There was a point in time, not too long ago, where a San Francisco Giants Top Prospects list was rather boring. That’s putting it nicely too. But over the last few years, the Giants have done a superb job stockpiling this farm system through the draft and the international market, and now have a system that is very exciting at the top. Overall, this system is hitter heavy, but there are some intriguing arms throughout, including two from the 2020 draft class.
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San Francisco Giants Top Prospects For Dynasty Leagues
1. Marco Luciano, SS
We start off this top-20 with a top-5 overall dynasty prospect in Marco Luciano. Since everyone is probably nose-deep in their FYPDs, let me ask you a question. What if you were able to draft Spencer Torkelson but if he had average to above-average speed? You’d then have Luciano. You could make the argument that Luciano has a top-3 hit/power combination in the minors. And the scary part is that he’s still only 19 years old and still developing/improving.
After the Giants signed him for $2.6 million in 2018, Luciano was assigned to the Arizona League in 2019 and terrorized the league until his late-season callup to the short-season Single-A Northwest League. In 38 games in rookie ball, Luciano slashed .322/.438/.616 with nine doubles, 10 dingers, eight steals, and a 15.2% walk rate. Yeah, he was too good for the Arizona League.
Marco Luciano reached base twice vs the Rockies, including this 0-1 HR (119 EV). pic.twitter.com/EgxJ41g0FR
— SFGProspects (@SFGProspects) November 1, 2020
As for the tools, hot damn. Luciano projects as a plus hitter with double-plus power thanks to his raw strength, bat speed, and natural loft in his swing. Go ahead and try to find other 60-hit, 70-power prospects in the minors. You won’t find many. Luciano’s ability to drive the ball with authority to all fields is ridiculous for his age and his ability to cover the entire zone makes him a difficult out. He’s also a slightly above-average runner that has the ability to add 12-15 steals to a high average and 30+ homers as well. It remains to be seen if he’ll stick at shortstop, but .280+/30+/10+ will play at every single position on the diamond.
2. Hunter Bishop, OF
The next four on this list are all extremely close, but I’m quite high on Hunter Bishop and believe he offers the best combination of ceiling and floor of this quartet. And if you’re in an OBP dynasty league, it’s a no-brainer to have Bishop #2 in this system. After a lackluster first two seasons at Arizona State, Bishop broke out in a big way in 2019, posting a .342/.479/.748 line with 22 homers, 12 steals, and a 17.9% walk rate in 57 games. That assault, minus the average, carried over into the minors as Bishop recorded five homers, eight steals, and a ridiculous 26.0% walk rate across 32 games which allowed him to get on base at a .438 clip despite his .229 average.
That paragraph sums up Bishop pretty damn well. The contact skills are fringe average, and he’ll likely never be more than a .260 hitter or so, but Bishop’s high walk rate makes him an asset in OBP formats as he can easily post a .375+ OBP year in and year out. Bishop has also shown plus power and above-average speed from his strong and athletic 6’5/210 frame with good bat speed and natural loft due to his swing path. He exhibited this power and speed in the video below where he recorded a 111 mph exit velocity and flew around the bases for a triple. Bishop is a legit 25+ homer, 15+ steal threat in the making that could flirt with a .400 OBP. Go get this guy!
Hunter Bishop tripled (111 EV) to CF yesterday vs Arizona. pic.twitter.com/6PpIhgj3at
— SFGProspects (@SFGProspects) November 5, 2020
3. Joey Bart, C
The MLB debut of Joey Bart in 2020 didn’t quite go according to plan. The powerful backstop struggled mightily and is still looking for his first home run 33 games later. A lackluster .233/.288/.320 slash line, 2.7% walk rate, and 36.9% strikeout rate accompanied that home run goose egg. Yeah, not good. But hey, the silver lining here is that his struggles have opened a solid buy-low window in dynasty leagues.
Bart might not have the same hit tool as Adley Rutschman or even close, but the power is similar and easily grades as plus long-term with the upside for 25-plus homers annually. While the swing can get a tad long at times, Bart has shown good bat speed with a swing path geared for driving the ball in the air. If Bart can clean up his approach and become a bit more patient, he has the upside to develop into a top-5 fantasy catcher. Following his sluggish MLB debut, now is a great time to trade for him in dynasty leagues as his value might never be lower. Expect him back up sometime midseason.
4. Luis Matos, OF
One of the trendy names in the prospect world lately is Luis Matos. The toolsy Venezuelan outfielder broke onto the scene in 2019, slashing a robust .367/.438/.566 across 290 plate appearances with 25 doubles, seven home runs, and 21 steals in 24 attempts with a 10.7% strikeout rate. The first thing that probably sticks out there is the 21 steals. Matos is highly athletic with plus or better speed and was very efficient on the bases in 2019. Now, rookie ball catchers usually aren’t overly advanced defensively, so take the 87.5% success rate with a grain of salt, but it’s certainly a positive start.
In the 11/2 game at Chase Field, Luis Matos went 1/2 with this HR (101 EV). pic.twitter.com/zyQ7preF9l
— SFGProspects (@SFGProspects) November 5, 2020
At the plate, Matos is just as potent as he is on the bases. His pre-pitch setup is quiet leading up to an explosive swing with plus bat speed and good torque/rotation. He sometimes appears to be “swinging out of his shoes” though, something that might need to be simplified and cleaned up over time. Matos has shown above-average contact skills and has produced some impressive exit velocities already. There’s average to above-average raw power here as well that could tick up to 55/60 range as he matures physically. All the tools are here for a standout offensive outfielder that can make a strong impact across the board.
5. Heliot Ramos, OF
Here is a prospect that has never really struggled. I’m giving him a major pass for his 2018 showing as an 18-year old facing much more advanced competition in the Single-A South Atlantic League. Outside of that season, Ramos hit .348 in 2017 and slashed .290/.369/.481 in 2019 between Class-A Advanced and Double-A. Depending on where you look, Ramos might be as high as 2nd in this system behind Luciano. Obviously, I’m not quite that high on him, but the tools and upside are definitely intriguing for fantasy purposes.
From the right side, Ramos has exhibited plus raw power with a slight uppercut swing path. Although, he’s been a bit groundball happy as a pro so far. An increased launch angle could unlock 25-homer power in Ramos’ bat with his power and bat speed. Long-term, I believe Ramos’ power will be his best asset, but he also grades as an average to an above-average hitter with around average speed as well. But with that said, he’s going to need to ciut down on the strikeouts which have been above 25% in all three seasons. At peak, we could be looking at a .270-.280 hitter with around 25 homers and 5-10 steals annually.
6. Alexander Canario, OF
Before his shoulder surgery, Alexander Canario was a name firmly on the rise in dynasty leagues. In 170 professional games, the 6’1 Dominican outfielder has combined for 77 extra-base hits, 27 home runs, and 30 steals with a .291/.377/.505 slash line. As with Ramos, power leads the way for Canario. There’s easy plus raw power already and Canario still has room on his frame to add a bit more bulk. However, after major shoulder surgery, it’s going to be interesting to see where his power stands when he’s back in action. As we’ve seen time and time again, shoulder injuries can hinder a player’s power.
Outside of his power, Canario is around an average hitter with average speed as well. Don’t let those 30 steals in 170 games fool you into thinking he has plus speed. He doesn’t. Canario might be a tick above-average now but will likely wind up around average down the road with the ability to add around 10-12 steals annually. One thing I’d like to see improve once he’s back in action is the approach. Once Canario advanced past rookie ball, the strikeout rate ballooned to 32.4%. If he can clean up the approach a bit, the upside is here for him to develop into a 50-hit, 60-power, 50-speed corner outfielder.
7. Luis Toribio, 3B
We now reach the section of these rankings where there’s a significant drop-off. And that’s nothing against the next few on this list either. While most of the top guys in this system are outfielders, Luis Toribio doesn’t have to battle with them for playing time at the hot corner. In fact, his path to playing time at 3rd base is fairly clear and he could take over for Evan Longoria in 2023 or 2024. Toribio is one of the better pure hitters in this system. He’s shown above-average contact skills with great pitch recognition that has led to an 18.8% walk rate and 23.2% strikeout rate so far.
Is he being too selective though? Toribio isn’t a big power threat, but there’s at least average to above-average raw power in his bat and I wonder if his selectiveness has limited that power in games. If he’s a bit more aggressive and hunts out his pitches while still showing patience in laying off pitches outside the zone, I think Toribio could take that next step in developing into a 55-hit, 55-power hitter at the hot corner. Don’t expect much speed from him though, but 5-10 steals annually is fair.
8. Jairo Pomares, OF
When it comes to Jairo Pomares, he was a mixed bag in his 2019 debut after coming stateside from Cuba. Pomares displayed good contact skills and kept his strikeouts in check at 18.8%, albeit, with only a 4.8% walk rate. However, the power and speed was lacking and Pomares finished with only three homers and five steals in 51 games.
The lower power/speed ceiling really limits Pomares long-term potential for fantasy and keeps him a tier below the names we talked about above. I fully expect Pomares to hit for a solid average as he’s shown above-average contact skills and can spray the ball to all field. But the swing path is mostly linear and Pomares has average raw power at best with slightly above-average speed. At best, we’re probably talking 10-15 homers and mid-teens for steals.
9. Will Wilson, SS
Literally nothing stands out about Will Wilson. But that’s okay. Wilson is a well-rounded all-around talent that can do a little of everything without hurting you in any one area. These players deserve some prospect love too. Wilson came to the Giants system via trade from the Angels back in 2019, so he hasn’t even had his first PA with San Francisco yet.
The profile starts with an average to slightly above-average hit tool with solid bat speed and an all-fields approach. There’s also above-average raw power with a slight uppercut swing path that could lead to some 20-homer seasons down the road. Don’t expect much speed at all though with Wilson who is a below-average runner and has swiped only 4 bags in 175 games between the minors and NC State. Wilson is advanced enough to move quickly, but the lack of a higher ceiling doesn’t make him stand out for fantasy purposes.
10. Seth Corry, LHP
We finally make it to the first pitcher on this list! In a system low on intriguing pitching prospects, Seth Corry is the best of the bunch. Most in the industry even have him higher than I do. A former 3rd round pick back in 2017, Corry really started garnering more hype following his impressive 2019 showing in the Single-A South Atlantic League. Corry posted a stellar 1.76 ERA and 33.9% strikeout rate along with a 1.07 WHIP, but once again, the walk rate was high at 11.4%. That’s actually an improvement though as his career walk rate was 14.8% entering the 2019 season.
In his first game action, LHP Seth Corry was up to 94 in a scoreless inning yesterday. pic.twitter.com/PVAtWKxYpe
— SFGProspects (@SFGProspects) October 29, 2020
That’s the reason why I’ve been hesitant to rank Corry higher. The arsenal is impressive with a four-seam fastball and two-seam fastball in the low to mid-90’s along with a plus curveball and improving changeup that flashes above-average with solid movement, but Corry is below-average in both the command and control departments. As mentioned, he showed improvement there in 2019, but I want to see further improvements before bumping him too high.
11. Patrick Bailey, C
It might be a little surprising to see a 1st round pick (13th overall) this low on his own team’s list. But with Patrick Bailey, he 100% falls into the “better in real life than fantasy” category as he’s more valuable for what he can do defensively behind the plate rather than what he can do standing beside it in the batter’s box.
Bailey is an above-average defender with a strong arm, attributes that should keep him behind the plate longterm, but offensively, I’m not sure he’s more than 50-hit, 50-power at best. And once you factor in that Oracle Park has predominantly been a pitcher’s park, that makes Bailey’s long-term offensive outlook appear even less appealing. The floor is solid here and he’s far from a zero offensively, but .260/15 is likely his ceiling. Not sure he’s more than a 2-C league or deeper league option.
12. Javier Francisco, SS
Sometimes prospect comps get out of control. Case in point, I’ve seen Javier Francisco compared to Fernando Tatis Jr. But while that might be egregious, it does speak to the excitement surrounding Francisco. It’s hard to put grades on these types of prospects as there’s not much video of them to go off of, but from what I have seen from Francisco, I’m confident in the following. First off, Francisco has plenty of projection on his 6’2 frame and has already flashed solid raw power with quick hands and good bat speed. There also looks to be above-average speed and athleticism as well. Francisco is one I’m going to be intrigued to see in game action, hopefully, later in 2021.
13. Nick Swiney, LHP
Nick Swiney is one of the more interesting prospects on this list and likely one that most are sleeping on. After being used almost exclusively as a reliever in his first two seasons at NC State, Swiney was converted to the rotation in 2020 and dominated in four starts before the pandemic shut down the NCAA season. In those four starts, Swiney recorded a 1.29 ERA, 0.68 WHIP, 6.1 BB%, and 42.4 K%. That performance vaulted him up into the 2nd round of the 2020 MLB draft.
With Swiney, the fastball velocity doesn’t stand out, usually sitting in the 89-92 mph range, but he’s shown an above-average curveball and his changeup now is a plus offering with good velocity separation, fade, and drop. It’s all going to be about how well he can command those pitches, especially his fastball since he’s not going to blow anyone away with velocity. Dropping his walk rate considerably in 2020 is encouraging, but remember, it was just four starts. If Swiney’s command and control can tick up permanently, he could develop into a solid #4 starter in the Majors.
14. Kyle Harrison, LHP
Another 2020 draftee, Kyle Harrison was selected in the 3rd round but received an over-slot bonus of a hair under $2.5 million. It’s easy to see why too. Harrison is a projectable 6’2 left-hander with a strong and athletic frame and an enticing three-pitch mix. All three of Harrison’s offerings (FB/CB/CH) have flashed above-average or better and his fastball velocity has ticked up since the draft.
The Giants select Kyle Harrison, a lefthander from De La Salle (Calif.) HS with the 85th pick. Here’s his full scouting report: https://t.co/PgtA5xf36R pic.twitter.com/cSfENsN8Rs
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) June 11, 2020
When digging into Harrison, I was really digging his curveball that features a big sweeping break thanks to his lower release point in his delivery. Harrison has also shown advanced command and control for his age as well with great extension in his delivery. The building blocks are in place for Harrison to develop into a mid-rotation arm and potentially the best arm to come out of this current system.
15. Victor Bericoto, 1B
Every single time I see Victor Bericoto’s name, the Heart song “Barracuda” gets stuck in my head. That’s not a bad thing though as Barracuda is a great tune and Ann Wilson is one of the best vocalists of all time. But we didn’t come here to talk about my love of rock music. While Bericoto is limited to a first base or corner outfield role, his offensive upside could allow him to fit just fine.
We only have 60 games to go off of, but those 60 games sure were impressive. Bericoto slashed .337/.458/.470 with a 17.3% walk rate and 20.3% strikeout rate while adding five homers and 13 steals. Those steals are a bit misleading, but Bericoto’s potency and patience at the plate could allow him to developm into a hitter that posts a good AVG/OBP with some pop as well. But for now, he has a groundball and pull-heavy approach that will need to be adjusted moving forward.
16. Casey Schmitt, 3B
Casey Schmitt was a two-way player at San Diego State University, playing third base and pitching out of their bullpen, but I’m not sure how much he’s going to pitch moving forward. This ranking is solely due to his offensive potential. As a hitter, Schmitt has shown around average contact skills with above-average power and a swing with a slight uppercut swing path. He didn’t show a ton of in-game power in college, but he could be a 20-homer bat in time with a respectable average. This isn’t a player I’m crazy about in dynasty leagues, but he could beat Toribio to the Majors and provide some low-end value.
17. Jaylin Davis, OF
There are a million different ways the back-end of this Giants list could go. As there aren’t any clear-cut selections in the last five, I aimed to include players with one standout quality that could provide value. With Jaylin Davis, that tool is his plus or better power. Davis flexed that power in 2019, smashing 35 homers, but was also aided a bit by the PCL where he cranked 10 in 27 games. Power is basically the only thing Davis has going for him as the hit tool is below average and he’s going to be overtaken by all the high-upside outfielders we discussed at the beginning of this piece. He probably has a year or so before that happens, so Davis might just wind up being a bench bat or organizational depth piece. He’s also almost 27.
18. Gregory Santos, RHP
Honestly, Gregory Santos almost didn’t make this list. Why? Well, there’s a good chance he winds up as a reliever, and I’m not certain he has closer potential. While the walk rate has improved over the last two seasons, Santos has shown below-average command and just doesn’t miss many bats, even with an above-average to plus fastball and slider. Santos has recorded an 18.1% strikeout rate for his career and only exceeded 20% back in 2018. With a fringe changeup, below-average command, and his inability to miss bats consistently, Santos projects more as a middle reliever to me.
19. Jimmy Glowenke, SS
If you like good hit tools, Jimmy Glowenke will pique your interest. But if low power/speed types turn you off, the previous sentence becomes moot. As a three-year starter at Dallas Baptist University, Glowenke combined to hit .340 in 139 games, including a .415 mark in his 13 games this past spring before the season was shut down and also hit .296 in the Cape Cod League in 2019. He also displayed an advanced plate approach, posting a 10.5% walk rate and 11.9% strikeout rate. But outside of that, Glowenke’s profile isn’t very appealing with fringe-average raw power at best and below-average speed. While he could be a .280 type of hitter, I’m not seeing more than 10-12 HR and 5-8 steals to go with that.
20. Sean Hjelle, RHP
If Sean Hjelle was 6’2 instead of 6’11, I wonder if he gets as much love as he does in prospect circles. Probably not. Despite his size, Hjelle doesn’t have the overpowering fastball you probably expect to see. He usually sits in the low-90’s with solid life and will mix in an average or above-average curveball and changeup that both flash 55 due to Hjelle’s above-average command and control. That command and control are really Hjelle’s top qualities. He’s done a great job limiting the free passes, walking batters at a low 5.8% clip, but the stuff isn’t overly exciting. Hjelle looks like a back-end starter or middle reliever to me.
Honorable Mention
Diego Rincones OF | Kai-Wei Teng RHP | Luis Alexander Basabe OF | Sandro Fabian OF | Grant McCray OF | Blake Rivera RHP | Trevor McDonald RHP | Aeverson Arteaga SS | Logan Wyatt 1B | Franklin Labour OF
Media Credit: Chris Clegg, SFG Prospects, Baseball America
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