Giants Organizational Depth Charts: Shortstop

The Giants shortstop position may be the most problematic position in the short term while at the same time having one of the strongest longterm outlooks in all of major league baseball.  The long term challenge is to decide which of a plethora of highly ranked prospects will emerge as their shortstop of the future and likely franchise cornerstone.

MLB:

Willy Adames:  DOB:  9/2/1995.  B-R, T-R.  6' 0", 216 lbs.  Under Contract through 2031.

2026:  .230/.289/.424, 25 2B, 21 HR, 5 SB, 7.3 BB%, 27.5 K%, 505 PA.

Christian Koss:  DOB:  1/27/1998.  B-R, T-R.  6' 1", 185 lbs.  2 Options.  1.00 yr Service Time.

2026(MLB):  .217/.257/.305, 4 HR, 5 SB, 4.1 BB%, 26.7 K%, 221 PA.

Osleivis Basabe:  DOB:  9/13/2000.  B-R, T-R.  5' 11", 197 lb.  1 Option.  .05 yr Service Time.

2026(MLB):  .202/.268/.341, 5 HR, 2 SB, 6.3 BB%, 20.3 K%, 143 PA.

Adames went on the IL due to a left elbow sprain for which he receive a Plasma-Rich Platelet injection but he was apparently already dealing with a nagging back problem(although as Kruk pointed out, it did not keep him from lifting heavy Gatorade jugs).  Buster has no choice but to count on him bouncing back from both injuries and having a strong season.  If he doesn't it's 5 long, painful years of paying down that contract.  Between Koss and Basabe, Koss is the better defender so has the inside track at the utility infielder role.

AAA:  

Aeverson Arteaga:  DOB:  3/16/2003.  B-R, T-R.  5' 11", 201 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible.

2026(AA):  .318/.395/.500, 2 HR, 2 SB, 7.8 BB%, 28.6 K%, 77 PA.

2026(AAA):  .243/.293/.346, 12 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 5.9 K%, 23.7 K%, 304 PA.

Zane Zielinski:  DOB:  7/28/2001.  B-R, T-R.  6' 2", 195 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2027.

2026(A+):  .258/.343/.314, 9 2B, 13 SB, 10.3 BB%, 27.2 K%, 184 PA.

2026(AA):  .206/.250/.301, 7 2B, 2 HR, 3 SB, 4.8 BB%, 34.9 K%, 146 PA.

2026(AAA):  .143/.333/.286, 22.2 BB%, 11.1 K%, 9 PA.

Arteaga was once the shortstop of the future before injuries derailed his development.  Neither he nor Zielinski figure into the long term future of the Giants infield at this point.

AA:

Gavin Kilen:  DOB:  3/28/2004.  B-L, T-R.  5' 10", 187 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2028.

2026(A+):  .282/.350/.462, 27 2B, 3B, 9 HR, 9.2 BB%, 13.8 K%, 349 PA.

2026(AA):  .297/.343/.469, 10 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 7.7 BB%, 15.4 K%, 143 PA.

Maui Ahuna:  DOB:  3/11/2002.  B-L, T-R.  6' 0", 196 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible.

2026(AA):  .228/.327/.335, 18 2B, 3 3B, 6 HR, 31 SB, 11.5 BB%, 28.9 K%, 460 PA.

Gavin Kilen quietly had a strong season across two levels.  While he did play a little 2B, the vast majority of his innings were at shortstop where word on the street is he has been surprisingly good on defense.  It's not hard to see him being ready for a major league debut by midseason.  Right now there is only one open position for him, second base.  Maui Ahuna has some speed but is otherwise a 3-true outcomes guy without the power.  He's kind of overwhelmed by the abundance of top tier infield prospects in the Giants system.

A+:

Jhonny Level:  DOB:  3/29/2007.  B-S, T-R.  5' 8", 186 lb.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2028.

2026(A):  .325/.392/.576, 14 2B, 2 3B, 10 HR, 11 SB, 7.8 BB%, 16.6 K%, 217 PA.

2026(A+):  .302/.363/.473, 25 2B, 3B, 8 HR, 15 SB, 7.9 BB%, 17.5 K%, 331 PA.

What a terrific season for Jhonny Level!  To my eye he is more of a 2B than shortstop but he's a shortstop for now.  The bat is real.  Maxed out physically.  

A:

Josuar Gonzalez:  DOB:  10/16/2007.  B-S, T- R.  5' 10", 178 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2029

2026(ACL):  .343/.451/.515, 7 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 8 SB, 16.4 BB%, 20.5 K%, 122 PA.

2026(A):  .357/.444, 556, 6 2B, 6 3B, 3 HR, 13 SB, 13.7 BB%, 19.6 K%, 153 PA.

Luis Hernandez:  DOB:  12/13/2008.  B-R, T-R.  5' 10", 172 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2030.

2026(ACL):  .298/.382/.535, 19 2B, 5 3B, 6 HR, 6 SB, 11.0 BB%, 16.7 K%, 228 PA.

2026(A):  .231/.276/.319, 2 2B, 2 HR, 6.1 BB%, 29.6 K%, 98 PA.

Lorenzo Meola:  DOB:  12/17/2003.  B-R, T-R.  5' 11", 180 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2028.

2026(ACL):  .269/.353/.468, 40 2B, 5 3B, 15 HR, 9.5 BB%, 24.3 K%, 547 PA.

Gonzalez had a terrific season justifying his #1 prospect ranking in the Giants organization.  I saw him hit an absolute rocket of a home run batting from the right side, but he may have less power batting left. PA's limited by a nagging hammy which will hopefully be fully healed by next season. Should move up to A+ to start 2027.  Luis Hernandez also made an impressive debut in the ACL as a 17 year old.  Struggled a bit more after a promotion to A ball where he will likely start next season. He played 3B when he and Gonzalez were on the field at the same time.  I saw him make a big league throw from foul territory behind 3B.  Meola had a sneaky good season but it should be noted he was not promoted out of A ball like other 2026 college draftees.

ACL: 

Anthony Marquez:  DOB:  9/23/2006.  B-R, T-R.  5' 10", 164 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2028.

2026(ACL):  .243/.352/.355, 7 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 11 SB, 13.1 BB%, 21.6 K%, 199 PA.

Brodey Acres: DOB: 6/2/2004.  B-R, T-R.  5' 11", 185 lbs.  

2026(College):  .385/.471/.690, 21 2B, 3 3B, 10 HR, 11 SB, 13.6 BB%, 10.4 K%, 221 PA.  

2026(Development):  .324/.381/.505, 7 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 14 SB, 8.7 BB%, 18.1 K%, 127 PA.

Marquez is overshadowed by the top tier shortstop prospects in the system.  Acres was signed as an undrafted free agent late in the season and did not appear in any affiliated games.

DSL:  

Joniel Hernandez:  DOB:  3/6/2009.  B-R, T-R.  6' 1", 180 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2030.

2026(DSL):  .321/.439/.539, 17 2B, 2 3B, 7 HR, 10 SB, 16.8 BB%, 15.5 K%, 238 PA.

With almost all the Giants bonus money for this cycle going into Luis Hernandez, the DSL did not have too many interesting prospect until Joniel Hernandez arrived after the trade deadline from the Padres organization.  Very interesting prospect whose ceiling may be as high as anyone in the organization.