Organizational Talent Rankings via Baseball America
2012 (21) | 2011 (24) | 2010 (29) | 2009 (8) | 2008 (16)
2012 Affiliate Records
MLB: [94-68] NL West
AAA: [74-70] Pacific Coast League – Fresno
AA: [70-71] Eastern League – Richmond
A+: [75-65] California State League – San Jose
A: [69-70] South Atlantic League – Augusta
A(ss): [32-44] Northwest League — Salem-Keiser
Arizona Fall League Players — Scottsdale Scorpions
Ryan Bradley (LHP); Jacob Dunnington (RHP); Chris Gloor (LHP); Heath Hembree (RHP); Dan Runzler (LHP); Ricky Oropesa (1B); Joe Panik (SS); Gary Brown (OF)
Graduated Prospects
Hector Sanchez (C); Brett Pill (Util)
The Run Down
I can’t help but think that this system would look a whole shizzload better if it still included Zack Wheeler. Sorry, Giants fans, but that Wheeler-for-Beltran swap was for naught, and more than a year removed from it, I’m sure you’re all wishing that Gary Brown had been the guy sent to the Mets. I feel your pain, San Francisco. But then y’all went and won the World Friggen Series, and all wounds have been healed. Still, though, this farm system isn’t tremendous. Brown has crashed back down to Earth, and there doesn’t seem to be much high-impact talent beneath him. Big years in 2013 from guys like Kyle Crick and Chris Stratton will fill that void, but until then, the Giants will have to rely on their big league roster… which happens to be quite good, actually.
Top Ten Prospects
1. Gary Brown, OF: After a truly dominant year in the California League in 2011, Brown’s prospect stock couldn’t have been much higher. In his first full season as a pro, he posted a line at .336/.407/.519, with 14 homers and 53 stolen bases. Suffice to say, he’d set a high bar for himself — quite a few prospect outlooks had Brown arriving in San Fran sometime in 2012. Oh, but what a difference a year can make. The speedy 24-year-old out of Cal State Fullerton regressed considerably in a full year at Double-A, finishing the year at .275/.347/.385, with 7 HR and 32 SB (18 CS). A year ago, Brown was a borderline can’t-miss guy, destined to settle into the Giants’ leadoff role for the foreseeable future. Now, that’s not such a sure thing. But one rough year does not ruin a prospect — the tools are still within him. And if he can rediscover his 2011 ways in PCL play this coming year, Brown will resurface as an elite, top-tier prospect for the Giants and for fantasy owners alike. ETA: Late 2013
2. Kyle Crick, RHP: With his big frame and his power arsenal, Crick toyed with the Low-A hitters of the South Atlantic League, finishing the year with a 2.51 ERA and a K/9 at 10.3. Expect the ERA to inflate a bit in 2013 as he takes on the hitter-friendly California League, but it might not be long before he reaches the upper levels and is knocking on the big league door. ETA: Late 2014
3. Joe Panik, SS: Most baseball folks see Panik ending up at second base by the time he arrives in San Fran, but outside of fall league play, the Giants have been steady with him at short. He’s put up solid numbers at the plate during both of his minor league stops, and he should spend 2013 in Double-A. No matter where he ends up in the middle infield, though, Panik projects like a solid fantasy option — a guy who’ll go .300/.350/.400 with 10-12 homers and 15 or so stolen bases. ETA: Late 2014
4. Clayton Blackburn, RHP: This 6-3, 220, 19-year-0ld has done nothing but dominate since arriving in pro ball. His 2012 line in a full year at Augusta: 2.54 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and a 7.94 K/BB. Tremendous command has allowed him to post such gaudy figures in the lower levels, but he’ll be challenged in 2013 in the California League, and even more so as he pushes through to Double- and Triple-A. It’ll be interesting to see if he can keep up the impressive production as he moves forward. Still, Blackburn looks like a safe bet to at least reach the bigs as a solid #3 or #4 type arm. ETA: 2015
5. Chris Stratton, RHP: The Giants took Stratton out of Mississippi State with the 20th overall pick in June, and gave him a short-season assignment with their Northwest League affiliate. Though the sample is limited, Stratton pitched well in his pro debut, and his scouting reports are very strong. Continued success over a more substantial body of work in 2013 will vault him up near the top of this list. ETA: 2015
6. Eric Surkamp, LHP: Surkamp was in the mix for a starting gig in San Fran last spring, before Tommy John surgery ended his year. The 25-year-old is a finesse thrower who relies on plus command and a plus-plus changeup to overcome his lack of velocity. He’ll be among to the first guys to get a look if the the Giants have a need in their rotation at any point in 2013. ETA: 2013
7. Francisco Peguero, OF: Peguero was once touted highly for his toolsy profile, but he’s never really panned out. Still, he posted some decent numbers at Triple-A last year, and even earned a short stint with the big club. His approach has always been his downfall — the guy chases at all sorts of pitches out of the zone. On top of that, his power stroke hasn’t developed as he’s matured physically, which was an aspect of his games that scouts were sure would progress nicely. As is, Peguero looks like a fourth outfielder to me, but he surely has the talent to surpass that projection. ETA: 2013
8. Heath Hembree, RHP: Hembree is a Minor League Baseball closer. That’s an ok thing to be if you’ve got the stuff of Craig Kimbrel or Jason Motte, but he isn’t quite at that level. He posted some exciting numbers in 2011, but he saw his ERA double in 2013 at Triple-A, and I’m just not so sure that he’s the sure-thing closer that baseball folks had once tabbed him as. ETA: 2013
9. Ricky Oropesa, 1B: Defensive limitations will restrict Oropesa to 1B, so there’s not much room for error if he can’t put up the type of numbers we’ve come to expect from big league first basemen. He hit 16 homers in his first full season of pro ball, and scouts see the raw power blossoming further as he matures. First base prospects are always a little riskier because there’s so much pressure on the bat, but Oropesa has a chance develop into a nice major league 1B. ETA: 2015
10. Adam Duvall, 3B: Duvall was one of a handful minor leaguers to collect 30 or more homers in 2012, and there’s no doubt that his power stroke is for real. But what about his other tools, you ask. Well, there are none. He’s a fringy prospect, only staying afloat on the merit of his raw power. At 24 years old, he’ll need to add some depth to his game soon, or fizzle as nothing more than a MiLB masher. ETA: 2015
