Prospect Smackdown: International Bonanza!

While the Giants have made headlines with a series of international position player signings at the top of the market they quietly amassed a large cadre of young international pitchers rising rapidly through the prospect rankings and may start making a significant impact within the next 2-3 years.  MLB Pipeline currently lists 7, yes that's 7, in their Giants Top 30.  Let's break it down:

Argenis Cayama RHP.  DOB:  9/15/2006.  6' 1", 180 lbs.  Signed Jan 2024.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2028.  

2025(ACL):  1-1, 2.25, 48 IP, 10.31 K/9, 3.38 BB/9, 3.32 GB/FB.

2025(A):  1-0, 8.16, 14.1 IP, 4.40 K/9, 6.28 BB/9, 2.69 GB/FB.

Cayama put himself on prospect radars by being young for his level and showing an advanced mix of pitches including 4 and 2 seam fastballs that sit 92-94 and flash 97 MPH.  He also has a slider and changeup which are developing.  I hope to catch him pitching for A San Jose in 2026.

Keyner Martinez RHP.  DOB:  8/16/2004.  6' 1", 165 lbs.  Signed July 2023.  Rule 6 Eligible Dec. 2026.

2025(ACL):  3-1, 1.90, 47.1 IP, 12.74 K/9, 1.90 BB/91.28 GB/FB.

2025(A):  2-1, 2.86, 22 IP, 12.27 K/9, 4.50 BB/9, 1.65 FB/FB.

Baseball America rates both his fastball and slider and best in system.  He had a sensational 2025 campaign in the ACL and A levels.  MLB Pipeline says his FB is mid-90's topping out at 98 MPH.  Change up is a "work in progress."  His size may put him in the bullpen but so far his FB velocity stays up through 4 inning appearances.

Alberto Laroche RHP.  DOB:  12/1/2005.  5' 11", 171 lbs.  Signed April 2024.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2028.

2025(DSL):  1-3, 2.11, 38.1 IP, 7.98 K/9, 1.41 BB/9, 2.32 GB/FB.

MLB Pipeline scouting report has him with some of the "most electric stuff" in the DSL.  He gets elite groundball rates from an "explosive" sinker. He also throws a 4-seamer, slider and change up.  He should graduate to Arizona to start 2026 and we will likely see him in A San Jose boxscores by the end of the season.

Luis De La Torre LHP.  DOB:  9/6/2003.  6' 0", 188 lbs.  Signed July 2023, Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2026.

2025(ACL):  2-1, 3.72, 38.2 IP, 14.43 K/9, 3.72 BB/9, 0.95 GB/FB.

2025(A):  2-2, 1.77, 35.2 IP, 11.86 K/9, 2.78 BB/9, 2.16 GB/FB.  

I saw him pitch after his promotion to A San Jose and came away impressed.  He had excellent command of a live fastball and tight slider.  I thought I saw a pretty good change up or two also.  MLB Pipeline scouting report has his FB 94-96 MPH up to 98.  There was no radar gun in the park when I saw him pitch.  I thought his FB had some pop but I'm pleasantly surprised to see those velocity numbers.  He's coming up on Rule 5 eligibility so should probably start 2026 in A+.

Carlos De La Rosa LHP.  DOB:  11/30/2007.  5' 11", 178 lbs.  Signed Jan 2025(Yankees), Acquired by Trade(Camilo Doval RHP) July 2025.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2029.

Yankees gave him a $400 K bonus.  He had a strong DSL season at age 17.  FB goes 92-94 up to 96 MPH.  He is developing two sliders and a changeup.  We should see him in Arizona as an 18 yo.  It's turning out the Giants got quite a haul for Camilo Doval and De La Rosa may turn out to be the best of them.

2025(DSL):  0-1, 4.73, 32.1 IP, 14.20 K/9, 2.78 BB/9, 1.00 GB/FB.

Yunior Marte RHP.  DOB:  8/9/2003.  6' 5", 210 lbs.  Signed Jul 2021(Royals), Acquired by Trade Jul 2025(Mike Yastrzemski).  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2026.

2025(A):  3-5, 2.91, 102 IP, 8.47 K/9, 2.56 BB/9, 1.08 GB/FB.

This is not the same Yunior Marte who pitched for the Giants a couple of years ago.  That guy was kind of small. This dude is large.  Acquired from the Royals for Mike Yastrzemski.  His FB goes 92-95 MPH up to 97.  He pairs that with a slider that MLB Pipeline calls a "deadly combo" against right handed batters.  His secondary stuff is still developing. 

Gerelmi Maldonado RHP.  DOB:  12/21/2003.  6' 2", 170 lbs.  Signed Jan 2021.  Rule 5 Eligible.

2025(A):  0-4, 3.97, 59 IP, 10.53 K/9, 6.71 BB/9, 2.07 GB/FB.

Gerelmi came back from Tommy John surgery with a wild hair up his nose.  His K rates suggests the stuff is still there but he needs to re-find his command.  I am not sure he will make it onto MLB Pipeline's 2026 Giants Top 30 Prospects list.  I know he will be lower on my list until he proves he can command his pitches again.

Smackdown:  Keyner Martinez wins this smackdown on the strength of his results on the field and glowing scouting report.  I mean, if you have two pitches that are best in organization, that's pretty tought to beat, right?  I will probably rank him in my top 10 Giants prospects.  I am excited about the whole group.  It sure seems like the Giants should get at least one SP and a couple of relievers out of this group.

Scouting the 2026 Draft: Sawyer Strosnider

Sawyer Strosnider OF, College(TCU).  DOB:  6/26/2005.  B-L, T-L.  6' 2", 200 lbs.  

2025(College):  .350/.420/.650, 13 2B, 10 3B, 11 HR, 10 SB, 8.0 BB%, 18.7 K%, 251 PA.

Draft eligible Sophomore.  5-tool athlete with "light-tower power", probably enough speed to play CF and definitely enough arm to play RF, but a questionable hit tool.  He went 5 for 35 with 17 K's to start his college career but then hit .398 with just 14 K's for the rest of his freshman season.  Maintaining contact through his sophomore season will go a long way to build his stock.  If he improves his strike zone control the sky is his limit. Oh, and it's at least a 70 grade name.

Prospect Smackdown: Pitching Battle Royale

I think we've all looked at the Giants starting pitching situation as a glass half empty and we may be missing the glass that's half full.  I know I have been quite vocal about the need to add starters in the Hot Stove League and the Giants themselves have said their goal is to add two starting pitchers to give them some pitching depth.  Giants GM Zach Minasian held a Zoom call with beat writers and Alex Pavlovic has a quote which has Minasian perhaps backing off that goal a bit:  "If we can't develop a couple of those, several of those, shame on us. I believe in our developing system and our pitching group.....getting another starter would be great, but is it a total necessity?  I don't think it's a failure if we don't get another starter, but we'll continue to look,"

So who is in this gaggle of young starting pitching Minasian is talking about?  Let's do a pitching prospect smackdown.  As it stands, the Giants have 5 potential starting pitchers on their 40-man roster who still qualify as prospects, meaning they have pitched less than 50 innings at the MLB level.  This does not include young pitchers with limited MLB experience who accumulated more than 50 innings but for various reasons have not established themselves as MLB veterans:  Hayden Birdsong RHP, Tristan Beck RHP and Keaton Winn RHP.  Everybody is forgetting about J. T. Brubaker RHP who was tendered a contract and is awaiting an arbitration hearing.  Let's get to the Prospect Battle Royale:

Trevor McDonald RHP.  DOB:  2/26/2001. 6' 2", 201 lbs.  1 Option.

2025(AAA):  9-9, 5.31, 142.1 IP, 9.11 K/9, 3.92 BB/9, 2.03 GB/FB.

2025(MLB):  1-0, 1.80, 15 IP, 8.40 K/9, 1.20 BB/9, 2.30 GB/FB.

I've been a Trevor McDonald fanboy ever since the Giants drafted him out of high school in the 11'th round in 2019 but used draft bonus rules to cobble together an $800 K bonus.  McDonald's development trajectory mirrors Logan Webb's. Both had great sinkers that kept the ball on the ground at dominant levels.  McDonald was electric in three late-season MLB appearances but with a limited pitch mix:  51% curve, 39% Sinker, 6% Change Up. His sinker averaged 93 MPH.  For long term success the next step is to follow Webb in perfecting the changeup and increase it in the mix.  

Carson Seymour RHP.  DOB:  12/16/1998.  6' 6", 255 lbs.  2 Options.

2025(AAA):  4-8, 3.86, 77 IP, 10.52 K/9, 4.56 BB/9, 2.45 GB/FB.

2025(MLB):  1-3, 4.75, 36 IP, 6.50 K/9, 3.25 BB/9, 1.54 GB/FB, 42% Sinker, 22% Fastball, 20% Slider, 10% Changeup, 6% Curve, 96.4 vFA.  

While Trevor McDonald needs to add a pitch to his repertoire, Seymour may need to simplify his.  The sinker and 4-seamer are both plus pitches.  He probably needs to concentrate on polishing up a third and/or 4'th pitch. Seymour pitched really well in a notoriously tough environment in the PCL. Although his numbers were not as good in a small sample at the MLB level, he finished strong with a couple of scoreless appearances including a final 3-inning stint on 9/24.  He might be the most ready of this group to step up into a 5'th SP role.

Kai-Wei Teng RHP.  DOB:  12/1/1998.  6' 4", 241 lbs.  2 Options.

2025(AAA):  3-2, 3.63, 14.05 K/9, 3.47 BB/9, 1.42 GB/FB.  

2025(MLB):  2-4, 6.37, 11.83 K/9, 5.16 BB/9, 0.97 GB/FB, 39% Slider, 25% 4-seam FB, 14% Curve, 14% Sinker, 10% Change Up, 93.2 vFA.

If K rate is a measure of stuff, Teng had some of the best stuff in the organization in AAA.  Although he got knocked around at the MLB level, he threw some impressive looking pitches.  He's another case where he may need to simplify his arsenal. His two most effective pitches were the slider and changeup.  The sinker was more effective than the 4-seam and the curve got hammered.  

Blade Tidwell RHP.  DOB:  6/8/2001.  6' 4", 207 lbs.  2 Options.

2025(AAA-Mets):  6-4, 4.10, 79 IP, 9.91 K/9, 3.65 BB/9, 1.07 GB/FB.

2025(AAA-Giants):  0-0, 1.50, 18 IP, 10.30 K/9, 2.50 BB/9, 0.86 GB/FB.

2025(MLB-Mets):  1-1, 9.00, 15 IP, 6.00 K/9, 6.00 BB/9, 0.80 GB/FB, 39% 4-seam FB(95.7), 38% Slider, 18% Sinker.  

Was effective in AAA after coming to the Giants in the haul for Tyler Rogers, but shoulder soreness limited his appearances.  Given his previous connection to Tony Vitello at Tennessee I could see him seriously challenge for a MLB role out of spring training.  Probably needs to develop a changeup or split to be a SP at the MLB level.

Carson Whisenhunt LHP.  DOB:  10/20/2000.  6' 3", 214 lbs.  3 Options.

2025(AAA):  9-5, 4.43, 107.2 IP, 7.94 K/9, 2.93 BB/9, 1.40 GB/FB.

2025(MLB):  2-1, 5.01, 23.1 IP, 6/17 K/9, 4.63, 6.17 K/9, 4.63 BB/9, 1.07 GB/FB, 48% Sinker(92.5), 37% Change Up, 14% Slider.  

Whiz's K/9 was a bit disappointing even at the AAA level given he reportedly has an 80-grade change up.  At the MLB level he simply did not have enough command of his sinking FB to fully set up the change and he has never commanded a breaking ball.  So where does that leave him?  I have this feeling that if Dave Righetti was still the Giants pitching coach he would have him ditch the breaking ball and teach him a cutter to give him a bit of horizontal glove-side movement.  The other thought is to add a 4-seamer to expand the batter's vertical visual field.  

Battle Royale Smackdown:  The problem here, like in the outfield, is a lot of intriguing potential but nothing that gives a ton of confidence.  I guess I would move Seymour to the top of this list and make 5'th SP his role to lose in spring training.  Of course the other option is to acquire another veteran and make these five the staring rotation in AAA Sacramento to start the season.  And don't forget Hayden Birdsong, Keaton Winn and Tristan Beck.  I have to say, though, that Zach Minasian has a point.  If the Giants can't develop at least one league-average SP out of this bunch then they need to completely rethink their player development.

Prospect Smackdown: Jesus Rodriguez vs Daniel Susac

The Giants recently acquired two new additions to the upper levels of their catching depth chart:  Jesus Rodriguez and Daniel Susac.  As it currently stands they will compete this spring for the back up catcher role behind Patrick Bailey C.  Let's compare them in a prospect smackdown.

Jesus Rodriguez C.  DOB:  4/23/2002.  B-R, T-R.  5' 10", 208 lbs.  40-man Roster, 2 Options.

2025(MiLB- 2 teams):  .307/.393/.403, 7 HR, 21 SB, 11.7 BB%, 13.8 K%, 565 PA, 1.91 GB/FB.

This kid basically raked every level since the Yankees signed him as an international free agent in 2018.  He's listed as a C/3B and has also played LF and DH.  After acquiring him in a deadline trade for Camilo Doval, the Giants used him as C and DH and openly hope to develop him as a C.  His MLB Pipeline scouting report says he struggles at times behind the plate and needs more reps.  He moves "OK" and has solid arm strength and a quick release.  Although the hit tool is a plus and he makes great contact, he swings at too many pitches out of the zone and hits the ball on the ground way too often to have usable power.

Daniel Susac C.  DOB:  5/14/2001.  B-R, T-R.  6' 4", 218 lbs.  As a Rule 5 Draftee, must stay on Active Roster all season or be offered back to the A', so can't be optioned this season.  Starting next season he has 3 Options.  

2025(AAA, A's):  .275/.349/.483, 18 HR, 7 SB, 8.6 BB%, 26.8 K%, 407 PA, 1.52 GB/FB.  

Scouting reports say he made improvements on defense last season and is more advanced defensively than Rodriguez.  He also has more usable power than JRod but is no paragon of plate discipline and has a much higher K rate.  He also puts the ball on the ground more than ideal but not nearly as much as JRod.

Smackdown:  Jesus Rodriguez seems to fit Buster Posey's vision for a higher contact approach from Giants hitters but may not be ready defensively to step into the reserve catcher role.  Susac was probably helped a lot by the hitter friendly environment in Las Vegas and is likely to struggle with contact at the MLB level.  He probably has the inside track to the back up catcher role if only because he can't be optioned to the minors.  In the long run, JRod's batting issues are probably more fixable than Susac's and has a better chance of being on offensive contributor in some role.  

Hot Stove League Update: Giants Add Two Pitchers

 The Giants joined the Hot Stove League action today by reaching agreements with two free agent pitchers, Adrian Houser RHP and Jason Foley RHP.  They also agreed to a minor league deal with former Giant Gregory Santos RHP.   Here's the breakdown:

Adrian Houser RHP.  DOB:  2/2/1993.  6' 3", 242 lbs.  2yr/ $22 M(Option for 3'rd season).

2025:  8-5, 3.31, 125 IP, 6.62 K/9, 2.74 BB/9, 1.49 GB/FB.

Houser caught on with the White Sox last season after a disastrous 2024 with the Mets who released him.  He got off to a great start including 7 shutout innings against the Giants.  He was less effective after a midseason trade to the Rays where his ERA ballooned to 4.79 from the 2.10 he ran up with the ChiSox.  So what's the deal with Houser?  He is obviously a contact pitcher whose success will fluctuate according to the whims of the BABIP gods but there may be reason for more optimism than his K/9 and FIP indicate.  

He has a solid 5 pitch mix including 4-seam FB, sinker, slider and changeup all with approximately equal effectiveness.  They are all good pitches but he doesn't seem to have that put away pitch he needs to get K's.  His fastball and sinker velocities took 2 MPH jumps from 2024 to 95.2 and 94.4 respectively.  He limits the contact damage with a strong ground ball tendency and does not give up a lot of home runs which should play just fine in Oracle Park. His numbers with the Rays were negatively impacted by allowing 9 ER in 10.2 IP in his first two starts.  His remaining 8 starts were better with a 4.14 ERA.  Two of his final 3 starts were Quality Starts.  

He is exactly the type of pitcher the Giants lacked last season, so this is a solid signing, but that was with Justin Verlander in the rotation.  Houser is probably not a guy they can count on to deliver 150 IP let along 180 as 142 is the maximum number of innings he's pitched in any season of his career.  IMO, the Giants still need a starting pitcher at least as good as Verlander was last season plus Houser.

Jason Foley RHP.  DOB:  11/1/1995.  6' 4", 215 lbs.  1 yr/$2 M(Arbitration Eligible 2027, Free Agent 2029).

2024:  3-6, 3.15, 60.0 IP, 6.90 K/9, 3.00 BB/9, 1.57 GB/FB, 28 Saves.

Foley missed all of 2025 after undergoing shoulder surgery.  He is expected to start the season on the 60-day IL and be available by midseason.  He was a decent Closer for the Tigers in 2023 and 2024.  

He's mostly a sinker-slider guy with an occasional 4-seam and changeup mixed in.  He pitches to contact and with a strong groundball tendency and limits home runs.

Gregory Santos returns to the Giants organization on a minor league deal. He's a hard-thrower who can still get it up into the upper 90's but relies on his slider for over 60% of his pitches.  He has battled injuries since having a good season with the White Sox in 2023.  

Scouting the 2026 Draft: Cameron Flukey

Cameron Flukey RHP, College(Coastal Carolina).  DOB:  4/13/2005.  6' 6", 210 lbs.  

2025(College):  8-2, 3.19, 101.2 IP, 10.4 K/9, 2.1 BB/9.

Tall RHP with two plus pitches(FB and Curve) and a changeup that could develop into a plus pitch.  Swing and miss stuff with excellent command.  FB sits at 95 deep into games and tops out out 98 MPH.  He is one college pitcher who could get into top 10 draft pick consideration if he has a strong junior season.  Lanky body could stand some filling out.  

Hot Stove League Update: Heating Up

 It's long been said the GM meetings are for laying the groundwork for deals which are consummated at the Winter Meetings.  That dynamic increasingly seems to be pushed back to the Winter Meetings for groundwork which are completed in the following days or weeks.  Three more significant deals got done yesterday including two free agent signings and a trade. These were deals I might have some fan envy over.  Let's break it down:

The Cardinals signed Dustin May RHP to a 1 yr contract with a mutual option for 2027.  Terms of the contract are reported at this time.  

Dustin May RHP.  DOB:  9/6/1997.  6' 6", 180 lbs.  

2025(Dodgers/Red Sox):  7-11, 4.96, 132.1 IP, 8.37 K/9, 3.81 BB/9, 1.12 GB/FB.  

Justin Turner's talented, much younger, evil twin dealt with a series of injuries through his career, including two Tommy John surgeries and an esophageal tear(yikes!).  His 132 innings last season were the most of his career but he ended the season on the IL with ulnar neuritis and his velocity was down to 95 MPH from a high of 99 in 2020.  I thought May might be an interesting bounce back candidate on a one year deal but after reviewing the details of his injury history, I can see why the Giants took a pass on him as ulnar neuritis does not sound totally unrelated to his previous two TJ surgeries.

The Tigers signed Kenley Jansen RHP to a 1 yr/$11 M contract, also with a club option for 2027.  

Kenley Jansen RHP.  DOB:  9/30/1987.  6' 5", 265 lbs.  

2025(Angels):  5-4, 2.59, 59 IP, 8.7 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, 29 Saves.  

Jansen may be 38 yo and may not be the pitcher he once was but he is coming of a fine season in which he was charged with just one Blown Save, although he also recorded 4 Losses in which he presumably entered at tie game and lost.  $11 M for just one season seems like a pretty darn reasonable price for that kind of veteran savvy in the Closer role.  And where was Buster Posey today?  Oh here! We found him hanging out in the Brebbia Aisle.  Buster seems quite determined to not pay more than the league minimum for his Closer next season.

Trade:  The Brewers sent Isaac Collins OF and Nick Mears RHP to the Royals for Angel Zerpa LHP.  

Royals Get:

Isaac Collins OF.  DOB:  7/22/1997.  B-S, T-R.  5' 8", 188 lbs.  Pre-arbitration(eligible 2028).

2025(Brewers):  .263/.368/.411, 9 HR, 16 SB, 12.9 BB%, 21.1 K%, 441 PA, 2.6 fWAR.    

The Brewers selected Collins in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft after the 2022 season.  He made his MLB debut in 2023 and had a fine 2025 season for the Brewers.  

Nick Mears RHP.  DOB:  10/7/1996.  6' 3", 217 lbs.  Arbitration eligible.  Free agent 2028. 0 Options.

2025(Brewers):  5-3, 3.49, 56.2 IP, 7.31 K/9, 2.06 BB/9, 1 Save.

Middle relief arm whose decent ERA may or may not be repeatable depending on what predictive metric you use.

Brewers Get:

Angel Zerpa LHP.  DOB:  9/27/1999.  6' 0", 220 lbs.  Arbitration Eligible(Free Agent 2029). 1 Option.

2025(Royals):  5-2, 4.18, 64.2 IP, 8.07 K/9, 3.06 BB/9, 2.68 GB/FB.  

Similar profile as Mears but a lefty and groundball-dominant which may be perceived as more valuable.

Comment:  Wow!  I must be missing something here because this looks like a fleecing by the Royals.  Even if he's stuck in LF, Collins looks like he could have been an upgrade on Heliot Ramos in LF but then what do the Giants do with Ramos?  Those kinds of sequential moves/trades are what separates the creative GM's from the ones who go by the book.

And this one really hurts.  Merrill Kelly agrees to extend his career with the D'Backs for 2 yr/$40 M.  Kelly seems like the prototype of what the Giants need to fill out their starting rotation:  A veteran who takes the ball every 5 games, keeps you in the game and is willing to take a shorter term contract.  

Merrill Kelly RHP.  DOB:  10/14/1988.  6' 2", 202 lbs.

2025(D'Backs):  12-9, 3.52, 184 IP, 8.17 K/9, 2.35 BB/9, 1.14 GB/FB. 

Seemed like a perfect fit for the Giants 2026 rotation.  Maybe Buster kicked the tires and found out Kelly was looking to resign with the snakes?  Maybe he thinks he can find comparable value more in the 1 yr/$15 M range like Justin Verlander last season?

Come on Buster!  You can't fill all the holes in the Brebbia Aisle!