Down on the Farm 7/24/2025

AAA:  Sacramento River Cats topped the Las Vegas Aviators 4-3.

Tyler Fitzgerald 2B- 2 for 3, 2 2B, BB.  BA= .290.

Jerar Encarnacion RF- 2 for 4, HR(3).  BA= .302.

Daniel Johnson CF/RF- 2 for 4.  BA= .288.

Carson Ragsdale RHP- 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 5.37.

Trent Harris RHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 7.56.

Ryan Watson RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, Save(5).  ERA= 4.20. 

AA:  Portland Sea Dogs defeated the Richmond Flying Squirrels 5-3.

Justin Wishkoski 1B- 2 for 4.  BA= .233.

Nick Zwack LHP- 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Ian Villers RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 6.08.

A+:  Vancouver Canadians outlasted the Eugene Emeralds 4-3(First game of doubleheader, 11 innings).

Maui Ahuna SS- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .357.

Jack Payton RF- 2 for 4, HR(7).  BA= .247.

Dylan Carmouche LHP- 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 3.08.

Cameron Pferrer RHP- 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 2.28.

A+:  Eugene Emeralds beat the Vancouver Canadians 5-1(Game 2 of doubleheader, 7 innings).

Jonah Cox CF- 3 for 3, BB, 2 SB(41).  BA= .253.

Dayson Croes DH- 2 for 3.  BA= .310.

Zane Zielinski 2B- 1 for 3, 2B.  BA= .227.

Guillermo Williamson 1B- 2 for 3, HR(3).  BA= 203.

Matt Dunaway RHP- 4.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K's, GO/AO= 5/2.  ERA= 1.32.

A:  San Jose Giants dominated the Inland Empire 66'ers 9-3.

Jean Carlos Sio SS- 2 for 3, 3 BB, SB(14).  BA= .303.

Jose Ortiz CF- 3 for 5, 2B, BB.  BA= .378.

Walker Martin DH- 1 for 5, BB, 2 SB(12).  BA= .246.

Zander Darby LF- 3 for 6, 2B, SB(10).  BA= .295.

Lisbel Diaz LF- 2 for 6.  BA= .267.

Juan Perez C- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .164.

Ryan Reckley RF- 1 for 3, 2B, 2 BB.  BA= .152.

Luis De La Torre LHP- 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K's, 6/1 GO/AO.  ERA= 0.00.

Cole Hillier RHP- 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's, Save(3).  ERA= 2.89.

I attended this game.  De La Torre looked sharp.  There is no stadium radar gun in San Bernardino so hard to judge velocities.  He appeared to be throwing slightly less hard than the 66'ers SP but with a lot better command.  He seemed to have a sinking fastball or cutter which got a lot of groundballs but reached back and elevated a 4-seamer when needed.  Slider command was spotty.  

Zander Darby was the best looking hitter with excellent bat control.  In his first AB he turned on a middle-in pitch and lined it to the RF wall for a double.  Later he hit two perfectly placed groundballs through the hole on the left side for singles including one with runners on 2'nd and 3'rd which drove in both runners.  I thought to myself the Giants need to do more of that.

Good to see Ortiz back after I saw him pull a bad hammy early in the season.  Elijah Pleasants sure looks like a pitcher, tall, rawboned with long, whippy arms.  He needs to command his pitches.  Cole Hillier is compact with a live fastball and sharp slider.

Rookie ACL:  Giants tamed the D'Backs 7-3.

Christian Koss 2B(rehab)- 2 for 3.  BA= .667.

Ramon Peralta 2B(21 yo)- 2 for 2, HR(5).  BA= .261.

Dario Reynoso 3B(20 yo)- 1 for 2, 2 BB.  BA= .298.

Andy Polanco CF(20 yo)- 2 for 3, 3 SB(22).  BA= .264.

Alexander Fuentes RHP(20 yo)- 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 2.62.

DSL:  Giants Black blanked Mets Orange 4-0.

Evan Estevez DH(17 yo)- 1 for 3, 2B.  BA= .283.

Alberto Laroche RHP(19 yo)- 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 1.14.

DSL:  Arizona Black pounded Giants Orange 8-2.

Anthony Marquez SS(18 yo)- 2 for 4, 2B, BB, SB(12).  BA= .274.

Edwin Reynoso LHP(18 yo)- 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 3.00.

Hector Dos Santos LHP(19 yo)- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 6.23.

Down on the Farm: 7/23/2025

AAA:  Sacramento River Cats edged out the Las Vegas Aviators 3-2.

Tyler Fitzgerald 2B- 2 for 4, HR(1).  BA= .273.

Bryce Eldridge 1B- 1 for 4, HR(5).  BA= .231.

Mason Black RHP- 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 4.45.

Bryce Eldridge's second HR in as many games was a walk-off after the Aviators tied the game in the top of the 9'th inning.

AA:  Portland Sea Dogs outlasted the Richmond Flying Squirrels 6-4(10 innings):

Carter Howell RF-2 for 4, HBP.  BA= .207.

Sabin Ceballos 3B- 3 for 3, 2B, BB.  BA= .207.

Turner Hill CF- 1 for 3, BB, Sac.  BA= .250.

Will Bednar RHP- 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 6.39.

Two 3-hit games in a row for Ceballos who has had a tough season after a hot spring training.  Will Bednar bounces back from getting roughed up his last appearance.

A+:  Eugene Emeralds defeated the Vancouver Canadians 4-1.

Drew Cavanaugh C- 3 for 5, 2B.  BA= .397.

Jonah Cox CF- 1 for 3, BB, Sac, SB(39).  BA= .250.

Quinn McDaniel LF- 2 for 3, BB. BA= .230.

Greg Farone LHP- 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 6.75.

Brayan Palencia RHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 4.68.

Ben Peterson RHP- 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 1.74.

This is more like what we hoped to see from Farone after his promotion from A San Jose.

A:  San Jose Giants outscored the Inland Empire 66'ers 9-6.

Jean Carlos Sio SS- 4 for 6, 2B, 3B, HR(4).  BA= .299.

Walker Martin 3B- 2 for 5, BB, 2 SB(10).  BA= .246.

Lisbel Diaz CF- 4 for 6, 3 2B, SB(16).  BA= .266.

Jeremiah Jenkins DH- 2 for 4, BB.  BA= .222.

Ryan Reckley RF- 2 for 5, 3B.  BA= .146.

Nomar Diaz C- 1 for 4, HR(2), BB.  BA= .143.

Evan Gray RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, Save(3).  ERA= 4.04.

It looks to me like Jean Carlos Sio hit for the cycle.  

All 3 of the Giants complex affiliates were idle.

Game Wrap 7/23/2025: Giants 9 Braves 3

Justin Verlander shook off a 39-pitch first inning to complete 5 innings of scoreless ball and Rafael Devers had a breakout game to give Verlander his first Win as a Giant.  Key Lines:

Heliot Ramos LF- 2 for 5, 2B, R.  BA= .267.  Ramos also made a diving catch in shallow L-CF to take away a hit and even a potential double.

Rafael Devers DH- 3 for 5, 2 HR(19), 2 R, 4 RBI.  BA= .264.  Breakout game for Devers.  The first home run as all wrists as he was way out in front but kept his hands back long enough to hook it with a wrist flip.  TV broadcast said it was the second lowest pitch hit for a HR in MLB this season.  Those are some strong wrists!  Second HR came one pitch after he was knocked down by a heat-seeker at the ear.  He took a long time to take inventory after that knockdown and a few very deep breaths then crushed the next pitch out of the park.  This was Devers third consecutive multi-hit game and first multi-homer game since the trade.  He suddenly looks a lot happier and more confident and that's a very good thing for the Giants.  

Matt Chapman 3B- 1 for 2, HR(14), BB, HBP, 2 R, 2 RBI.  BA= .243.   The HR was crushed to R-CF.  Chapman got hit on the hand with a pitch later in the game and Brett Wisely PH for his final AB.  Hopefully just a precaution and due to the Giants large lead.

Casey Schmitt 2B/3B(.245), Dominic Smith 1B(.250), Patrick Bailey C(.208) and Luis Matos CF(.173) each had a hit.  Bailey's hit was a double.  Smith, Bailey and Matos had RBI's and Smith and Matos scored a run each.

Justin Verlander RHP- 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 4.70.  Verlander walked the bases loaded in the first inning and things looked so bad there was activity in the Giants bullpen.  He got out of it but threw 39 pitches and looked unlikely to pitch the required 5 innings for a Win.  He settled down and got through a full 5 allowing just 3 more baserunners and 59 more pitches.  By the time he officially exited the game the Giants had a 6-0 lead and Verlander had his first Win of the season and first as a Giant.  Hopefully he will have a few more before he's done.

Ryan Walker RHP(4.35), Joey Lucchesi LHP(1.93) and Tyler Rogers RHP(1.51) pitched scoreless frames out of the bullpen.  Sean Hjelle RHP(7.71) gave up a 3-spot in the 7'th inning but completed the inning.

The Giants find themselves in a much better place than 2 days ago and will have a happy flight and a day off at home tomorrow.  Logan Webb RHP starts the first game of the homestand and weekend series against the Mets Friday Night facing Clay Holmes RHP who comes in with a 3.48 ERA but 4.58 over his last 7 starts.  

Down on the Farm: 7/22/2025

 AAA:  Sacramento River Cats shut out the Las Vegas Aviators 8-0.

Tyler Fitzgerald 2B- 2 for 5.  BA= .258.

Bryce Eldridge 1B- 2 for 4, 2B, HR(4).  BA= .230.

Daniel Johnson LF- 2 for 4, HR(8).  BA= .288.

Antonio Jimenez LHP- 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 3.62.

Joel Peguero RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 5.90.

Keaton Winn RHP- 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 4.73.

I read a note that this was Kai-Wei Teng's turn to start.  It was a bullpen game but that's an interesting opening line for Jimenez.  After giving up 6 runs in 2 IP in his first two appearances of the season, he has a subsequent 2.55 ERA. Peguero, the triple-digit man from spring training, has put up a 1.13 ERA in 8 IP in July.

AA:  Portland Sea Dogs outlasted the Richmond Flying Squirrels 3-2(11 innings):

Sabin Ceballos 3B- 3 for 3, 2B, BB.  BA= .198.

John Bertrand LHP- 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 3.10.

Cameron Cotter RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 5.85.

Dylan Hecht RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 0.00.

Re. Bertrand, Landen Roupp is proving pitchability can still win at the MLB level.

A+:  Eugene Emeralds buried the Vancouver Canadians 12-3.

Maui Ahuna SS- 2 for 4, 2 BB.  BA= .500.

Jonah Cox CF- 2 for 6, HR(7).  BA= .249.

Drew Cavanaugh C- 4 for 5, 2B, 3B, BB.  BA= .381.

Zane Zielinski 2B- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .227.

Cole Foster 3B- 3 for 5, 2B.  BA= .156.

Cesar Perdomo LHP- 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 4.40.

Ryan Vanderhei RHP- 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 6.47.

Maui Ahuna moves up to A+.  Drew Cavanaugh can hit.

A:  San Jose Giants blasted the Inland Empire 66'ers 10-3.

Jean Carlos Sio LF- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .292.

Walker Martin 3B- 2 for 4, HR(11), BB.  BA= .244.

Robert Hipwell DH- 1 for 3, 2B, BB, HBP.  BA= .238.

Zander Darby 2B- 1 for 5, HR(5).  BA= .291.

Jeremiah Jenkins 1B- 2 for 4, BB.  BA= .208.

Hunter Dryden RHP- 3.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 2.20.

Ricardo Estrada LHP- 3.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 2.93.

Cade Vernon RHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 1.70.

Walker Martin is batting .316 in July.  Since his BA hit a nadir of .197 on June 5, he's batted .303 over 122 AB since.

Rookie ACL:  Giants stomped the Cubs 12-4(7 innings).

Jhonny Level DH(18 yo)- 2 for 3, HR(9), BB.  BA= .293.

Jose Ortiz RF(20 yo)- 1 for 3, 2 SB(2).  BA= .231.

Rayner Arias LF(19 yo)- 1 for 2, HR(3), 2 BB.  BA= .240.

Ramon Peralta 3B(21 yo)- 2 for 4, 3B, HR(4).  BA= .252.

Jesus Alexander 1B(19 yo)- 1 for 2, 2 BB.  BA= .248.

DSL:  Giants Black defeated Blue Jays Blue 7-3.

Josuar Gonzalez SS(17 yo)- 2 for 5, 3B.  BA= .256.

Yosneiker Rivas 2B(19 yo)- 2 for 5.  BA- .314.

Yoxander Benitez LF(18 yo)- 2 for 4, SB(13).  BA= .283.

Diego Alambarrio C(17 yo)- 2 for 4, SB(1).  BA= .316.

Dennys Riera 1B(20 yo)- 2 for 3, 2B, SB(2).  BA= .246.

DSL:  Giants Orange crushed the Mariners 11-4.

Miguel Caraballo C(16 yo)- 2 for 4, HR(5).  BA= .262.

Brandon Vasquez RF(18 yo)- 3 for 5, 2B.  BA= .306.

Yulian Barreto 2B(17 yo)- 1 for 5, 3B.  BA= .331.

Game Wrap 7/22/2025: Giants 9 Braves 0

The Giants worked out their frustrations in a blowout win.  Key Lines:

Heliot Ramos LF- 1 for 3, BB, SF, R, RBI.  BA= .266.  Pretty good game for Heliot except he blew through a stop sign from 3B coach Matt Williams but scored the run.  I didn't see it, but I read a comment that he got a lecture in the dugout.

Rafael Devers 1B- 2 for 5, 2B, BB, 2 R, RBI.  BA= .259.  Hey!  Devers played 1B!  Hopefully this means his back feels better.  This was his second 2-hit game in a row.  I thought he looked the happiest I've seen him since the trade and with more positive body language.

Willy Adames SS- 1 for 2, 3 BB, 2 R, RBI.  BA= .231.  Adames resurgence continues.

Matt Chapman 3B- 2 for 5, 3B.  BA= .241.  Chapman's third 2-hit game in a row and he's to be hitting the ball hard.  Hopefully that means his wrist injury is fully healed and in his rearview mirror.

Wilmer Flores DH- 1 for 3, HR(12), SF, R, 4 RBI.  BA= .245.  It shouldn't make any difference but somehow I feel like Devers and Flores will both be happier and do better with Devers at 1B and Wilmer at DH.

Casey Schmitt 2B- 1 for 4, HR(5), R, RBI.  BA= .246.  Schmitt's home run capped the 4-run 2'nd inning that got the Giants and Landen Roupp off to a great start.

Patrick Bailey 2B- 2 for 4, 2B, R.  BA= .208.  He got thrown out trying for a second double on another great throw by Ronald Acuna Jr.  It looked like Bailey ditched the "torpedo" bat.  He's batting .333 over his last 7 games and .245 over his last 30.  If he can sustain a .245 BA the rest of the way, it will be a big boost to the lineup.

Landen Roupp RHP- 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 3.11.  Another strong start for Roupp.

Joey Lucchesi LHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 2.08.   Lucchesi has been impressive since his call up.

Carson Seymour RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 3.00.  Hayden Birdsong RHP and Tristan Beck RHP were optioned to AAA Sacramento and Seymour and Sean Hjelle RHP were recalled.  Birdsong obviously needs to work on his game and Beck pitched 5.2 innings in 3 days and the Giants needed an available arm in the bullpen. I am sure Beck will be back soon. Seymour looked really good with a 98 MPH sinking fastball and a sharp slider.  He is an imposing presence on the mound.

Giants have an early game tomorrow at 9:15 AM PDT.  Justin Verlander RHP tries for a series win and his first Win of the season facing Spencer Strider RHP who has a 2.53 ERA over his last 7 starts.

Down on the Farm: 7/21/2025

Full Season Leagues had their standard Monday off.

Rookie ACL:  Giants outscored the Rangers 9-8.

Jose Ortiz RF(20 yo)- 2 for 3, SF.  BA= .217.

Dario Reynoso 2B(20 yo)- 2 for 4, Sac, SB(18).  BA= .299.

Santiago Camacho C(18 yo)- 3 for 4, HR(5).  BA= .241.

Ramon Peralta 3B(21 yo)- 1 for 2, 2 BB.  BA= .245.

Angel Guzman 1B- 2 for 4.  BA= .220.

Jose T Perez RHP(21 yo)- 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 4.57.

Jose Ortiz was off to a hot start with A San Jose when he went down with what looked like a bad hammy in a game I attended in early May.  He is just now rehabbing from that injury.  Gotta think Dario Reynoso has raised his stock significantly with his performance this season.

DSL:  Giants Orange outlasted Pirates Gold 7-6(12 innings).

Yulian Barreto DH(17 yo)- 2 for 4, BB, SF.  BA= .336.

Carlos Martinez C(17 yo)- 2 for 4, 2B, SF, SB(1).  BA= .161.

Brandon Vasquez LF(18 yo)- 3 for 6, 2B, 2 SB(3).  BA= .273.

Randry De Leon RHP(20 yo)- 2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 5.14.

Yulian Barreto played in the DSL All-Star Game and looks like we should see him in ACL lineups next year.

DSL:  Giants Black destroyed Pirates Black 12-3.

Luis Frias CF(20 yo)- 2 for 5, BB, SB(10).  BA= .301.

Josuar Gonzalez SS(17 yo)- 1 for 2, HR(2), 3 BB.  BA= .250.

Yohendry Sanchez C(18 yo)- 3 for 4, 2 2B, BB.  BA= .290.

Leandro Rodriguez LHP(19 yo)- 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 2.55.

Frainer Mejias RHP- 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 5.66.

Josuar Gonzalez hits his second career HR 3 days and 1 game after his first.  Yohendry Sanchez received the largest Giants bonus from the 2024 international signing period at $1.4 M.  He did not play much last DSL season but his bat has come alive this year.  We should see him in the ACL next year.

The Giants reportedly signed 17 of their 18 draft picks with 20'th round selection Elijah McNeal SS being the only one left out.  It seems unlikely they will sign him away from his commitment to UC Davis as they are within $10, 000 of having to pay penalties for going over their bonus limit.  Good for Elijah.  His scouting report says he is a good student.  He got a workout at Oracle Park, a draft selection to put on his CV and a scholarship to a great school.  If he's a good player he should be in a better draft and bonus position in 3 years.  If not, he's getting a great education.

The Giants were able to get underslot on most of their picks so they could sign 2 of the 3 high school players they drafted, Reid Worley RHP in round 9 and Luke Mensik RHP in round 17.  I figured they would most likely only sign Worley out of the high schoolers.  

I watched a video by a group called On the Clock. In their opinion, 4'th round selection Lorenzo Meola SS is the best defensive shortstop in the draft.  They really liked the pick.  They mock drafted Gavin Kilen SS/2B to the Giants at #13 overall so they like that pick and think he was drafted at the appropriate level.  They also liked Cameron Maldonado OF in round 7, Ben Bybee RHP in round 8 and Damian Bravo OF in round 15.  One comment they made is the Giants drafted a lot of really wiry players.  They gave them a solid B for the draft and said they did well with the resources they had given they didn't have the 2'nd or 5'th round picks and had the 6'th lowest bonus pool.   I have seen other grades of C and C+.  

Game Wrap 7/21/2025: Braves 9 Giants 5

The lineup handed Young Hayden Birdsong a lead in the top of the first inning but he failed to record an out in a disaster start.  Key Lines: 

 Rafael Devers DH- 2 for 4, BB, R.  BA= .257.  You have to start from somewhere.  Maybe reaching base 3 times is it for Devers?

Willy Adames SS- 4 for 5, 2 2B, HR(15), 2 R, 2 RBI.  BA= .230.  Adames his hot.  He needs some of his teammates to get hot with him.

Matt Chapman 3B- 2 for 4, 2B, BB, 2 RBI.  BA= .238.  8 hits and 10 times on base in 15 PA's for Devers, Adames and Chapman, 3, 4 and 5 in the lineup, is encouraging.  Unfortunately, Mike Yastrzemski RF(.238) was the rally killer batting 6'th with an 0 for 5.

Wilmer Flores 1B- 2 for 4, 2B, R.  BA= .245.  Flores batted out of the 7-hole.

Hayden Birdsong RHP- 0.0 IP, 1 H, 5 R, 4 BB, 0 K, HBP.  ERA= 4.80.  Birdsong didn't get any help from the ump but a lot of his pitches were not at all close and I've listened to Kruk preach for 30 years that when you are wild, you're not going to get the calls you need on close pitches.  It's hard to see Birdsong making his next start after this disaster.  Some sort of reset seems almost mandatory.

Matt Gage LHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 0.00.  Gage received the red alert and came on in the first inning with 3 runs in, bases loaded and no outs.  He got 2 K's and seemed to be out of it but a groundball took a bad hop over Chapman's glove and 2 of his inherited runs scored.  

Spencer Bivens RHP- 1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 4.59.  Bivens should sue for pitcher abuse.  After a rough 1.1 IP yesterday he got through one inning today without giving up a run but he quite obviously ran out of gas in his second inning of work.  In BoMel's defense, having to cover all 9 innings with the bullpen was a tough situation.

Tristan Beck RHP- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 5.68.  Anyone else thinks Beck has earned a look as a SP?

Landen Roupp RHP tries to get the Giants back on the winning track and extend his own string of strong starts tomorrow evening against Davis Daniel RHP who is making his 3'rd appearance and 2'nd start of the season.  He comes in with a 1.80 ERA in just 5 IP.