DrB's Midseason Giants Top 20 Prospects +1

Several commenters have asked for a midseason update on my Top 50 Giants Prospects.  50 is very tough to do, but jotted down some names for a top 20 and ended up with 21.  I may be missing someone but it seems like there is a fairly clear drop-off after #21.  I won't post full demographic information and stat lines but will offer some brief comments:

1.  Heliot Ramos, CF, Rookie-  The most tooled up player in the organization who has not suffered a disabling off field injury in my recent memory.  Just 17 yo, he seems to already have a clue of how to put those tools to use and is off to a great start to his pro career.  Let's all just pray for this kid to stay healthy and far away from glass tables.  I know he has a long way to go, but his ceiling is at least a full order of magnitude above any other prospect in the system.

2.  Christian Arroyo, IF, AAA/MLB- Arroyo is just 5 AB's away from "graduating" and losing his prospect status, something that will almost certainly happen in September when he should be fully recovered from a fractured hand suffered in a HBP.  Raked the PCL early in the season.  While he struggled in his MLB debut, he did show flashes of intriguing talent and he's just 21 yo.  Odds on favorite to be the Giants starting 3B in 2018.

3.  Bryan Reynolds, OF, High A- Top Giants draftee in 2016 selected in the second round.  Got an aggressive placement in San Jose for his first full pro season.  Got off to a slow start in April but has hit well over .300 since.  Has not shown as much power or speed as hoped for.  The speed is unlikely to show up later, but there is probably still upside to his power.

4.  Chris Shaw, 1B/LF, AAA- 2015 draftee who is already in AAA and mashing HR's there.  The top power hitting prospect in the system, by far.  Positionally he's limited to either 1B or LF with lingering questions about whether he can adequately play either position.  If he can, the bat is good enough to play.

5.  Tyler Beede, RHP, AAA- 2014 Draftee.  Has steadily worked his way up the organizational ladder.   Still has the highest ceiling of any pitcher in the system by a large margin.  He still tends to lose command of the strike zone when he unleashes his full arsenal and has to go back to a 2-seam/cutter approach to get back in the zone.  Some inconsistency this season has caused his stock to slip just a little.  Currently on the DL with a groin strain.

6.  Austin Slater, OF, AAA/MLB- Another guy who will likely lose his prospect status by the end of the season.  Slater mostly flew under the radar as he worked his way up the system but hit at every level.  Continued to hit in the majors and showed enough D to be a plus defender at either corner OF. Probably the odds on favorite to be the Giants starting LF in 2018.

7.  Steven Duggar, OF, High A(Rehab Assignment)-  Duggar missed the entire first half of the season and just recently started a rehab program and is now in San Jose.  Were it not for the injury, it might have been him getting the shot in LF instead of Slater.  Candidate for RF when Hunter Pence is done.

8.  Ryder Jones, 3B/1B/OF, AAA- Jones has stepped it up in AAA hitting for average and power and even stealing a few bags.  He has a great arm and has shown enough speed to play OF.  Struggled at the plate in a SSS MLB callup, but is still just 22 yo.  Not sure where he fits in a future Giants roster but has an intriguing tool set.

9.  Aramis Garcia, C, High A- lost most of last season to a freak injury(fractured orbit due to collision with fielder's knee while sliding to break up a DP.  He was reassigned to San Jose and has split time between C and 1B while hitting about .270 with power.  Garcia is a big kid with tremendous power potential.  Question is whether he will make enough contact at higher levels.

10.  Miguel Gomez, 2B, AA/MLB- The kid can hit.  Question is whether he will ever find a position. Mostly used as a PH since his callup.  Looked pretty good at 2B in a rare MLB start.  Has also played C and 3B in the minor leagues.

11.  CJ Hinojosa, SS, AA- Hinojosa has hit well in a tough environment in Richmond this year while splitting time between SS, 2B, 3B.

12.  Ryan Howard, SS, High A- Has hit and hit and hit for San Jose this year while playing mostly SS but also 3B.  Has not shown a lot of power which he will probably need if he does not stick at SS.  Will need to prove he can maintain BA at higher levels.

13.  Andrew Suarez, LHP, AAA- A finesse lefty.  Those types often struggle in the PCL. Suarez has been somewhat inconsistent but at his best looks like a future mid-rotation SP at the MLB level.

14.  Sandro Fabian, OF, Low A- Fabian has held his own and then some at age 19 while playing in what might be the toughest hitting environment in baseball.  In his last 10 games looks like he might put on a late season surge.  If he does, he could end up higher on my 2018 Top 50 list.

15.  Kelvin Beltre, 2B, Low A- Toolsy kid who has missed a lot of time early in his pro career to injury.  Has stayed healthy while holding down a steady starting 2B gig in Augusta.  A .270 BA might not seem impressive, but you have to remember the environment and how much development time he's missed.

16.  Jacob Gonzalez, 3B, Rookie- Luis Gonzalez' kid and the Giants second round draft pick this year.  Off to a strong start with plus power potential down the road.  Already seems to have a good feel for the strike zone.

17.  Garrett Williams, LHP, Low A- High ceiling LHP with control/command problems.  Those have improved a lot this season.  If he can maintain that, is a potential MLB mid-rotation SP or better.

18.  Melvin Adon, RHP, Low A- Hard throwing RHP who got a late start to his pro career, especially for an international prospect.  Still, the ceiling is there and he is showing progress in his first crack at full season ball.

19.  Seth Corry, LHP, Rookie- Giants 3'rd round draft pick out of Utah HS.  Solidly built with a low-mid 90's FB and seems to have more in the tank.  Has pitched well in limited opportunities so far.

20.  Malique Ziegler, OF, Short Season- My current favorite prospect in the system.  My nickname for him is "5-tool".  I have not seen him play but might have the #2 ranked "toolsiest" player in the organization behind Heliot Ramos.  Has played great for Salem-Keizer and should get a nice promotion next season.

21.  Alexander Canario, OF, DSL- This is my "+1".  I just did not want to cut off my list without including him, but did not think he quite deserved top 20 status.  Has been the regular RF for the DSL Giants and his stat lines suggest he is a true 5-tool talent.  Keep the name in mind.