DrB's 2026 Giants Top 50 Prospects: #3 Luis Hernandez

3.  Luis Hernandez SS.   DOB:  12/13/2008.  B-R, T-R.  5' 10", 172 lbs.  

Consensus top international prospect from the 2026 cycle.  MLB Pipeline rates his tools 60 across the board except possibly arm which is a 50.  Considered advanced for his age.  Projectable frame.  Trained at the Carlos Guillen Academy in Venezuela.  Played in the Venezuela Major League at age 15 and hit .346 in 104 AB's.  Projects to a 30/30 player who can stick at short but the bat could play at any position.  Giants reportedly considering bringing him to the states for his first pro experience.  If he and Josuar Gonzalez are both playing in Arizona this spring, I might need to find a way to get over there and see what the fuss is about for myself, depending on my situation.

DrB's 2026 Giants Top 50 Prospects: #4 Bo Davidson

 4.  Bo Davidson OF.  DOB:  7/5/2002.  B-L, T- R.  6' 1", 205 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2026.

2025(A+):  .309/.412/.507, 10 HR, 12 SB, 14.6 BB%, 22.1 K%, 335 PA.

2025(AA):  .234/.312/.401, 8 HR, 7 SB, 10.2 BB%, 24.1 K%, 187 PA.

Undrafted free agent from 2023 draft cycle.  Davidson gained national buzz has he raked his way through the Giants system.  While his BA took a step back after a late-season promotion to AA, his HR/PA went up It appears that result is due to a change in approach as his GB/FB went from 1.70 to 0.75 giving him more of a 3-true outcomes stat line.  I expect him to start 2026 back in AA and he'll try to break the Richmond/EL curse on hitting prospects.  I saw him play with A San Jose in 2024 and he certainly looks the part.  Impressive size and athleticism and barreled up everything.

Hot Stove League Update: Grading Buster

 Sup Dawgs!?  Amid a last minute flurry of Hot Stove League activity, including the announcement of Luis Arraez 2B signing a free agent contract with the Giants, Buster Posey commented to the beat writers that he is more on "listening" mode at this point than in pursuit mode.  Now, to his credit, Buster has not exactly been transparent about his Hot Stove League game plan so another under-the-radar move could happen if a last minute bargain presented itself but that can always happen. It seems like between Buster's comments and report day for pitchers and catchers we are reasonably safe to declare the 2025/2026 Hot Stove League complete and open it up to to snap grades.

Q:  What is your grade for Buster Posey and the Giants front office on the 2025/2026 Hot Stove League season?  

DrB's 2026 Giants Top 50 Prospects: #5 Jhonny Level

5.  Jhonny Level SS.  DOB:  3/29/2007.  B-S, T-R.  5' 10", 154 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2028.

2025(ACL):  .288/.375/.493, 10 2B, 4 3B, 9 HR, 17 SB, 12.6 BB%, 15.3 K%, 261 PA.

2025(A):  .236/.333/.339, 3 HR, 4 SB, 11.6 BB%, 20.4 K%, 147 PA.

Jhonny Level did something top Giants international prospects have had trouble with:  He stayed healthy for his first two pro seasons.  Don't discount the importance of that.  Level is not big.  I have not seen him play in person but from videos, he does not look like he is 5' 10" or even close to it.  He does have a wiry strength and some quick-twitch athleticism which may overcome the size deficit.  It's his stat lines that have drawn attention from the scouting community showing a nice balance of contact, power, speed and plate discipline.  While his numbers slipped a bit after a late season promotion to A San Jose, he wasn't overmatched and now has a head start on his age 19 season.  I hope to see him play on an early road trip to SoCal.  

DrB's 2026 Giants Top 50 Prospects: #6 Gavin Kilen

6.  Gavin Kilen 2B.   DOB:  3/28/2004.  B-L, T-R.  5' 11", 187 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2028.  

2025(College- Tennessee):  .357/.441/.671, 15 HR, 6 SB, 12.2 BB%, 11.0 K%, 245 PA.

2025(A):  .205/.279/.282, 7.0 BB%, 11.6 K%, 43 PA.

We have to accept this ranking for Kilen on some faith in his college record and draft position.  The numbers at A level are not good but it's a small sample and he was shut down early due to a nagging hammy injury.  Based on everything I've read, he's expected to be fully healthy this spring and that will be the true test whether he is at risk of becoming another in a long string of Giants disappointing first round draft picks.  I don't have any stats to back this up but if my memory serves me, the history of prospects who start their pro experience hurt and underperform is not encouraging.  Kilen's calling card is contact and hit tool. He basically has to hit close to .300 to have significant value.  He's been comped to Gavin Lux which would not be a terrible outcome.

DrB's 2026 Giants Top 50 Prospects: #7 Keyner Martinez

7.  Keyner Martinez RHP.   DOB:  8/16/2004.  6' 1", 165 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2026.

2025(ACL):  3-1, 1.90, 47.1 IP, 12.74 K/9, 1.90 BB/9, 1.28 GB/FB.

2025(A):  2-1, 2.86, 22 IP, 12.27 K/9, 4.50 BB/9, 1.65 GB/FB.  

When Baseball America says you have the best fastball and best slider in the organization, how can you not be the top pitching prospect?  Martinez was a "pop-up" pitching prospect in 2025, dominated two levels and enters 2026 with big expectations.  The only issue with him is the pesky Rule 5 Draft.  Since he was 19 years old when he signed in 2023 he is eligible after 4 years.  He did not pitch in 2023 but that still counted as a year of service time so he's eligible at the end of this season.  If he remains healthy and continues to show premium stuff, The Giants will have to burn a 40-man roster spot to protect him.  Not that it's never been done but the Giants in recent years have been loathe to spend a roster spot on prospects who are still 2-3 years away.  If the stuff is for real, they might want to be aggressive with him, push him to A+ with the goal of having him finish the season in at least AA.

DrB's 2026 Giants Top 50 Prospects: #8 Jacob Bresnahan

8.  Jacob Bresnahan LHP.   DOB:  6/27/2005.  6' 4", 195 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2027.

2025(A):  9-3, 2.61, 93 IP, 12.00 K/9, 4.16 BB/9.

Before I looked at Bresnahan's numbers and MLB Pipeline scouting report, I didn't think I would rank him this high.  I saw him pitch against Rancho Cucamonga early in the season and wasn't that impressed with his stuff and the first 6 weeks of his season were rough.  Through his first 3 starts his line stood at 0-1, 8.18, 11 IP, 8 BB, 12 K.  I think I saw him in the third game of that stretch.  The rest of the season he went 9-2, 1.85, 82.2 IP, 12.19 K/9, 2.81 BB/9 which is elite and at just his age 19 season.  

His MLB Pipeline scouting report has his FB 91-94 MPH topping out at 96.  I think the game I saw him he was at the lower end of that range.  Presumably he either gained command or built his velocity as teh season progressed.  His best secondary pitch is a fading changeup and also has a sweeping slider.  

He's a big kid who still has room to fill out his frame and get stronger.  He should start out 2026 in A+ ball with a chance to move up to AA before the season is over.  Starting to get some national recognition as a nice prospect but still qualifies as a sleeper with a lot of upside and a high ceiling.