Like other Giants minor league affiliates, the Flying Squirrels probably suffered from the nearly constant flow of prospects in and out. Not saying aggressive development is a bad thing, just that it probably holds back team performance. On the positive side, Richmond was a stop off on the rise of Grant McCray and Bryce Eldridge. More on that later. Here are the numbers for the top performers for the Giants in AA:
Batting Average(100 or more PA's):
Ismael Munguia OF .317
Diego Velasquez SS .313
Carter Howell OF .272
Doubles:
Carter Howell 30
Victor Bericoto 22
Jairo Pomares 19
Triples:
Carter Howell 7
Jairo Pomares 3
Grant McCray 3
Home Runs:
Jairo Pomares 12
Victor Bericoto 11
Luis Toribio 8
Stolen Bases:
Carter Howell 15
Turner Hill 14
Ismael Munguia 11
ERA(50 or more IP)
Tanner Kiest RHP 2.62
Wil Jensen RHP 3.43
Carson Ragsdale RHP 3.49
Strikeouts:
John Bertrand LHP 119
Wil Jensen RHP 99
Carson Ragsdale RHP 90
Saves:
Tyler Myrick 6
Nick Garcia 5
Mat Olsen 5
Tanner Kiest 5
Summary:
The big story in the Giants farm system is Bryce Eldridge. He was promoted from A+ at the end of the NWL season then to Sacramento for more PA's due to the season lasting longer at the higher levels. Given his young age and rapid rise, I would probably advocate for him to start next season at AA and make him prove it over at least a half season of PA's. It might be frustrating for him and for fans who are dying to see the next homegrown positional superstar at the MLB level but the experience will toughen him up for what he will face once he gets there.
Beyond Eldridge, the big stories to me are Carter Howell, another UDFA success story, who played a full season at the level and did not falter and Diego Velasquez who continued to hit after promotion from A+ ball.
What’s your take on the potential for Mungia and Pomares? I had a lot of excitement about both in the past but haven’t seen them get as much attention recently.
ReplyDeleteBoth Munguia and Pomares are kind of post-prospects. Most likely ceilings are AAA. Giants suddenly have a lot of organizational competition for OF positions.
DeleteDon't sleep on Berricoto...not sure if he has a position...but is still young and has done pretty good at the plate at a tougher hitting environment in Richmond, including power,..A lot of people seem to like Turner HILL also, who has rocketed through the Giants farm system also..and was solid late in the year at Richmond..
ReplyDeleteOn the mound, Nick SINACOLA had a very good yar until tiring over the last month...Under the radar guy with all the Giants pitching prospects
SteveVA
San Francisco Giants signed free agent OF Jairo Pomares to a minor league contract back in 2018 @17 yo as one of 3 Super Kids including Luciano and Matos who are currently on the 40-man roster.
ReplyDeleteAt 24 years old assigned to AA, what is Pomares' exposure? Can or will the Giants protect him? You suggested a couple months ago that the Giants might add him to the 40-man. Or does his low BA and walk rate plus his high SO render him not a high prospect?
He has slipped from a high of #7 (?) to honorable mention, but is he coming back?
Another tough decision for a crowded 40-man roster.
I am not sure when I suggested Pomares would or should be added to the 40-man roster. At this point I would say definitely not. He missed most of 2023 with an apparent injury and didn't start the 2024 season until May. I would like to see how he does on 2025 before I give up on him as a prospect.
DeleteSunday, June 30, 2024
DeleteDown on the Farm: 6/29/2024
Is Jairo Pomares putting himself into the mix for a 40- man roster spot this fall?
No, no he isn't!
DeleteIsmael Munguia OF seems to be the odd-man-out with the plethora of prospects. He's been in the Giants' system since 2015 when the Giants signed him, reaching Sacramento this year after doing his thing for Richmond.
ReplyDeleteWhat IS his future with SF?
Fringe prospect at best at this point.
DeleteKeith Law has a report about the Fall League in the Athletic questioning why Eldridge was there … apparently he isn’t playing well defensively at first base. Law observes he looks “exhausted after a long season that saw him play at four levels and rack up over 500 PA.” At the plate, Law sees Eldridge missing “fastballs in the zone, middle and middle-up.” Law adds: “He’s 19 and doesn’t need to be here after the season he had, where he had success in High A and Double A and got plenty of reps.” Yikes, does Posey face a bigger teardown from top to bottom of the whole system?
ReplyDeleteI get what Keith Law is saying but he might have said it before Eldridge went 2 for 5 with a double, HR and walk in yesterday's AFL game.
DeleteIt ends November 15th, so there is about 4 months off, and he is 19.
DeleteBaseball is the National Pastime in the DR: they play year-round there although the official season is shorter.
Google AI says: "many Major League Baseball (MLB) players, particularly those of Dominican origin, often play in the Dominican Republic's professional winter league (LIDOM) after the MLB season ends, giving them the opportunity to stay active during the offseason while also contributing to the local baseball scene."
As a kid growing up in rural Florida, we played baseball year round, but that was a century ago.
I think if they want Eldridge to play at the higher levels of the system in 2025, this can only help prepare him gaining more reps against higher level pitching ar the AFL.and learning the conditioning he needs to get thru a long AA/AAA season. I read an interesting article written by Roger Munter titled "my thoughts on recent events" that came in an email. Roger talks to a lot of SF Giants employees as well as scouts from other teams for his "There are Giants" publication . The main point i got from the article is the Giants need stronger leadership from the top/down to start turning things around. GM hire very important. Can't wait to see who that person is.
ReplyDelete