Scouting the 2025 Draft: Aiva Arquette

Aiva Arquette 2B, College.  DOB:  10/17/2023.  B-R, T-R.  6', 4", 220 lbs.  

2024(College):  .325/.384/.574, 12 HR, 6 SB, 7.4 BB%, 17.5 K%, 229 PA.

2024(CCL):  .291/.357/.437, 3 HR, 2 SB, 6.8 BB%, 23.9 K%, 117 PA.

Arquette has unusual size for a middle infielder.  He's listed as a 2B but his MLB Pipeline scouting report says he played SS in the Cape Cod League and showed he has the tools to play SS at higher levels.  5-tool player who can hit and hit for power and play a premium position.  Swing looks short for a tall hitter and he keeps his elbows in to get around on inside hard stuff.

DrB's 2025 Giants Top 50 Prospects

Happy New Year, everybody!  We'll celebrate by unveiling DrB's 2025 Giants Top 50 Prospects.  

I want to thank everybody for the discussion of the preliminary list.  I ended up adding 3 players I overlooked:  Walker Martin, Carson Ragsdale and Carson Seymour.  This year's list is particularly challenging as after a clear #1 there is a large second tier with prospects ranging from guys who have appeared in MLB games all the way down to "Dominican Dandies."  As always it is a challenge to give relative values to prospects who are close to "graduating" vs younger players who may or may not have higher ceilings, pitchers vs hitters, etc.  While rankings have some approximate meaning, I've learned to see them as only a rough ranking and to not worry to much about being too precise with it.  The main goal of the exercise is to develop a better understanding of the players who may be future Giants.  With that said, on with the list:

1.  Bryce Eldridge 1B

2.  Grant McCray OF

3.  Trevor McDonald RHP

4.  James Tibbs III OF

5.  Jhonny Level SS

6.  Rayner Arias OF

7.  Walker Martin SS

8.  Carson Whisenhunt LHP

9.  Carson Ragsdale RHP

10.  Carson Seymour RHP

11. Mason Black RHP

12.  Diego Velasquez SS/2B

13.  Lisbel Diaz OF

14.  Wade Meckler OF

15.  Joe Whitman LHP

16.  Charlie Szykowny IF

17.  Carter Howell OF

18.  Sabin Ceballos 3B

19.  Bo Davidson OF

20.  Dakota Jordan OF

21.  John Bertrand LHP

22.  Trent Harris RHP

23.  Tyler Myrick RHP

24.  Juan Sanchez LHP

25.  Jack Choate LHP

26.  Nick Sinacola RHP

27.  Justin Wishkoski 3B

28.  Victor Bericoto OF/1B

29.  Aeverson Arteaga SS

30.  Hayden Wynja LHP

31.  Manuel Mercedes RHP

32.  Onil Perez C

33.  Cesar Perdomo LHP

34.  Jonah Cox OF

35.  Quinn McDaniel 2B

36.  Josh Bostick RHP

37.  Scott Bandura OF

38.  Cale Lansville RHP

39.  Gerelmi Maldonado RHP

40.  Ryan Vanderhei RHP

41.  Elijah Pleasants RHP

42.  Shane Rademacher RHP

43.  Drew Cavanaugh C

44.  Jeremiah Jenkins 1B

45.  Zander Darby SS

46.  Robert Hipwell 3B

47.  Maui Ahuna SS

48.  Jakob Christian OF

49.  Hunter Bishop OF

50.  Will Bednar RHP

I decided to not do on Honorable Mention list this year.  We can add one or two if it turns out we forgot someone who should have made the Top 50.  

I will mention a few "Dominican Dandies" as this year's DSL squads looked exceptionally strong compared to previous seasons:

Angel Guzman 1B, Oliver Tejada CF, Evan Estevez LF, Juan Colorado SS, Yohendry Sanchez C, Jesus Alexander C, Argenis Cayama RHP, Frainer Mejia RHP, Randry DeLeon RHP, Albert Jimenez 3B, Santiago Camacho C.

Hot Stove League Update: Scouting the Hitter Bargain Bin

In the wake of Corbin Burnes RHP signing with the D'Backs, Buster Posey was quoted from a text message to Andrew Baggerly in effect that he has confidence in the Giants young pitchers and will pursue upgrading the lineup.  While there is a handful of proven hitters still available on the free agent market such as Alex Bregman IF, Anthony Santander OF and Pete Alonso 1B, they all have their downsides and are likely to command prices out of anyone reasonable person's comfort zone.  There is also an interesting group of hitters most of whom were recently non-tendered contracts at the arbitration deadline and should be available for a more reasonable price both in terms of AAV and length of contract.  Let's break it down:

Dylan Carlson OF.  DOB: 10/23/1998.  B-S, T-R.  6' 2", 200 lbs.  3 Options.  Arb Eligible 2026.  Free Agent 2027.

2024(2 Teams):  .209/.287/.277, 3 HR, 2 SB, 8.3 BB%, 28.3 K%, 265 PA.  

The Good:  Carlson is a former #33 overall draft pick and Top 100 prospect.  Solid season in 2021 at age 22 with 18 HR.  Switch-hitter.  The Bad:  BA has declined 3 years in a row as has his defense.  Much better hitter from the right side which is the short side of a platoon.  Not a great sign that his performance didn't improve after midseason trade to the Rays or that the Rays non-tendered him despite a relatively low projected arbitration value.  Intriguing but at this point probably more of a guy you offer a minor league deal.

Austin Hays OF.  DOB:  7/5/1995.  B-R, T-R.  5' 11", 200 lbs.  Free Agent 2026.  

2024(2 Teams):  .255/.303/.395, 5 HR, 2 SB, 3.5 BB%, 23.1 K%, 255 PA.  

Hays battled injuries and a debilitating kidney infection in 2024 but hit a total of 54 HR's in 3 previous seasons with the Orioles.  Non-tendered by the Phillies in November.  Struggled against RHP's in 2024 but did not have a significant platoon split in the previous 3 seasons.

Ramon Laureano OF.  DOB:  7/15/1994.  B-R, T-R.  5' 11", 203 lbs.  

2024(2 Teams):  .259/.311/.437, 11 HR, 8 SB, 4.9 BB%, 31.1 K%, 309 PA.  

Non-tendered by ATL despite slash-lining .304/.340/.514 after the All-Star break.  Continued to hit well in the DWL this fall.  Has a significant L vs R split with much lower nnumbers against RHP's.  Can play all 3 OF positions.  Career characterized by inconsistency since running up an fWAR of 3.8 in 2019.

Alex Verdugo OF.  DOB:  5/15/1996.  B-L, T-L.  6' 0", 209 lbs.  

2024(Yankees):  .233/.291/.356, 13 HR, 7.9 BB%, 15.0 K%, 621 PA.  

Looked like an up-and-comer in 2019 when he put up an fWAR of 2.1 in 377 PA for the Dodgers. Traded to the Red Sox with multiple players for Mookie Betts.  Mostly disappointing numbers since then.  Apparently hampered by a series of minor injuries and a health condition possibly related to a reaction to tattoos of all things.  Bats lefty and can play all 3 OF positions but mostly LF.

Jesse Winker OF.  DOB:  8/17/1993.  B-L, T-L.  6' 2", 206 lbs.  

2024(2 Teams):  .253/.360/.405, 14 HR, 14 SB, 12.4 BB%, 20.9 K%, 508 PA.  

Has a bit of a Michael Conforto/Joc Pederson feel to him but with much lower payroll cost.  Poor defensive OF.  Would be mainly a LH hitting DH.  Beat writers have questioned his work ethic.  

Summary:  These guys would all likely be available on relatively low-cost 1 year prove it deals.  Of course, there are reasons for that with each one.  One of the attributes of a good POBO/GM is being able to pick the guy out of a crowd like this who will put it together.  You can't build an entire team out of guys like this but they can be valuable additions to a roster in any given year.

Preliminary DrB's 2025 Giants Top 50 Prospects

 Let's roll out the preliminary Top 50 prospect list and see what I missed or messed up on.  A couple of notes before we get to the list:

I know several commenters expressed support for Carson Whisenhunt LHP.  Although I like him as a prospect I don't think he quite has the ceiling of some of the younger guys and so rank him just a bit lower but still in the top 10.  Yes, I am aware of Josuar Gonzalez SS.  He will slot in at #2 when/if he signs which I will believe when I see it.  Finally, there is a fairly long list of players drafted in 2024 who did not make an appearance in a pro game yet.  I feel like at this point I just don't have enough information to rank them.  I expect some of them to make next year's list.  I just don't know which ones.

1.  Bryce Eldridge 1B

2.  Grant McCray OF

3.  Trevor McDonald RHP

4.  James Tibbs III

5.  Jhonny Level SS

6.  Rayner Arias OF

7.  Carson Whisenhunt LHP

8.  Mason Black RHP

9.  Diego Velasquez SS/2B

10.  Lisbel Diaz OF

11.  Wade Meckler OF

12.  Joe Whitman LHP

13.  Charlie Szykowny IF

14. Carter Howell OF

15.  Sabin Ceballos 3B

16.  Bo Davidson OF

17.  Dakota Jordan OF

18.  John Bertrand LHP

19. Trent Harris RHP

20.  Tyler Myrick RHP

21.  Juan Sanchez LHP

22.  Jack Choate LHP

23.  Nick Sinacola RHP

24.  Justin Wishkoski 3B

25. Victor Bericoto OF/1B

26. Aeverson Arteaga SS

27.  Hayden Wynja LHP

28.  Manuel Mercedes RHP

29.  Onil Perez C

30.  Cesar Perdomo LHP

31.  Jonah Cox OF

32.  Quinn McDaniel 2B

33.  Josh Bostick RHP

34.  Scott Bandura OF

35.  Cale Lansville RHP

36.  Gerelmi Maldonado RHP

37.  Ryan Vanderhei RHP

38.  Elijah Pleasants RHP

39.  Shane Rademacher RHP

40.  Drew Cavanaugh C

41.  Jeremiah Jenkins 1B

42.  Zander Darby SS

43.  Robert Hipwell 3B

44.  Maui Ahuna SS

45.  Jakob Christian OF

46.  Jose Ortiz OF

48.  Alix Hernandez RHP

49.  Hunter Bishop OF

50.  Will Bednar RHP

Scouting the 2025 Draft: Kayson Cunningham

Kayson Cunningham SS, HS.  DOB:  6/25/2006.  B-L, T-R.  5' 9", 170 lbs.

Cunningham has a short, compact frame with limited projectability but may have the best hit tool in the draft as he controls the strike zone and barrels the ball to all fields.  Speed to steal bases.  There is enough power to force pitchers to respect it.  Good chance to stick at SS.  Committed to Texas.  Again, it will be interesting to see how much the relaxed NCAA endorsement/sponsorship rules impact the signability of HS players in the draft.

Hot Stove League Update: Corbin Burnes Signs With D'Backs and Other News

 I think most of us had long since figured out that if the Giants were going to sign Corbin Burnes RHP it would have happened already but it's still a shock to the system to see the headline that he signed with another team, the D'Back no less!  The reported deal is 6 yr/$210 M with an opt-out after 2 years.  Several sources are saying the Giants and Blue Jays offered more guaranteed money but difference in state taxes was likely a big factor in his decision as well as the fact he has a home in Scottsdale.  It is also not known if the other offers included an opt-out or if they were for more seasons making the AAV less.

This news comes as a triple blow to the Giants as not only do they not get the pitcher they wanted and needed, he goes to a division rival and the starting pitcher free agent market thinned out considerably while they were waiting.  They still need at least one reliable veteran SP who can get deep into games to take pressure off Logan Webb RHP but the market is down to Jack Flaherty RHP and the "Brebbia Aisle."  There is Roki Sasaki RHP who would be a dream come true but the chances of signing him are likely much less than 1/30.  There may still be some opportunities on the trade market and I'm waiting to see Buster Posey impress me with a really savvy trade.

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In other Hot Stove League news, Teoscar Hernandez OF re-signed with the Dodgers for 3 yrs/$66 M with a $23 M signing bonus and $23 M in deferred money.  Hernandez is coming off the best season of his career but hit 116 HR's over his last 4 seasons so is a reliable HR and RBI man, especially in a stacked lineup like the Dodgers.

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And finally, Gleyber Torres 2B signed a 1 yr/ $15 M contract with the Tigers.  Am I crazy to think that would not have been a bad contract for the Giants to sign?

DrB's 2024 Giants Top 50 Prospects: A Review

 Before we grapple with DrB's 2025 Giants Top 50 Prospect list, I thought it might help to review the 2024 list and see where the players on that list stand.  The good news is several of those players "graduated" to the major leagues.  The bad news is there were so many graduations the top of the list thinned out considerably and there just weren't enough replacements coming up from below to completely fill the void.  So let's review:

1.  Kyle Harrison LHP- Graduated.  Started off hot the seemed to wear down near the end of the season and was finally shut down with shoulder soreness.

2.  Marco Luciano SS- Graduated.  A tumultuous season which saw him flub a chance to take over as starting SS due to a storm of errors.  Some debate among Giants fans if he was given enough time to work through the rookie jitters or if the organization should have known all along he is a bad fielder.  Was officially moved to the OF.  Status now unclear after change in management.

3.  Bryce Eldridge OF/RHP- Stock Up.  Moved to full time 1B.  Fantastic season across 4 minor league levels.  Now is the clear #1 prospect in the system.

4. Walker Martin SS- Stock Stable.  Got a late start on the season. Played in the ACL and A levels with mixed results.  Size and athleticism continue to be pluses.

5. Rayner Arias OF- Stock Down due to lingering injuries.  Did not show up until near the end of the ACL.  Stayed in the complex rather than moving up to A ball.  Assume the ceiling is still high if he can regain full health.

6.  Keaton Winn RHP- Graduated.  Pitched very well when healthy.  Injuries a continuing worry.

7.  Mason Black RHP- Stock Up.  Pitched at the MLB level with mixed results.

8.  Carson Whisenhunt LHP- Stock Stable.  Pitched in the upper minors with mixed results.

9.  Trevor McDonald RHP- Stock Up.  Late start due to injury but pitched 3 shutout innings in the final game of the season.

10.  Kai-Wei Teng RHP- Stock Down.  Got lit up at the MLB level and did not pitch effectively in AAA.  Dropped from the 40-man roster and re-signed as a minor league free agent.

11.  Hayden Birdsong RHP- Graduated.  Pitched very well at the MLB level and looks like a future rotation fixture.

12.  Joe Whitman LHP- Stock Stable.  Pitched in the lower minors with mixed results.  

13.  Reggie Crawford LHP- Stock Down due to injuries.  Moved to pitching full time.  Tried to fast track as a reliever.  Ended up requiring reconstructive shoulder surgery.  Interestingly he's currently listed as an infielder on the AAA Sacramento roster.

14.  Tyler Fitzgerald IF- Graduated.  Finished the season as the Giants starting SS.  Currently projected starter at 2B for 2025.

15.  Wade Meckler OF- Stock Up.  Lack of power a concern but he muscled up and hit a flurry of HR's at the end of the season.  If he continues to show power, he should get another MLB opportunity.

16.  Erik Miller LHP- Graduated.  Pitched out of the Giants bullpen all season with mixed results.

17.  Carson Seymour RHP- Stock Up.  Added to the 40-man roster in November.

18.  Landon Roupp RHP- Graduated.  Pitched well at the MLB level and looks like he can be a back-end SP or long RP.

19.  Aeverson Arteaga SS- Stock Down.  Missed most of the season due to injury.  Looking to bounce back in 2025.

20.  Grant McCray OF.  Stock Up.  Ended season as starting CF for the Giants.  He'll lose that in 2025 with Jung Hoo Lee coming back.  Retains prospect status to to not exceeding MLB service time thresholds.

21.  Diego Velasquez IF.  Stock Up.  I am impressed by a BA of over .300 at AAA as a 20 year old.  Some question if he is a true SS.  He's now blocked from SS at MLB level for the Giants for the forseeable future.

22.  Vaun Brown OF- Stock Down.  Career apparently derailed by injuries.

23.  Victor Bericoto OF/1B- Stock Stable.  Hit .261 with 11 HR's for AA Richmond.

24.  Zach Morgan C- Stock Down.  Bat has not progressed.

25.  Adrian Sugastey C- Stock Down.  Missed much of season due to injury.  Bat challenged by AA.

26.  Onil Perez- Stock Down.  Bat struggled at A+.

27.  Jack Choate LHP- Stock Stable.  Pitched effectively at A+.

28.  Hayden Wynja LHP- Stock Down. Missed time with injury.  Reminder that 6' 9" LHP's don't grow on trees.

29.  Daniel Blair RHP- Stock Down.  Struggled at A+.

30.  Cole Foster SS- Stock Down.  Bat extremely disappointing.

31.  Gerelmi Maldonado RHP- Stock Down due to injury.

32.  Alix Hernandez RHP- Stock Stable.  Pitched effectively at ACL level, not so much is short trial at A level.

33.  Maui Ahuna SS- Stock Down.  Hasn't played much due to lingering injury issues.

34.  Quinn McDaniel 2B- Stock Stable.  Gets on base, steals bases.  Strikes out too much.

35.  Thomas Szapucki LHP- Stock Down due to persistent injuries.

36.  Juan Sanchez LHP- Stock Stable.  Pitched pretty well for AAA Sacramento.

37.  Randy Rodriguez RHP- Graduated.  Pitched at MLB level with mixed results.

38.  Jose Cruz RHP- Released.  

39.  Heliot Ramos OF- Graduated.  Projected starting LF for the Giants in 2025.

40.  TJ Hopkins OF- DFA'd in Feb 2024.  Washed away in The Churn.

41.  Trenton Brooks 1B/OF- Out of Organization.  Minor league free agency.

42.  Nick Avila RHP- Out of Organization. Claimed off waivers by the Orioles. Released in Aug 2024.

43.  Chris Wright LHP- Stock Down.  Missed all of 2024 with injury.

44.  Manuel Mercedes RHP- Stock Down.  Extreme contact/groundball approach doesn't work in the launch angle age.

45.  Scott Bandura OF- Stock Stable.  Played well at A level but struggled after promotion to A+.

46. Guillermo Williamson- Stock Down.  Bad body, hits for power but doesn't make enough contact.

47.  Elian Rayo 3B. Stock Stable.  Mixed results at ACL level.

48.  Cesar Quintas OF- Lost in minor league portion of Rule 5 Draft.

49.  Ryan Reckley 2B- Stock Stable. Played at A level without a lot of success.

50.  Ubert Mejias RHP- Stock Stable.  SP at A level with mixed results.

Here is a list of Honorable Mentions whose stock is up:

John Bertrand LHP

Tyler Myrick RHP

Carson Ragsdale RHP

Nick Sinacola RHP

Carter Howell OF

Charlie Szykowny IF

Justin Wishkoski 3B