Friday, February 7, 2025

DrB's 2025 Giants Top 50 Prospects: #8 Carson Whisenhunt

Carson Whisenhunt LHP.  DOB:  10/20/2000.  6' 3", 209 lbs.  Drafted 2022 Round 2.  

2024(A):  0-0, 0.00, 5 IP, 10.80 K/9, 5.40 BB/9.
2024(AAA):  3-5, 5.42, 104.2 IP, 11.61 K/9, 4.56 BB/9, 4.58 xFIP.

The Whiz features what some analysts call the best changeup in all of baseball and Fangraphs rates as an 80 pitch.  His fastball has enough velocity(92-94 touching 96) to set it up but the FB sometimes lacks life and command.  He also has an average-ish slider to give him a 3-pitch mix but the changeup is his dominant pitch.  He missed much of the 2023 season with an elbow sprain but was mostly healthy in 2024.  As with many pitchers he struggled with the pitcher-unfriendly ballparks and tight strike zone in the PCL.  Projection systems like him and forecast an ERA in the mid-3's at the MLB level.  Reading his scouting reports reminds me of how awesome Noah Lowry's changeup was before he lost the feel for it due to a nerve injury.

11 comments:

  1. Only ONE Carson for Spring Training — of course it's Whisenhunt

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    1. At least I had him as the highest ranked Carson.....(smiley face).

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    2. The other two are already on the roster.
      AP

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    3. The other 2 are RHP — just about every lefty SF has will be in camp!

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  2. I used to live Noah Lowry, what am awesome changeup that basically set itself up... Would love to see that from Whiz.

    Is PCL really that much higher scoring than MLB that he'd do worse there than here?

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    1. The PCL is a very tough environment for pitchers. You have a lot of small ballparks, ballparks at higher elevations and dry climates, and now you have the smaller strike zone enforced by electronic monitoring. Yes, I think it's very possible pitchers put up better numbers with half their games in Oracle Park and other pitcher-friendly locations in the NL West. Although Dodger Stadium and Petco are more neutral and even hitter friendly than they used to be.

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    2. IMO, the PCL environment is a big part of the reason we seem to see so many hitting prospects come up and faceplant while more pitchers come up and surprise us with how well they do.

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  3. The other 2 Carsons are on the 40-man, so all will be there?

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  4. It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!
    Spring training > where an old man dreams that dream > Go Giants!!

    Richard in Winnipeg

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