36. Frankie Tostado, 1B

Age: 22

Highest Level: A+

70 grade name. 30 grade bat. God, there’s nothing more that I want in this world than a dude name Frankie Tostado being inducted into the Hall of Fame after an illustrious career wherein the Tater is renamed the Tostado in his honor. Alas, a .740 OPS in the SAL isn’t going to cut it.

ETA: 2022

37. Jake Wong, P

Age: 24

Highest Level: AA

After a solid 2019 campaign, Wong would’ve been higher on the list, but Wong went under the knife this offseason and likely won’t be back any time soon. If he’s off the list entirely next year and left for dead on the side of the road by San Francisco’s brass…well, yeah.

ETA: 2023

38. Rico Garcia, P

Age: 27

Highest Level: MLB

Relievers! Relievers! Come get em’ while they’re hot!

ETA: Debuted

39. Conner Menez, P

Age: 25

Highest Level: MLB

Relievers! Relievers! Come get em’ while they’re hot!

ETA: Debuted

40. Jason Krizan, OF

Age: 31

Highest Level: AAA

I respect the hell out of Jason Krizan. He’s the Crash Davis of the Giants organization in that he’s the oldest within the Giants minor league system. The Giants are catching the Dodgers or the Padres this year. Heck, they might not even be in spitting distance of the Rockies or Diamondbacks. When Krizan debuts this year, I will be wearing a Giants cap and audibly celebrating when he inevitably hits a stand up double.

ETA: 2021

41. Yorlis Rodriguez, 2B

Age: 21

Highest Level: A+

I don’t know what it is really. I have an unfounded belief that Cuban players are always going to put forth surprise value. Yorlis seems like the type of player to pop up and have a fine career as a utility infielder. He’s hit at every level he’s been placed in and posted fine walk ratios. If he can keep the glove going, there’s no reason to believe he can’t make the show in the next couple of years. I wouldn’t be shocked if he popped into the top 20 this time next year.

ETA: 2023

42. Ghordy Santos, 2B

Age: 21

Highest Level: A

Santos went toe-to-toe with Josh Hader last spring. During his third stint through Rookie ball though, he increased his strikeouts and decreased his walks. That is a bad recipe. However, he hit the ball a bit better displaying more pop than in previous years. Someone to keep an eye on.

ETA: 2023

43. Jacob Gonzalez, 3B

Age: 22

Highest Level: A+

This is the son of former Diamondback great Luis Gonzalez. Unlike his father, the K% in the last campaign was north of 20. That is yucky no good very bad stuff. Reports have him moving from 3B to 1B at some point. He’s going to need to show improvement if he’s going to make the show.

ETA: 2023

44. R.J. Dabovich, P

Age: 22

Highest Level: A

The fourth rounder out of Arizona State is a bit of a pet project. Nice mid-90s heat with a clean slider and a good frame at 6’3. The Giants want to let him start, but I mean…see above regarding organizational development and track record.

ETA: 2023

45. Carson Ragsdale, P

Age: 22

Highest Level: A

Hot off the presses. The return in a blockbuster deal wherein the Phillies received Sam Coonrod. He performed well in his first stint during 2020 pairing his mid-90s fastball with a biting curve. The frame is big and the delivery is repeatable, but he could use some polish.

ETA: 2023

46. Ryan Murphy, P

Age: 21

Highest Level: A

Another pet project for the Giants, this D-II righty was the final pick for the Giants during the most recent draft. His talent was seemingly bigger than the competition he played with given his strikeout ability in his limited appearances. His delivery is super weird and will likely be adjusted, but it’s fun to watch. I would hate it as a lefty batter.

ETA: 2024

47. Garrett Frenchette, 1B

Age: 20

Highest Level: A

Frechette was the 5th round selection in the 2019 draft. He posted a very respectable line in 2019 and there were going to be plenty of eyes on him in the 2020 season before it was cut short.

ETA: 2024

48. Mitchell Tolman, 3B

Age: 26

Highest Level: AAA

A Rule-5 pick similar to Dedniel Nunez, Vince Fernandez, and Ronnie Williams, I don’t expect much out of Tolman. He hasn’t produced much in the way of eye popping stats. Still, if he’s going to show up and provide any contribution, this is the year.

ETA: 2021

49. Vince Fernandez, OF

Age: 25

Highest Level: AAA

With limited lefties on the big league roster, Fernandez has the inside track of all Rule-5 picks not named Dedniel Nunez. That said, the former Rockie has a PED pop against him and an ugly K% without much power.

ETA: 2021

50. Ronnie Williams, RP

Age: 25

Highest Level: AAA

Cardinal devil magic couldn’t help this former St. Louis prospect find the light. He offered the free pass an unpalatable amount which is likely chalked up to his violent delivery.

ETA: 2021