In Part 1 we looked at pitching depth that might be immediately available in 2019. We now turn to the lower minors starting with the A+ SJ Giants.
A+: Melvin Adon might have the highest ceiling of any pitcher currently in the Giants organization. Pitchers who can maintain high-90's heat deep into games don't grow on trees. In an early season look in San Bernardino, Adon looked soft and overweight and struggled with his command which he pretty much did all season. He's lighting it up in the AFL so far in a very small sample. Carlos Sano is a big righty who arrived late on the scene making this pro debut at age 23, but impressed with his size and command. He could be a fast mover. Lefty John Gavin dominated the SAL but struggled a bit after a late season promo to SJ. Raffi Vizcaino battled inconsistency all season.
Low A: Jose Marte appears to have a high ceiling but like many Giants pitching prospects, battled inconsistency. Norwith Gudino has been around awhile but seems to be finally getting some traction on his career. Garrett Cave is another hard thrower with control issue. Juan De Paula impressed in a small sample after a late season trade with the Yankees. Righty Aaron Phillips had dominant numbers for the Greenjackets and should move up to San Jose in 2019.
Short Season: 19 year old Gregory Santos impressed until he was struck on the head by a line drive. The good news is he came back for 2 appearances at the end of the season and seems to be healthy. The Giants invested heavily in pitching after the first round of the 2018 draft. Most of those pitchers wound up in Salem-Keizer where they had a very tight leash. Sean Hjelle's ERA looked scary but had strong peripherals. Third rounder Jake Wong had the strongest start to his pro career of any of the new draftees. Solomon Bates had dominant strikeout numbers and has the size and strength to be a SP.
Rookie AZL: Conner Nurse is a project but has intriguing size and had some nice games in his pro debut for Giants Black. Lefty Marco Gonzalez had an ugly ERA but nice peripheral numbers. Jasier Herrera has nice SP size at 6'5". Lefty Jacob Lopez is a sleeper who had a nice pro debut.
DSL: This year's DSL Giants team featured a strong set of SP's who look to move up to Arizona in 2019. Juan Sanchez, Sonny Vargas, Jesus Gomez and Samuel Quintana impressed while throwing from the south side while Ivan Armstrong looked strong from the right side.
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Adon's fall is reminding me of what Steven Okert did a few years back, but Adon has the premium velocity. Do you think his performance and impending add to the 40-man will put him on the reliever track, or do they send him to the Richmond rotation?
ReplyDeleteCove Chatter
In my opinion, Melvin Adon might have a faster track to the major leagues as a reliever, not a starter.
DeleteVintage62
I'd keep developing Adon as a SP. It's much easier to go from starting to relieving than the other way around.
Deleteagree...…………..good to see you
ReplyDeleteGarrett Williams had another very nice performance last night for the Scottsdale Scorpions throwing 4 shut out innings allowing 3 walks and 7 strike outs.
ReplyDeleteWilliams, Wolff and Adon seem to be anchoring the Scorpions pitching staff along with J.B Bukausas of the Astros.
Bumgarner and Gray are both Free Agents in 2020.
ReplyDeleteBum costs ~twice as much (2019) and is ~twice as good and worth more than twice as much in July so somethings very very good would have to come along with Gray like Justus Sheffield & Estevan Florial, leaving enough money to sign Holland (up from the $1.75MM in 2018) and an OFer not named Harper with Pence's ($18.5MM and another 3+MM from FAs not signed and cuts of Tomlinson and Gomez).
There's a lot of sentiment to shed Strickland but maybe an investment in anger management is better spent.
Another expensive Arb contract is Sam Dyson but he may be worth it.