Down On The Farm: Opening Day Rookies

Let's break down the Giants top prospects by ETA to the major leagues.  This is not an exhaustive list but we'll try to include as many of the top prospects as possible.  We'll list them by ETA and give a short scenario of why they may arrive in The Show when we estimate.  As always, E stands for Estimate not Prediction. We'll start with prospects who we think will be on there on Opening Day 2022.

Joey Bart C- There are several reasons why Joey Bart is almost a certainty to be on the Giants 26 man Active Roster on Opening Day and probably the starting catcher that day.  1.  There are very few, if any, reasonable options.  The free agent market is dismal.  The minor league free agent market is full of guys who are in that situation for a reason.  They might be OK as fallback plans but they aren't going to be your Opening Day catcher.  There are a couple of intriguing options on the trade market but does FZ really want to pay the trade cost in prospects for Willson Contreras?  2.  FZ came right out and stated at the beginning of the Hot Stove season that Joey Bart is "ready".  So far, at least, FZ is like Brian Sabean in that he may not give a straight answer often, but when he does, he's not lying.  3.  While Joey Bart could probably stand a little more salt in AAA, ultimately he's going to have to adjust to MLB pitching.  Why not let him get a head start on that by putting him out there Opening Day? Of course, the corollary to that is the Giants need to prepare to be patients as rookie slumps are almost inevitable.  This is the dawning of the age of Joey Bart!

Camilo Doval RHP- Doval was the Giants Closer at the end of last season and into the postseason.  He may not be on Opening Day but barring a massive loss of command in spring training, he's a lock to be on the Opening Day Roster and will likely close a significant number of games over the course of the season, although look for Gabe Kapler to not get too dependent on any one reliever as his Closer.

Kervin Castro RHP-  Let's take a look at two pitching lines from 2021:

Player 1:  

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

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

Player 2:

AAA:  3-0, 4.99, 30.2 IP, 12.91 K/9, 7.04 BB/9.

MLB:  5-1, 3.00, 27 IP, 12.33 K/9, 3.00 BB/9. 

Player 1 is Kervin Castro.  Player 2 is Camilo Doval.  Doval may have the edge based on stuff and velocity, but Castro actually pitched better at both AAA and MLB levels and in not a tiny sample size. Castro may not be there Opening Day due to options and numbers but it's also not impossible he could outpitch Doval in spring training by enough of a margin to send Doval down in favor of Castro.

Jason Krizan 2B/UT-  Krizan is really a post-prospect but he has yet to play a MLB game.  He's here purely for depth, but that may work in his favor if Tommy La Stella is not ready by Opening Day.  Krizan is a very similar player who bats from the same side of the plate.  It's unlikely the Giants will sign a LH batting 2B or trade for one if they think La Stella will be ready anytime before the All-Star Break.

Heliot Ramos OF- There is an outside chance that if the Giants fail to sign or trade for a RH OF bat post-lockout, that Ramos could win the role in Spring Training.  More likely he starts the season in AAA and waits for an opening.