DrB's 2024 Giants Top 50 Prospects: Preliminary List

It looks like the Hot Stove League season is going to be a long, drawn out marathon so we will get started on the annual Giants Top 50 Prospects list knowing some of the players may not be with the organization by the start of spring training due to late trades and other roster moves.  As we have done for several years we put out a preliminary list to get reader input and make sure we haven't made any major oversights which happens pretty much every year.  As always, once you get past the top 5 or so, don't get too hung up on exact order as it doesn't really matter and the main purpose of the exercise is getting better acquainted with the prospects in the organization.  

1.  Kyle Harrison LHP

2.  Marco Luciano SS

3.  Bryce Eldridge OF/RHP

4.  Walker Martin SS

5.  Rayner Arias OF

6.  Keaton Winn RHP

7.  Mason Black RHP

8.  Carson Whisenhunt LHP

9.  Trevor McDonald RHP

10.  Kai-Wei Teng RHP

11.  Hayden Birdsong RHP

12.  Joe Whitman LHP

13.  Reggie Crawford LHP/1B

14.  Tyler Fitzgerald SS/OF

15.  Wade Meckler OF

16.  Erik Miller LHP

17.  Carson Seymour RHP

18.  Landon Roupp RHP

19.  Aeverson Arteaga SS

20.  Grant McCray OF

21.  Diego Velasquez SS

22.  Vaun Brown OF

23.  Victor Bericoto OF/1B

24.  Zach Morgan C

25.  Adrian Sugastey C

26.  Onil Perez C

27.  Jack Choate LHP

28.  Hayden Wynja LHP

29.  Daniel Blair RHP

30.  Cole Foster SS

31.  Gerelmi Maldonado RHP

32.  Alix Hernandez RHP

33.  Maui Ahuna SS

34.  Quinn McDaniel 2B

35.  Thomas Szapucki LHP

36.  Juan Sanchez LHP

37.  Randy Rodriguez RHP

38.  Jose Cruz RHP

39.  Heliot Ramos OF

40.  TJ Hopkins OF

41.  Trenton Brooks OF/1B

42.  Nick Avila RHP

43.  Chris Wright LHP

44.  Manuel Mercedes RHP

45.  Scott Bandura OF

46.  Guillermo Williamson OF

47.  Elian Rayo 3B

48.  Cesar Quintas OF

49.  Ryan Reckley SS

50.  Ubert Mejias RHP 

Honorable Mention(in no particular order):  Dariel Lopez SS, Yusniel Diaz OF, John Bertrand LHP, Wil Jensen RHP, Tyler Myrick RHP, Evan Gates RHP, Michael Stryfeller RHP, Nick Zwack LHP, Logan Wyatt 1B, Ismael Munguia OF, Will Wilson SS, Seth Lonsway LHP, Carson Ragsdale RHP, Eric Silva RHP, Ty Weber RHP, Nick Sinacola RHP, Matt Mikulski LHP, Thomas Gavello C/IF, Damon Dues 2B, Andrew Kachel IF, Luis Toribio 3B, 1B, Jared Dupere OF, Jairo Pomares OF, Carter Howell OF, Nomar Medina LHP, Tyler Vogel RHP, Luke Shliger C, Javier Francisco IF, Charlie Szykowny IF, Justin Wishkoski 3B, Justin Bench OF, Tanner Hill OF, Alexander Suarez OF, Estanlin Cassiani OF, Samuel Reyes OF. Carlos Molina LHP, Christian Avendano RHP.

Dominican Dandies(in no particular order):  Moises De La Rosa OF, Keiberg Camacaro SS, Carlos Concepcion OF, Anyelo Gonzalez C, Carlos Gutierrez OF, Diego Villegas OF, Anthony Tandron SS, Dario Reynosis 3B, Angel Guzman OF, Lisbel Diaz OF, Jose Bello RHP, Carlos Rangel LHP, Brayan Cabello RHP, Jorge Martinez RHP, Jose Gonazalez RHP, Randry DeLeon RHP, Jose Rengel LHP.

Hot Stove League Update: The Big Fish Aren't Biting

 The starting pitcher market was expected to liquify after Yoshinobu Yamamoto RHP signed but instead quickly recongealed around Blake Snell LHP and Shoto Imanaga LHP.  Maybe the sheer size of YY's contract made the second tier guys re-evaluate their value and demand more?  Maybe GM's and POBO's are re-evaluating whether they want to shop at the top of the market at all?  

Jordan Montgomery LHP is probably the other second tier SP available but is market seems to lower key than Snell and Imanaga.  In addition potential trade candidates Corbin Burnes RHP and Dylan Cease RHP would qualify as at least second tier and maybe even top tier but their degree of availability remains unclear.  

The Giants priorities remain a top-end SP and possibly an additional lower tier SP like Sean Manaea LHP or bounceback candidate like Lucas Giolito RHP.

Meanwhile the utility/backup market remains brisk with the Blue Jays re-signing Kevin Kiermeier OF and Isaiah Kiner-Falefa IF.  Neither player hits much.  Kiermeier was once an elite OF defender but that skill may be slipping if you believe in Fangraphs UZR.  IKF's main defensive value comes from his versatility, a profile the Giants don't exactly have a need for.  

The Mariners replaced Tom Murphy C, who signed with the Giants, with a similar profile Mitch Garver C.  Garver may be a slightly better hitter than Murphy and has stayed healthier but the Mariners also paid him about 3 times as much as the Giants paid Murph.

The Giants are rumored to be close to signing Matt Chapman 3B but those rumors are not new and after awhile you wonder how close they really are.  While Chapman would be an upgrade at 3B, it's also true that 3B is not the Giants biggest Hot Stove need.

And so we wait........

Scouting the 2024 Draft: Vance Honeycutt

 Vance Honeycutt OF(College).  DOB:  5/17/2003.  B-R, T-R.  6'3", 205 lbs.

2022(North Carolina):  .296/.409/.672, 25 HR, 29 SB, 41 BB, 90 K, 303 PA.

2023(North Carolina):  .257/.418/.492, 12 HR, 19 SB, 49 BB, 51 K, 250 PA.

Tooled up athlete who starred as a QB and OF in HS.  More than enough speed and arm to play CF or RF with a power/speed threat at the plate.  Big question is hit tool.  Cut K rate in half from freshman to junior season but BA suffered.  Season ended early with back problems.  Double challenge in 2024 is to prove he can stay healthy and hit.  Drafted by Giants out of HS in round 2021 in round 20 but opted to go to college as do most late round HS draftees.  

Scouting the 2024 Draft: Charlie Condon

 Charlie Condon OF/1B(College).  DOB:  4/14/2003.  B-R, T-R.  6'6", 211 lbs.

2023(Georgia):  .386/.484/.800, 25 HR, 33 BB, 45 K, 254 PA. 

2023(CCL):  .261/.300, 348, HR, 3 BB, 4 K, 50 PA.  

The top of preseason draft boards is heavy on college power hitters with limited position flexibility.  Condon is a redshirt Sophomore who broke out last season after being lightly regarded out of HS.  Per MLB Pipeline, he maintains a short, quick swing despite his long levers.  May have enough arm to play RF but more of a 1B/LF profile.  

Merry Christmas!

 Merry Christmas, everybody!  Thank you for the greetings in the comments after the last post.  Just want to say I appreciate everybody who reads and comments on When The Giants Come To Town.  I know some of you have been reading since it all started in December of 2009. It's an incredible feeling to write something folks get enjoyment out of reading.

However you celebrate the holidays or even if you don't, I hope the season brings you happiness and peace.  And I think we all hope they will bring us an ace pitcher for the Giants!

Scouting the 2024 Draft: Jac Caglianone

 Jac Caglionone 1B/LHP(College).   DOB:  2/9/2000.  B-L, T-L.  6'5",  245 lbs.  

2022(Florida):  .289/.339/.548, 7 HR, 5 BB, 21 K, 115 PA.  

2023(Florida:  .323/.389/.738, 33 HR, 17 BB, 58 K, 319 PA.

2023(Florida):  7-4, 4.34, 74.2 IP, 6.6 BB/9, 10.5 K/9.

True 2-way college prospect with light-tower lefthanded power and a high 90's FB that hits 100+.  2023 was his first season back from Tommy John surgery and he struggled with command, though seemed to get better as the season progressed.  The FB is is best tool with 70 grade per MLB Pipeline.  His secondary pitches are all 50 grade including a 90 MPH cutter which has the potential to be a plus secondary pitch.  

At the plate, is a free-swinger who will swing outside the zone but keeps his K's in a manageable range while making plenty of hard contact.  

Most scouts like him better as a hitter than pitcher, but he has a true chance to be a 2-way player.  I could see him falling to the Giants at #13 if his predraft demands include an opportunity to play both ways.  Do we want to see the Giants draft 3 consecutive 2-way prospects in the first round?  Why not?

Hot Stove League Update: This Week's Sign the Apocalypse Is Upon Us

 Well, this isn't good!  So those meetings Yoshinobu Yamamoto requested with the Mets and Yankees?  Looks now like those might have been a misdirection play to get the Dodgers to up their offer which was reported to be in the $250 M range to a mind boggling 12 years/$325 M.  That brings the total amount of money the Dodgers have committed to around the Hot Stove to over $1.1 B, that's right, B stands for billion to just 3 players.  

Make no mistake, this one is the killer.  Ohtani is an incredibly expensive DH and Tyler Glasnow is an injury-prone pitcher.  Dodgers can have them.  I really had my heart set on Yamamoto being the centerpiece of the Giants Hot Stove League season.  Now, not only does that not happen but he goes to our bitter rivals and that is very tough to swallow.  On an intellectual level I'm thinking the success rate of mega-contracts for pitchers is extremely low, but on an emotional level, he was so perfect for what the Giants need to get to the next level.

So where does FZ and the Giants go now?  If they can get Blake Snell LHP they should sign him and another SP.  I'm thinking Marcus Stroman who seems to really like the Giants organization or another Japanese pitcher, Shoto Imanaga LHP.  There are also several pretty good pitchers reportedly on the trading block such as Corbin Burnes RHP, Shane Bieber RHP and Dylan Cease RHP.  There are a lot of really good lefty hitters in the NL West.  How about Snell and Imanaga?

Oh!  And F*** the Dodgers!