DrB's 2022 Giants Top 50 Prospects Profiles: #25-21

25.  Gregory Santos RHP.  DOB:  8/28/1999.  6'2', 190 lbs.

2021(AAA):  1-1, 5.17, 15.2 IP, 8.62 K/9, 5.17 BB/9.

2021(MLB):  0-2, 22.50, 2 IP, 13.50 K/9, 9.00 BB/9.

After looking at these numbers and a 50 game suspension for PED use, I'm thinking this ranking is way too high.  Yikes!  There is that triple digit fastball though.

24.  Kervin Castro RHP.  DOB:  2/7/1999.  6'0", 185 lbs.

2021(AAA):  6-1, 2.86, 44 IP, 12.27 K/9, 4.50 BB/9.

2021(MLB):  1-1, 0.00, 13.1 IP, 8.78 K/9, 2.70 BB/9.

Wow!  I did not realize how good Kervin Castro was last year. Those numbers are very competitive with Camilo Doval's.  Maybe I should have ranked him a bit higher?

25.  RJ Dabovitch RHP.  DOB:  1/11/1999.  6'3", 208 lbs.

2021(A+):  0-0, 1.42, 12.2 IP, 19.89 K/9, 4.26 BB/9, 4 Saves.

2021(AA):  1-1, 3.66, 19.2 IP, 15.56 K/9, 3.20 BB/9, 6 Saves.

Dabo made some interesting comments to David Laurilia of Fangraphs about how the Giants coaches told him if he changed the grip on a couple of pitches, his K rate would go up.  He said, OK, I'll try it and sure enough, the K rate went up beyond anything he expected.  No surprise if we see him pitching in Oracle Park before the end of 2022.

22.  Kai-Wei Teng RHP.  DOB:  12/1/1998.  6'4", 260 lbs.

2021(A+):  5-6, 4.33, 95.2 IP, 13.36 K/9, 4.99 BB/9.

Per Fangraphs, Teng's rather pedestrian FB is augmented by an "offspeed arsenal" of "big league quality."  Bulk, and easy, simple delivery should help him be a "bulk innings" guy, but we're looking at more of a 3-4 SP than 2-3.

21.  Luis Toribio 3B.  DOB:  9/28/2000.  B-L, T-R.  6'1", 185 lbs.  

2021(A):  .229/.351/.356, 7 HR, 2 SB, 15.4 BB%, 27.7 K%, 408 PA.

Toribio's season may not have been up to the expectations some analysts had for him, but if you look at that walk rate and OBP, Toribio actually had a pretty good season for San Jose last year.  He's still young enough for the power to emerge.  If it does, nobody will care about the BA.

DrB's 2022 Giants Top 50 Prospects Profiles: #30-26

 30.  Alexander Suarez OF.  DOB:  12/20/2001.  B-R, T-R.  6'2", 160 lbs.

2021(R AZ):  .311/.379/.503, 6 HR, 16 SB, 4.7 BB%, 33.6 K%, 214 PA.

OK, the K and BB numbers are ugly but this kid, who is reportedly Luis Matos' cousin, is a physical monster.  Look up the videos for yourself.  We'll have to see how the metrics play out but the ceiling is about as high as it gets.

29.  Garrett Frechette 1B.  DOB:  12/31/2000.  B-L, T-L.  6'3", 200 lbs.

2021(R AZ):  .331/.388/.438, 6.9 BB%, 27.7 K%, 188 PA.

2021(A):  .219/.268/.289, 5.7 BB%, 31.7 K%, 123 PA.

Sweet swinging first baseman with current gap power with projection for more.  Again, the peripherals are a bit scary but hopefully they improve with experience.

28.  Adrian Sugasty C.  DOB:  10/23/2002.  B-R, T-R.  6'1", 170 lbs.

2021(R AZ):  .358/.405, 439, 2 HR, SB, 7.4 BB%, 16.0 K%, 163 PA.  

Exciting young catching prospect from Panama.  Will we see him in San Jose for his age 19 season?

27.  Tyler Fitzgerald SS.  DOB:  9/15/1997.  B-R, T-R.  6'3", 205 lbs.

2021(A+):  .262/.342/.495, 19 HR, 12 SB, 8.8 BB%, 32.2 K%, 432 PA.

High K rate is worrisome but all the other boxes check going into what should be his AA season.  I wonder if Giants are coaching their prospects to not worry about K rates and swing for the fences with 2 strikes?  

26.  Armani Smith OF.  DOB:  7/19/1998.  B-R, T-R.  6'4", 215 lbs.

2021(A):  .339/.365/.627, 4 HR, 2 SB, 3.2 BB%, 17.5 K%, 63 PA.

2021(A+):  .279/.351/.442, 8 HR, 4 SB, 8.7 BB%, 29.2 K%, 288 PA.

As I always say, if you are tearing the cover off the ball in every PA, there is no reason to try to take a walk.  Interesting that Smith's walk rate improved significantly after promotion to A+ but K rate bumped too.  Interesting corner power bat prospect.

Hot Stove Update: Giants Sign Three Pitchers

The Giants have signed 3 more pitchers as minor league free agents.  Here are their profiles: 

Raynel Espinal RHP.  DOB:  10/6/1991.  6'3", 215 lbs.

2021(AAA):  11-4, 3.44, 117.2 IP, 8.80 K/9, 3.29 BB/9

2021(Red Sox):  0-0, 9.00, 2.0 IP, 0.00 K/9, 4.50 BB/9.

This is a serious signing of a pitcher who has a legitimate shot at being 5'th SP and could also help in a multi-inning relief role.  Looking over his minor league record which starts in 2013 with the Yankees, you have to wonder why he did not get a whiff of MLB until last season.  The only answer I can see is the Yankees farm system is a really tough neighborhood to live in.  Fangraphs pitch tracker has Espinal throwing just two pitches in his 2 MLB IP, a 93 MPH FB(75%) and a splitter(25%).  He probably needs to get a third pitch to be a MLB SP.

Luis Ortiz RHP.  DOB:  9/22/1995.  6'3", 230 lbs.

2021(AAA):  2-2, 4.60, 43 IP, 9.21 K/9, 3.56 BB/9.  

Ortiz is a big, burly RHP out of Sanger, CA. I really liked him a lot when I scouted the 2014 draft cycle.  He's kind of kicked around in a couple of organizations(Rangers/Orioles) not known for developing pitchers.  Maybe the Giants pitching mavens can finally unlock his potential?

Wei-Cheih Huang RHP.  DOB:  9/26/1993.  6'1", 170 lbs.

2019(AAA):  1-2, 6.10, 31 IP, 12.19 K/9, 7.26 BB/9.

2019(MLB):  0-0, 3.18, 5.2 IP, 3.18 K/9, 7.94 BB/9.

Huang has not pitched in U.S. pro baseball since 2019.  No word on why.  MLBTR reports he struck out 5 batters in 3 IP in the DWL this year which is where the Giants may have scouted him.

DrB's 2022 Giants Top 50 Prospects Profiles: #35-31

 35.  Manuel Mercedes RHP.  DOB:  9/21/2002.  6'3", 162 lbs.

2021(R AZ):  3-3, 5.11, 56.1 IP, 9.91 K/9, 3.99 BB/9.

International signing in July 1999.  Missed 2020 due to COVID restrictions so AZ Complex in 2021 was his pro debut.  Reportedly already hits the mid-upper 90's with the FB paired up with a plus but inconsistent slider.  Should start at full season A ball for SJ with an opportunity to establish himself as a top prospect.  BTW, Fangraphs already has him #14 in Giants system.

34.  Prelander Berroa RHP.  DOB:  4/18/2000.  5'11", 170 lbs.

Small, but hard throwing. Fangraphs has him as #39 prospect in Giants organization.  They project him as a reliever due to small size, violent delivery and bouts of wildness.

2021(A):  5-6, 3.56, 98.2 IP, 12.31 K/9, 4.83 BB/9.

33.  Carson Ragsdale RHP.  DOB:  5/25/1998.  6'8", 225 lbs. 

02021(A):  8-6, 4.43, 113.2 IP, 13.22 K/9, 3.56 BB/9.

Height is a two-edged sword for pitchers.  It creates leverage and downward angles but it also tends to make deliveries less repeatable with accompanying command issues.  Per Fangraphs, Ragsdale is able to accentuate his height with an over-the-top delivery.  He seemed to tire toward the end of 2021 but this is understandable with over 100 IP after a year layoff.  Should move up to A+ for 2022.

32.  Esmerlin Vinicio LHP.  DOB:  1/31/2003.  6'2", 141 lbs.

International bonus baby from the 2019 cycle.  Very thin.  Average FB but Fangraphs reports great spin rates on secondary pitches.

2021(R AZ):  3-3, 2.64, 58 IP, 10.86 K/9, 4.50 BB/9.

31.  Mauricio Pierre OF.  DOB:  11/23/2003.  B-R, T-R.  6'3", 180 lbs.

2021(R DSL):  .256/.336/.436, 5 HR, 6 SB, 9.4 BB%, 29.5 K%, 149 PA.

$490 K bonus out of Panama in 2020.  Projectability is the watchword for him.  Currently has 5 solid tools, maybe none outstanding but all project to improve with maturity.  The 5 HR's in the stat line stands out as impressive for a 17 yo in the DSL.

DrB's 2022 Giants Top 50 Prospects Profiles: #40-36.

 40.  Sean Roby 3B/1B.  DOB:  7/8/1998.  B-R, T-R.  6'2", 215 lbs.

2021(A+):  .241/.325/.464, 19 HR, 10.2 BB%, 31.4 K%, 421 PA.

As you can see from the 19 HR, Sean Roby's got the toonder in his bat.  I don't have a detailed scouting report but my impression is he tends to be a one-dimensional hitter and player who will probably wash out at higher levels.

39.  Ismael Munguia OF.  DOB:  10/19/1998.  B-L, T-L.  5'10", 158 lbs.

2021(A+):  .336/.366/.502, 9 HR, 15 SB, 3.6 BB%, 7.6 K%, 357 PA.

Munguia is the opposite of Roby, an undersized extreme contact hitter with some speed in his game.  A whiff of power showed up in 2021.  If he can sustain and build on that, he's got a shot to be a 4'th or 5'th 

38.  Conner Nurse RHP.  DOB:  7/31/1999.  6'6", 210 lbs.

2021(A+):  6-7, 4.86, 113 IP, 9.08 K/9, 4.06 BB/9.  

Nurse was always a project from the moment he was drafted.  He has intriguing height.  It should be about time for his frame to fill out and him to dominate if he's ever going to.  

37.  Seth Corry LHP.  DOB:  11/3/1998.  6'2", 195 lbs.  

2021(A+):  3-3, 5.99, 67.2 IP, 13.30 K/9, 8.38 BB/9.

Corry obviously still has the swing and miss stuff, but his command took a major regression and it's time to worry if he'll ever get that under control.

36.  Eric Silva RHP. DOB:  10/3/2002.  6'1", 185 lbs.

2021(R AZ):  0-1, 36.00, 1 IP, 18 K/9, 27 BB/9. 

This year's overslot bonus pick in Round 4.  Silva is a bit undesized and his FB tops out in the mid-90's but he has plus spin rates and his secondary stuff is advanced for his age.

DrB's 2022 Giants Top 50 Prospects Profiles: #45-41

45.  Grant McCray OF.  DOB:  12/7/2000.  B-L, T-R.  6'2", 170 lbs.

 2021(R AZ):  .309/.400/.455, HR, 3 SB, 13.8 BB%, 30.8 K%, 65 PA.

2021(A):  .250/.299/.400, 2 HR, 4 SB, 6.8 BB%, 34.1 K%, 88 PA.

Grant McCray is as tooled up as any player in the Giants system.  He was drafted in round 3 of FZ's first draft in 2019 when the Giants selected almost all hitters.  Despite having pro baseball pedigree(his dad, Rodney, is famous for a viral video showing him crash through the outfield wall of a minor league stadium), Grant has always been considered a raw talent who would be a project.  His best tool is speed and the hope is he will fill out a thin frame and develop power.  As you can see from the K rates, he is still a work in progress.  He's the type of prospect most hurt by losing a year of development in 2020.  2022 is a pivotal year for him as he needs to prove he can hang in a full season league.

44.  Logan Wyatt 1B/DH.  DOB:  11/15/1997.  B-L, T-R.  6'4", 230 lbs.  

2021(R AZ):  .242/.286/.394, 5.7 BB%, 28.6 K%, 35 PA.

2021(A+):  .238/.398/.295, 20.1 BB%, 18 K%, 289 PA.

Second round selection in FZ first draft.  The latest "god of walks" going all the way back to college.  The obvious hope is he will develop into a Joey Votto type hitter, but the power has been nonexistent up to now.  It's hard to argue with the plate discipline numbers but something is off when a guy this size has such pathetic power numbers.  Maybe he is too passive, get into too many two-strike counts then is swinging defensively?  That's my theory.  I'm keeping him in the top 50 on the strength of his plate discipline numbers and draft pedigree but if some semblance of power does not show up in 2022, he could be a bust.

43.  Cole Waites RHP.  DOB:  6/10/1998.  6'3", 180 lbs.  

2021(R AZ):  1-0, 0.00, 3 IP, 21 K/9, 6 BB/9.

2021(A):  1-0, 0.87, 10.1 IP, 20.9 K/9, 3.48 BB/9, 2 Saves.

Hard throwing RHP missed most of season due to knee injury.  Closed some games for San Jose at end of season and hit triple digits with his FB several times.  Could be a fast mover on the Closer track in 2022.  

42.  Chris Wright LHP.  10/14/1998.  6'1", 205 lbs.  

2021(A):  0-0, 1.13, 8 IP, 19.13 K/9, 3.38 BB/9, 4 Saves.

2021(A+):  4-0, 0.97, 37 IP, 15.08 K/9, 4.38 BB/9, 17 Saves.

Another guy who seems to be on the reliever track and dominated at two levels last year.  Per Fangraphs, he "doesn't offer big velocity, but his spin and pitch shapes are excellent."  That sounds like maybe he should get a shot at starting somewhere along the way.

41.  Frankie Tostado 1B/OF.  DOB:  3/31/1998.  B-L, T-L.  6'2", 205 lbs.  

2021(AA):  .249/.302/.429, 14 HR, 7.0 BB%, 23.1 K%, 398 PA.

Hitting 14 HR's while playing for Richmond is no small feat, but the secondary numbers don't exactly jump out at you.  Tostado was a low-round draft pick out of an obscure CA JC program so has to prove himself at every level.  May not have quite enough in the bat for a 1B/corner OF/DH profile at the MLB level.  Dude has an 80 grade name, though.

DrB's 2022 Giants Top 50 Prospects Profiles: #50-46

We'll start counting down the profiles of my top 50 Giants prospects for  2022.  Again, my philosophy is to not worry too much about exact rankings but use the exercise to learn more about potential future Giants.

50.  Matt Frisbee RHP.  DOB:  11/18/1996.  6'5", 215 lbs.

2021 AA:  5-4, 3.77, 59.2 IP, 9.80 K/9, 1.51 BB/9.

2021 AAA:  1-6, 7.64, 53 IP, 7.81 K/9, 3.06 BB/9.

Eric Longenhagen's Fangraphs scouting report for Frisbee from last year was "carved the lower levels with 90-94, plus vertical movement and plus slider command.  If he does it at AA this year, he'll be a 40 FV."  Well, Frisbee did it at AA but then did a faceplant after a promotion to AAA.  The fear with him has always been not quite enough stuff to play at higher levels.  He should get another chance to show he can do it in Sacramento in 2022.

49.  Casey Schmitt 3B.  DOB:  3/1/1999/. B-R, T-R.  6'2", 215 lbs.

2021(A):  .247/.318/.406, 8 HR, 2 SB, 7.9 BB/%, 15.7 K%, 280 PA.

Normally, we like to see college draftees assigned to A+ level for their first full pro season, but with 2020 being a lost season both at the college and pro levels, A is probably reasonable.  That batting line is kind of non-descript and a little disappointing for the level but not terrible either.  Schmitt's big tool is a 70 arm at 3B so expect the Giants to be patient with the bat.  The performance should be enough for a promo to A+ to start 2022.

48. Simon Whiteman IF.  DOB:  1/28/1997.  B-R, T-R.  5'10", 165 lbs.  

2021(A+):  .268/.413/.366, HR, 17 SB, 17.8 BB%, 29.9 K%, 107 PA.

2021(AA):  .236/.338/.345, 3 HR, 17 SB, 11.7 BB%, 28.5 K%, 309 PA.

Whiteman is a guy you want to root for.  9'th round pick in 2019 out of an Ivy League school.  He has an interesting combo of on-base skills and SB's.  Unfortunately for him, players with that profile have all but disappeared at the MLB level where power reigns supreme.  If he can maintain the OBP against higher level pitching, his defensive versatility and speed may earn him an IF utility role.

47.  Norwith Gudino RHP.  DOB:  11/22/1995.  6'2", 200 lbs.

2021(AA):  1-1, 1.44, 25 IP, 14.04 K/9, 3.60 BB/9, 5 Saves.

2021(AAA):  4-1, 5.66, 35 IP, 12.09 K/9, 3.34 BB/9.  

If you are thinking Gudino has been around in the Giants system forever, you are close to right.  He should be way beyond eligible for minor league free agency so I am not even sure he is still in the organization.  Last season he dominated AA out of the bullpen.  He maintained pretty good ratios in AAA.  He made 5 starts in AAA, but his longest appearance was 5 IP on 8/6.  I can see him getting an emergency call up or two in 2022. PS:  Gudino is currently listed on the Sacramento River Cats roster.

46.  Trevor McDonald RHP.   DOB:  2/26/2000.  6'2", 180 lbs.

2021(R AZ):  2-3, 3.86, 67.2 IP, 9.18 K/9, 4.12 BB/9.

2021(A):  0-1, 10.13, 2.2 IP, 6.75 K/9, 10.13 BB/9.  

High school overslot bonus pick in round 11 in 2019.  McDonald is obviously a project.  2022 is probably a pivotal year as he needs to show he can hang in A ball.  Hot off the press Fangraphs scouting report has his FB at 93-95 MPH but his strength is high spin rates on his breaking pitches and an ability to mix them in on any count. Fangraphs has him ranked #35 in the organization.