Carlos Collazo of Baseball America started a Twitter thread last month with a poll meant to determine who fans thought was the team of the decade. The San Francisco Giants, winners of three World Series championships in the decade, were left off the four-team survey. Twitter did not like this and demanded an explanation, but we already know what happened. Nobody really cares about the Giants.
That’s not fair.
You care about the Giants.
That’s why you’re reading this: you’ve got at least some level of interest in Giants prospects. Still, it fascinated me that the Astros won the poll despite having won the one World Series and having lost almost as many games as they won over the decade. The Astros have become the image of success and a preferred model for how to win at baseball, while the Giants ended the aughts in the shadows, scraping up castoffs as they transitioned to a forward-thinking front office after a dynastic run of success under Brian Sabean. But that was the past. Farhan Zaidi and company are in this for the future, and their system looks better every day. So grab some flowers for your hair and let’s go to San Francisco.
1. SS Marco Luciano | 18 | A- | 2022
There’s a case to be made for Luciano being baseball’s best power prospect. He might not steal bases or stay at shortstop, but that doesn’t matter. This guy is a star. I’d probably be floating him in dynasty leagues because the hype is loud right now and the wait will be long. I sold my only share (along with Brennen Davis) last summer to get Kris Bryant, who did not play well post trade but is still a better piece for that team in its contention window.
2. OF Luis Matos | 18 | R | 2024
In ranking him 40th in my Top 50 Prospects for 2020 Fantasy Baseball, I said “Luis Matos is perhaps the least publicized star-level talent in the minors. I think I’m in love.” This happened in September. Rotowire’s James Anderson put Matos in his top 50 the other day. The hype clock is ticking. Buy if you can, while you can.
3. C Joey Bart | 23 | AA | 2021
I have discussed Joey Bart at great length this Fall. Crux is I’m worried about his playing time as Posey gets legacy treatment on a tanking team. If he’s not playing full time soon, his value takes a huge hit because you can do a lot with a roster spot and two years to use it. I wrote those posts before the fence-moving rumors began, and I am a little more interested than I was then, but the roadblock and the dynasty-value-drain of being a catcher remain the dominant factors in my consideration of Bart. So don’t have a cow, man?
4. OF Heliot Ramos | 20 | AA | 2022
5. OF Hunter Bishop | 21 | A- | 2022
6. OF Jaylin Davis | 25 | MLB | Early 2020
The future is shining for Heliot Ramos, who finished the season as a 19-year-old holding his own in AA. I’d consider selling him if someone came in hot with a big offer, but Ramos is a safe asset on a fast track to the top tier of 2021 prospect lists.
The 10th overall pick in this June’s draft, Hunter Bishop is not an actual giant at 6’5” but kind of a Hagrid-esqe half-giant with great patience, power and speed. The only question in his fantasy game is the hit tool, and while that’s not the question I’d want to be asked about most prospects, he’d be useful as a three-true-outcome player with enough speed to help even if his 2019 improvements don’t hold. Great target for OBP leagues.
Zaidi and friends set Kevin Pillar free on Monday, potentially opening center field for Jaylin Davis. Zaidi’s past clubs (Los Angeles and Oakland) have shown a knack for identifying and maximizing late-developing power bats. The upside on a guy with a gig who smashed 36 homers last year almost certainly surpasses the cost of acquisition.
7. 2B Mauricio Dubon | 25 | MLB | Early 2020
8. OF Alexander Canario | 19 | A- | 2023
9. LHP Seth Corry | 21 | A | 2022
Razzball’s own Will Scharnagl put Mauricio Dubon under the microscope in his Small Sample, Big Outlook series, concluding “Mauricio Dubon is a bit underrated going into the 2020 season. While I don’t think he’s going to be anything special, he should be a solid contributor at a very weak position, and I think people should be paying more attention to him.”
I concur. Dubon might not have wild dynasty topside, but he’s a talented all-around player who shouldn’t have trouble locking down an everyday job.
Alexander Canario K’d a lot in low A last year but made loud enough contact when he did connect that his line was still really impressive in the age-to-level matrix. Helps that he passes the batter’s-box eye test with flying colors.
Seth Corry found a deceptive and quick delivery he could repeat–one that helped him command his three-pitch repertoire–and went on attack mode all season. If he can pick up where he left off last year, mechanically, I think he’ll gain velocity and command and hop the escalator to the big leagues.
10. 1B Logan Wyatt | 22 | A | Late 2021
I’m intrigued by Wyatt because he might be a fast mover with the type of selectively aggressive hit tool that plays up with the wooden bat. Some loft-centric coaching seems like a good fit, too. As would a shrinking of the outfield.
