The San Jose Giants finished in first place in the California League North Division in both the first and second halves of the season. They defeated the Stockton Ports in the division series but then lost to the Lake Elsinore Storm in the championship series.
Team Stats:
Batting:
BA: .276(2)
OBP: .367(3)
SLG%: .456(2)
Hits: 1269(2)
Doubles: .279(1)
Triples: 48(2)
HR: 151(2)
Runs(897(1)
Walks: 587(5)
Strikeouts: 1225(3)
SB: 191(4)
My Take: Strong batting stats across the board but again their lowest ranking was in walks.
Pitching:
ERA: 4.79(1)
Hits: 1087(1)
HR: 130(4)
Walks: 534(2)
Strikeouts: 1273(5)
GO/AO: 0.93(8)
My Take: I thought the SJ Giants had a terrible year for pitching so was surprised to find they had the lowest ERA in the Cal League and the only one under 5.00. Hard to make too much out of the rest of the stats.
Individual Stats:
Batting(200+ AB for rate stats):
BA: Isaiah Barkett- .331, Hayden Jatczak- .295, Damian Bravo- .291.
OBP: Isaiah Barkett- .411, Hayden Jatczak- .395, Dario Reynoso- .392
SLG%: Damian Bravo- .509, Hayden Jatczak- .500, Cam Maldonado- .484.
Hits: Lorenzo Meola- 128, Andy Polanco- 105, Dario Reynoso- 105
Doubles: Lorenzo Meola- 40, Dario Reynoso- 27, Junior Barajas/Jeremiah Jenkins- 24.
Triples: Andy Polanco- 9, Josuar Gonzalez- 6, Lorenzo Meola- 5
Home Runs: Jeremiah Jenkins- 17, Lorenzo Meola- 15, Dario Reynoso- 15
Runs: Lorenzo Meola- 93, Dario Reynoso- 81, Jeremiah Jenkins- 63.
RBI: Lorenzo Meola- 78, Dario Reynoso- 69, Jeremiah Jenkins- 62.
Steals: Andy Polanco- 38, Dario Reynoso- 21, Isaiah Barkett- 18.
My Take: The biggest stories of the SJ season were from players who did not accumulate enough AB's to be stat leaders, Jhonny Level who batted .325 in 191 AB and performed about as well after moving up to A+. Josuar Gonzalez batted .357 after moving up from the ACL and 17 yo Luis Hernandez had some moments but ended up batting .231 in 91 AB. I could see Jhonny Level moving up to AA next season with Gonzalez in A+ and Hernandez, still a young 18 yo, back in San Jose. Lorenzo Meola started the season very slow but batted .324 in July and .343 in August. 17'th round draft pick Tanner Mally batted .383 in in 81 AB in his pro debut. Other draftees to see playing time were Luke Nixon and Peyton Bonds.
Pitching(50+ IP for rate stats):
Wins: Jordan Gottesman- 7, Evan Gray- 7, Dylan Carter/Bradyon Risley- 6
Innings: Jordan Gottesman- 102.1, Keyner Martinez- 93.2, Ricardo Estrada- 91.2
ERA: Jordan Gottesman- 3.96, Ricardo Estrada- 4.12, Keyner Martinez- 4.61.
Strikeouts: Keyner Martinez- 134, Jordan Gottesman- 111, Ricardo Estrada- 85.
Walks: Ricardo Estrada- 52, Fernando Vasquez- 49, Keyner Martinez- 47.
My Take: I saw Keyner Martinez pitch 3 times. In all 3 games he looked great until he had to pitch out of the stretch then things fell apart quickly. Jordan Gottesman has some room to fill out and could gain velocity with maturity. Argenis Cayama had a terrific start in the championship series on his 20'th birthday 5 no-hit innings with 7 K's. He is probably the best pitching prospect for this year's SJ Giants team.
Thanks for your laborious rundowns on our minor league teams! I think Meola was drafted as a glove first shortstop and my initial thought on him was that if he ever made the Show it would be as a late inning defensive replacement/utility guy. But it’s pleasantly surprising that he has shown some sneaky extra base pop. He’s been given a JJ Hardy comp, which is that of a good player who might have a few borderline All-star seasons. That said, he’s still buried on the infield depth chart but could make for a nice trade piece or as part of a package. Of course, with our luck he’ll be traded away and end up as having the best outcome of all our infield prospects 🙄
ReplyDeleteHe'll have to prove he can take it to the next level but I don't think anyone in the system improved over the course of the season more than Meola.
DeleteIt is truly happiness: help is on it's way, from the lowest levels up to at least A+, up for 2028, 2029, and beyond. We believe in the future.
ReplyDeleteYea! It looks good!
But, the future is not now.
2-0-2-7, if there is one, is the focus.
The Giants will succeed or fail in 2027 on what thye have N-O-W.
SF is front loaded with Devers, Adames, Chapman, Lee, Schmitt, & Eldridge, four with big contracts and two with control and promise which leaves 3 spots to fill.
The Giants have multiple candidates for those spots, the BIG unknowns are SP, RP, and closer with just 2 starters and +/- several relievers assured, meaning there are up to a half dozen uncertainties.
That IS the focus for the off season!
Everything else has answers even if we don't like them!