20. Grant McCray OF. DOB: 12/7/2000. B-L, T-R. 6'2", 190 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible
2023(A+): .255/.360/.417, 14 HR, 52 SB, 12.3 BB%, 29.3 K%, 584 PA.
McCray is one of the more tooled up prospects in the organization. His numbers from A+ Eugene may not look impressive but they are suppressed by a painfully slow start in April when he hit just .149. The K rate is higher than ideal but may be a byproduct of his stellar walk rate. He has modest power now but with a lot of upside and the speed is there. Some of us held our breath on Rule 5 Draft day but he didn't get selected. Should move up to the next test at AA. I am really rooting for him to make it and become the dynamic 5-tool OF the Giants have had such a hard time developing.
Another prospect who has been headed in the wrong direction on the prospect list. When judging the success of this management team what percentage of their success should be placed on development? They have to draft well, develop, sign free agents, and make trades among other things to set the MLB team up for success so how much weight does development deserve?
ReplyDeleteGiven the amount of coaches and attention they seemingly place on development and the apparent lack of success that has come from it, should it have even more weight when we are judging their success?
Finding and developing talent was the selling point of this management team when FZ came aboard. Most FZ supporters use his eye for hidden talent and getting the most out of places others got less as his strengths. This top prospect lost is littered with examples in contrary to that.
Maybe I look for too many negatives when it comes to FZ because I play baseball and see things from more of an old school POV but I wish I could be more onboard with this managements strategy. I don’t see enough success in development to forgive the lack of talent acquired via draft, trade, or free agency. If you sit down and truly analyze what they have done well it’s really hard to justify not making this his last year if we are .500 again
McCray actually had a pretty good season last year and yet moved down the list. That means other players had really good years and moved up. Glass half empty vs half full.
Deleteloving reading your takes. I know you said some good things about McCray over the last season. Looking forwards to reading about what looks like a deep set of prospects in 1-19
DeleteLooking forward to watching him in Richmond this year.. Followed him through the boxes and some MiLB video, a very exciting player with ALL the skills, just no the consistency. Would have huge games (power, hitting and speed) and stretches then crater a bit but always came back. Kid can be special if he can find the consistency. Hope the Richmond coaches can instill that! Has a hige year in Richmond then next year's 40-man and Rule 5 will be dicey.
ReplyDeleteSteveVA
Writers seem to think the Giants should get a dedicated DH (for power) which seems to fly against what the Giants seem to think (develop what they have ready or near ready).
ReplyDeleteDo you think they are done or are they still in play with His Lordship (Boras)?
I think they should sign Brandon Belt to be a dedicated DH. I think FZ is trying to force Boras to come to him and is willing to go into the season with the current roster if he doesn't get the deal he wants.
DeleteA lot of the players in system were injured. Not sure what was up with that.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure there were more injuries in the system than usual last season.
DeleteThe injuries were more to the key youngsters
DeleteIf 5-tool McCray is #20, what is the complaint with the whiners about the upcoming Giants?
ReplyDeleteThere is a narrative out there that the farm system went backward under FZ. It is true his team missed(so far) on a couple of first round draft picks which is holding the system back from what it could be, but overall the system looks a lot stronger going into next season than at any time in the last 10 years.
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