DrB's 2026 Giants Top 50 Prospects: #12 Carson Whisenhunt

12.  Carson Whisenhunt LHP.  DOB:  10/20/2000.  6' 3", 214 lbs.  40-man roster, 3 Options.

2025(AAA):  9-5, 4.43, 107.2 IP, 7.94 K/9, 2.93 BB/9, 1.40 GB/FB.

2025(MLB):  2-1, 5.01, 23.1 IP, 6.17 K/9, 4.63 BB/9, 1.07 GB/FB.

The Whiz is basically a 2-pitch pitcher.  He has a sinking fastball that averaged 92.6 MPH and a changeup that has been rated as a 70 on the scouting scale.  He threw a slider just 14% of the time in his small MLB sample.  During his MLB stint I saw some really good pitches but he battled inconsistency.  It's hard to set up the changeup if you don't command the fastball and he needs to throw the slider more, especially to lefty batters.  I would think he starts out 2026 in AAA Sacramento to work on those items.  

Regarding the changeup, the best changeup I ever saw was Noah Lowry's.  I might have seen one or two of Whisenhunt's changeups that compare favorably to Lowry's but again, most of them didn't and he needs to find more consistency.

DrB's 2026 Giants Top 50 Prospects: #13 Drew Gilbert

13.  Drew Gilbert OF.  DOB:  9/27/2000.  B- L, T- L.  5' 9", 195 lbs.  40-man Roster, 3 Options.

2025(AAA- Mets):  .243/.347/.430, 17 2B, 2 3B, 12 HR, 4 SB, 11.4 BB%, 16.6 K%, 361 PA.

2025(AAA- Giants):  .500/.650/.857, 2B, 2 3B, 2 SB, 30.0 BB%, 15.0 K%, 20 PA.

2025(MLB- Giants):  .190/.248/.350, 5 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 6.4 BB%, 18.3 K%, 109 PA.

Drew Gilbert is a classic old-school high-energy, top-of-the-order, hustling over-achiever type player who often has nicknames like Nails, Mad Dog, Scrappy.  Howard Cosell would call him a "pepper pot."  Former #28 overall draft pick out of Tony Vitello's shop at Tennessee.  Although the BA was unimpressive in his first, the secondary numbers were actually quite good and he was a plus defender who appeared at all 3 OF positions, mostly RF.  Strong opportunity to emerge from spring training as the 4'th OF on the Opening Day roster unless the Giants think he still needs daily PA's to further develop his hitting.

DrB's 2026 Giants Top 50 Prospects: #14 Jesus Rodriguez

14.  Jesus Rodriguez C/3B.  DOB:  4/23/2002.  B-R, T-R.  5' 10", 208 lbs.  40-man Roster, 2 Options.

2025(AAA- Yankees):  .317/.409/.430, 14 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 16 SB, 12.7 BB%, 15.2 K%, 362 PA.

2025(AAA- Giants):  .322/.399/.401, 6 2B, 2 HR, 4 SB, 10.4 BB%, 9.8 K%, 173 PA.

 Elite contact hitter with plate discipline, a relatively rare combination.  Main negatives are a lack of power and questionable catching skills.  It appears the Giants think he can be a catcher. It appeared he might have a shot at back up catcher in 2026 until they acquired Daniel Susac and Eric Haase.  It now appears the plan is to give Rodriguez more reps behind the plate in AAA to polish up his defensive skills.  If he can improve there his hitting skills should give him a solid MLB career.

Hot Stove League Update: Giants Sign Luis Arraez

 The Giants have kept the hot stove stoked late into the season.  We can all hope they have a comparable stretch run in the 2026 MLB season.  They moved closer to the all-important CBT threshold with yet another "value" signing as Buster's strategy of signing multiple lower cost players over one or two big-ticket targets comes into clearer focus.  This time it was the man with the shiny batting average, Luis Arraez for 1 yr/$12 M.  A second baseman by trade, Arraez had trouble finding innings at the position over the last two seasons and was openly looking for a team who would play him there.  The Giants reportedly are that team.  Let's break it down:

Luis Arraez 1B/2B.  DOB:  4/9/1997.  B-L, T-R.  5' 10", 175 lbs.  

2025(Padres):  .292/.327/.392, 30 2B, 4 3B, 8 HR, 11 SB, 5.0 BB%, 3.1 K%, 675 PA.  

Arraez is an elite contact hitter who almost never strikes out.  That is the type of hitter Buster Posey said he thinks fits the Giants home ballpark.  He's like a throwback to Pete Rose with two seasons of 200 or more hits.  The two raps on him are that he's an empty batting average and he is a poor defender.  His defensive metrics are a bit mixed as he looks worse by Outs Above Average(OAA) than by Fangraphs Ultimate Zone Rating(UZR).  Arraez reports he worked out with a defensive coach at the 2B position over the winter.  He is reported to have one of the slowest foot speeds in all of MLB but he somehow still managed to steal 11 bases.

From a hitting standpoint I like the signing.  I saw so many situations over the past few years where a base hit would drive in at least one and possibly two runs only to see the batter strike out of pop up and end the threat.  If he can be coached up to play a passable 2B then it's a great fit and the price is right.  Arraez' profile reminds me of Melky Cabrera.  Melky didn't work out in the end due to off-field issues but it sure was a fun ride while it lasted.  Arraez does create a tough situation for Casey Schmitt and Christian Koss as there now may not be room on the active roster for both as utility infielders although there could still be some PA's at DH if the Giants decide Bryce Eldridge needs some more seasoning in AAA.

Here is a list of Giants free agent signings for this year's Hot Stove League season:

Sam Hentges LHP:  1 yr/$1.4 M

Jason Foley RHP:  1 yr/$2 M

Adrian Houser RHP: 2 yr/$22 M

Tyler Mahle RHP:  1 yr/$10 M

Harrison Bader OF:  2 yr/$20.5 M

Luis Arraez 2B/1B/DH:  1 yr/$12 M

Total additional 2026 Salary(AAV):  $47 M.  

The Arraez signing bumps their CBT number to about $228 M which is about $16 M below the threshold.  

We can argue endlessly about whether the Giants ownership should be willing to spend above the CBT threshold but there are non-financial reasons why they shouldn't.  We can also disagree with how Buster chose to spend the money but he did spend it and got 6 players who should each upgrade their respective positions.  To my eye it looks like a successful Hot Stove League season.  I will be surprised if they make any more major signings which would put them over the CBT threshold.  Now watch Buster sign Framber Valdez and prove all of us wrong about how much Giants ownership is willing to spend.

Hot Stove League Update: Giants Trade Kai-Wei Teng

The Giants needed a spot on the 40-man roster to make room for Harrison Bader OF.  Rather than DFA a fringe player, they acted pre-emptively and traded Kai-Wei Teng RHP to the Astros for Jancel Villarroel C and maybe more importantly, more international bonus space.  Let's break it down:

Kai-Wei Teng RHP.  DOB:  12/1/1998.  6' 4", 241 lbs.  40-man roster, 2 Options.

2025(AAA):  3-2, 3.63, 57 IP, 14.05 K/9, 3.47 BB/9, 1.42 GB/FB.

2025(MLB):  2-4, 6.37, 29.2 IP, 11.83 K/9, 5.18 BB/9, 0.97 GB/FB. 

Teng was acquired in 2019 for Sam Dyson.  He's worked his way up the Giants minor league system with mixed results.  At times he put up dominant K rates and other times his ERA ballooned due to command issues.  He logged some time at the MLB level last season and made some really impressive pitches but was again plagued by inconsistent command and a large ERA.  It's a bit sad to see him traded but the Giants have a logjam of AAA/MLB pitchers and Teng was probably the most logical to go.  He also might have been they could get more for him than other pitchers and the extra international bonus money in addition to a non-40-man roster prospect is not a trivial return.

Jancel Villarroel C.  DOB:  1/17/2005.  B-R, T-R.  5' 8", 176 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2027.

2025(A):  .258/.360/.385, 6 HR, 20 SB, 11.3 BB%, 17.2 K%, 372 PA.

2025(A+):  .263/.295/.404, 2 HR, 4.9 BB%, 21.3 K%, 61 PA.

Compact catching prospect with strong hit and power tools.  Reportedly has a strong throwing arm but still needs work on his all-around catching game.  Got his feet wet in A+ ball at the end of last season so that is where he will probably start 2026.  With Drew Cavanaugh moving up the Giants have room at the A+ level for a catching prospect.

International Bonus Pool Room:  It's my understanding that no actual money changes hands in these deals, rather the receiving team gets more room to spend their own money on international prospect signings.  I really like this part of the deal for the Giants as it shows they still prioritize the international market in the Buster Posey era.

Summary:  It's a bit sad to see Teng traded but the Giants have a logjam of AAA/MLB pitchers and he was probably the most logical to go and they got a legitimate catching prospect with 2 years before Rule 5 eligibilty which is a plus.  He also might have been they could get more for him than other pitchers and the extra international bonus money in addition to a non-40-man roster prospect is not a trivial return.

DrB's 2026 Giants Top 50 Prospects: #15 Daniel Susac

15.  Daniel Susac C.  DOB:  5/142001.  B-R, T-R.  6' 4", 218 lbs.  40-man roster, no options(Rule 5 Draftee via trade).

2025(AAA-Athletics):  .275/.349/.483, 18 HR, 7 SB, 8.6 BB%, 26.8 K%, 407 PA.

Susac is the younger brother of Forever Giant, Andrew Susac.  He was drafted #19 overall by the A's in 2022 and worked his way through their system.  They did not add him to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, probably because they have a plethora of young catchers in the organization.  He was selected by the Twins who then traded him to the Giants for a very young catching prospect, Miguel Caraballo, plus cash.  

Why all that is important is Susac has to stay on the 26-man active roster all season or be offered back to the A's in accordance with Rule 5 rules.  It doesn't seem to make a lot of sense to give up even a very young prospect for Susac if there is not a strong intention of keeping him all season.  Where the story gets complicated is the Giants also singed veteran catcher, Eric Haase, to a minor league contract with a MLB salary contingent on him making the active roster out of spring training.  He has an opt out so the Giants are not going to be able to keep both.  Haase has a reputation as a poor defensive catcher and has battled some injuries so this all has an eery Tom Murphy vibe to it. 

With a full AAA season under his belt, Susac should be as ready as he'll ever be and looks like the type of asset the Giants would want to keep in the organization.  It's just that back up catcher is an extremely tough gig for him to try to find traction on a MLB career.

DrB's 2025 Giants Top 50 Prospects: #16 Parks Harber

16.  Parks Harber 1B/3B.  DOB:  9/25/2001.  B-R, T-R.  6' 3", 225 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2027.

2025(A- Yankees):  .304/.422/.551, 3 HR, 4 SB, 14.5 BB%, 26.5 K%, 83 PA.  

2025(A+- Yankees):  .326/.395/.489, 3 HR, 2 SB, 10.5 BB%, 23.0 K%, 152 PA.

2025(A+- Giants):  .333/.454/.644, 7 HR, 14.8 BB%, 20.4 K%, 108 PA.

2025(AFL):  .383/.513/.683, 3 HR, SB, 18.4 BB%, 26.3 K%, 76 PA.

Harber was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Yankees in 2024.  He went undrafted despite hitting 54 home runs in 206 college games.  He's raked everywhere he's played.  The rap on him is defensive limitation due to slow foot speed and lack or arm strength which may limit him to 1B at higher levels.  He did play some innings in RF in the minors and AFL last year.  Perhaps he could be playable in LF?  He should move up to AA in 2026 which is always a challenge for hitters.  I will be following his batting lines with interest.