Not only has he shown that he has one of the best bats in the system, he has shown great versatility in that he can pick it at the hot corner. His minor-league numbers this seasons are flat-out scary: .350, 20 HR, 96 RBI, and .913 OPS. That includes only 59 strikeouts in 489 plate appearances between High-A San Jose and Double-A Connecticut.
In 16 games with the Giants this season, Sandoval has hit .367 with one home run and four RBI. With Bengie Molina under contract through 2009 and Buster Posey waiting in the wings, it seems like Sandoval will find himself on one of the corners.
5. Tim Alderson, Starting Pitcher
With fellow 2007 first-round draftee Bumgarner getting all the headlines, Alderson has seemed to fly somewhat under the radar, as far as Giants pitching prospects go. He hasn’t been as dominant as Bumgarner, but his 2008 season has still been very productive.
His 13 wins were tied for second in the Cal League, while Alderson claimed the ERA title with a 2.79 mark. He also recorded the lowest WHIP among starters (1.09) and ranked fourth in strikeouts (124).
Alderson will begin next season at Double-A, just a few months after turning 20.
6. Nate Schierholtz, Outfield
The odd-man out in the Giants' youth movement this season, Schierholtz was sent to Triple-A Fresno to get everyday playing time instead just wasting away on the bench in the majors.
He certainly made his case for a job going into spring training next year, hitting .320 with 18 home runs and 73 RBI. His numbers are lower than usual because he missed almost the entire month of August while he was with the USA Olympic Team in Beijing.
Although he only hit .216 while wearing the stars and stripes, he was second on the team with six RBI and tied for the team lead with four doubles.
7. Nick Noonan, Second Base/Shortstop
After a strong first half of 2008, Noonan’s average his slipped a little bit as the season has come to an end. Despite the average falling a bit in the second half of the season, Noonan has had a very good follow-up campaign after impressing in 2007.
The 19-year-old, technically sound middle infielder finished the season with nine home runs, 68 RBI, and 29 stolen bases to go along with his .279 average. If Noonan improves on his plate discipline (98 strikeouts vs. 24 walks in 119 games) and therefore on-base percentage (.315), then he could quickly move up the organization’s ladder.
8. Rafael Rodriguez, Outfield
The 16-year-old Dominican outfielder signed for a then-club record $2.55 million back in July. The 6’5”, 198-pound Rodriguez has drawn raves from Giants executives and is expected to gain weight and add muscle to his already large frame as he gets older and progresses through the system. Much like Villalona, the Giants will take things slow with Rodriguez. He will make his professional debut in 2009.
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