To say the Giants have been one of the more uninspired farm systems of late is an understatement on par with saying Kate Upton is busty. We know. It’s a defining characteristic of this organization. It’s been so bad that people were actually excited about Christian Arroyo, a player that’s truly nothing more than system depth. To put it lightly 2017 was a disastrous campaign for the Giants, as they finished with the league’s worst record, despite paying the luxury tax. Sure Madison Bumgarner’s (first) freak injury played into that, but there were bigger issues. First amongst them is a lack of exciting bats in the lineup. The San Francisco organization did a good job this off-season, acquiring both Andrew McCutchen and Evan Longoria, for underwhelming prospect packages. They also drafted a few exciting talents in top Puerto Rican prospect Heliot Ramos, Jacob Gonzalez son of former Arizona Diamondbacks star Luis Gonzalez, and Seth Corry, an intriguing lefty from the Utah Prep ranks. With the number 2 overall pick in the draft this year, San Francisco has a great opportunity to add onto a strong foundation from last year’s class. It’s the San Francisco Giants Top Prospects for 2o18.
1. Heliot Ramos, OF | Age: 18 | Level: A | 2017 Stats: .348/.404/.645, 6 HR, 27 RBI, 10 SB
One of the top teenagers available in the 2017 draft, San Francisco scooped up Ramos with the 17th overall pick. The Puerto Rican phenom repaid the Giants faith handsomely, by blitzing the rookie level AZL to the tune of .348/.404/.645. His speed, power, and free-swinging ways were on display in a big way. It’s yet to carry through to his full-season debut in 2018, but it’s really important to keep in mind he’s the third youngest player in the Sally League, and seeing more advanced pitching possibly for the first time outside of instructs. He’s struggled on the bases early, struggled to identify breaking balls, and had a few scares in the field, including a collision with teammate Jean Angomas. His swing is long and powerful, with bat speed apparent with each hard cut. His hands are noisy pre-swing, with a big uppercut bat path, his knees are somewhat buckled, but his hips rotate cleanly, and his weight transfer is easy, with a little toe tap as he gets into his swing. I like Ramos a ton, and once he adjusts late rin the season, expect to see some gaudy numbers. ETA: 2021
2. Chris Shaw, OF/1B | Age: 24 | Level: AAA | 2017 Stats: .292/.346/.525, 24 HR, 79 RBI, 0 SB
As the son of a former Boston College Eagle (suck it Rudy & Grey!), my rooting interest in Shaw is a little more personal. Add on the fact that he’s a Masshole, and we have a player near and dear to my heart. Shaw is your prototypical nonathletic corner outfield/first base type. Tons of raw power, lots of swing and miss, but really muscle for all fields homers, even in cavernous AT&T. Shaw is a one trick pony, but one of the better bets to have some fantasy impact in 2018. So far in 2018 he’s hitting for power in AAA, but striking out a bit more than you would like to see. ETA: 2018
3. Alexander Canario, OF | Age: 18 | Level: RK | 2017 Stats: .294/.391/.464, 5 HR, 45 RBI, 18 SB
I’m going big on this one, but in a system full of Meh, you need to boost up your roses. Make no mistake Canario is a rose. Blessed with five tool ability, and off the charts athleticism, Canario is a name to watch, and a target in deep dynasty setups, where you can sit on a player for half a decade. The swing is simple, quick, and clean from the rightside, and he kind of reminds me of recently acquired Giant Andrew McCutchen. ETA: 2022
4. Jacob Gonzalez, 3B | Age: 19 | Level: A | 2017 Stats: .339/.418/.458, 1 HR, 21 RBI, 0 SB
It’s funny when you read about Jacob Gonzalez, it’s always mentioned that he has far more raw power than dad “despite a massive power spike in the early 2000s”. Read between the lines on that one, but regardless of hearsay, the Legacy Gonzo is a corner infield prospect with a combination of power and hitting ability. An advanced approach for a prep player has allowed him to translate to full-season ball relativley well for a teenager. The biggest questions in Gonzalez’s profile surround his defense, with many evaluators questioning his ability to stick at the hot corner. Still a nice gamble in deeper formats. ETA: 2021
5. Andrew Suarez, LHP | Age: 25 | Level: MLB | 2017 Stats: 10-10, 155.2 IP, 3.30 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 135 Ks, 42 Bb
So far so good in Suarez’s short Major League time, he works fastball, slider, curveball, sinker and change. Relying mostly on his low-mid 90’s fourseamer and his high 80’s slider. His best pitch by far is the aforementioned slider, generating a 19.4% SwStr% to go along with a .120 batting average against. He scrapes his changeup vs LHP, instead using his four-seamer about 10% more than versus lefties. The sinker is his second best pitch versus lefthanders, getting whiffs 11.4% of the time while yet to be hit for a ball in play through three starts. He’s more of a mid-rotation type, but he does have some college pedigree having been a weekend starter for three seasons at the storied Miami program. Mid-rotation upside, with a back-end floor. ETA: 2018
6. Sandro Fabian, OF | Age: 20 | Level: A+ | 2017 Stats: .277/.297/.408, 11 HR, 61 RBI, 5 SB
A Dominican product signed in the July 2nd class of 2014, Fabian is a promising hitter with above average contact and power. A free swinger at times, Fabian’s approach needs polish, but he has a long pretty swing with a bat path conducive for power. He struggled early on in 2017 as a 19 year old at low-A Augusta, but adjusted well late hitting .370/.382/.510 in August. He was assigned to high-A San Jose this year, and has struggled early again. Fabian is a leap of faith in some ways, but the type that can pay off if you believe in the underlying hitting skills. I watched as much of Fabian as I could, and I really like his swing. He doesn’t look like a future .300 hitter, but I really think he could develop 25 homer pop. Could see him developing into a power-hitting rightfielder, with an RBI producing spot in the lineup. ETA: 2021
7. Steven Duggar, OF | Age: 24 | Level: AAA | 2017 Stats: .262/.365/.445, 6 HR, 26 RBI, 10 SB
An excellent defensive outfielder with a solid combination of speed, gap power, and elite on base ability. Duggar will never hit for a high average, but his walk rates are routinely in the low teens. This in turn allows him to make the most of his above average speed. However, there’s quite a bit of downside, he strikeouts a lot, particularly for a player with below average power. When you have 10 homer power, you better hit for a .280+ average, or steal 30 bases. I don’t see the latter happening, as he’s just 7/11 on the AAA level. I don’t want to write off Duggar, because I believe his glove will get him opportunities, I’m just not sure he can be much more than a .260/12/12 guy. Not an exciting player to own, but he could have some value in 2018. ETA: 2018
8. Garrett Williams, LHP | Age: 23 | Level: AA | 2017 Stats: 6-5, 97 IP, 2.32 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 96 Ks, 35 Bb
A seventh round steal for the Giants in 2016, Williams is a lefty with good stuff, and fringe control. His fastball is above average to plus at times, when he’s repeating his delivery. His curveball is above average sweeps in on lefty and is hard to pick up due to his arm slot. If Williams can harness his stuff and repeat his delivery enough to avoid a ton of walks he might have a chance as a starter, at worst I see a middle reliever floor. ETA: 2019
9. Tyler Beede, RHP | Age: 25 | Level: MLB | 2017 Stats: 6-7, 109 IP, 4.79 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 83 Ks, 39 Bb
Here’s to this being the last season I need to write about Beede. A former first round pick with college pedigree, and an up and down history of success at the professional level. His fastball has often gotten plus grades, but giant fluctuations in velocity have made it less effective at times. His collection of secondaries doesn’t have an above average pitch among them. His curveball is the best of bunch, and had been considered an above average pitch coming out of Vandy. He also throws an average cutter and a fringe changeup. He made some starts already this season, but he’s not a player I’m desperate to own in any formats. ETA: 2018
Other Names: Seth Corry, Aramis Garcia, Matt Krook, Joan Gregorio, Camilo Doval
