San Francisco Giants Prospect Peek: Top Five Hitting Prospects Thus Far in 2011
The San Francisco Giants have become the envy of baseball for their young, homegrown talent --- homegrown talent that led the franchise to its first world championship in 56 years in 2010.
In order for the Giants to build a championship dynasty in San Francisco, the youth movement that began with Tim Lincecum, Pablo Sandoval, and Buster Posey will have to continue to prosper.
The organization has been cultivating more talent in its farm system, and here is a look at the top five hitting prospects thus far in 2011.
5. Conor Gillaspie
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Conor Gillaspie was selected by the Giants in the first round of the 2008 amateur draft.
Gillaspie is hitting .291 with 3 home runs and 29 RBI in 49 games so far in 2011 for Triple-A Fresno.
Since Gillaspie is a third baseman, he may not see much playing time at the big league level any time soon because Pablo Sandoval is at that position. But with the Giants' needs changing seemingly day-by-day so far this season, anything's possible for Gillaspie's immediate future.
4. Hector Sanchez
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With the Giants in need of a catcher who can hit, it's a shame that Hector Sanchez is still a couple of years away.
Sanchez is currently hitting .293 with 8 home runs and 40 RBI in 37 games so far this season for Single-A San Jose.
With the way this kid is hitting, the Giants could have to add a third Sanchez to the big league roster pretty soon.
3. Thomas Neal
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San Francisco drafted Thomas Neal in the 36th round of the 2005 amateur draft.
Neal has progressed extremely well over the past couple of seasons. In Single-A with San Jose in 2009, Neal hit .337 with 22 home runs and 90 RBI in 129 games. His on-base percentage that season was .431, and he had an OPS of a whopping 1.010.
In 2010, Neal was promoted to Double-A, and hit .290 with 12 home runs and 69 RBI for Richmond.
After being promoted again, this time to Triple-A Fresno, Neal is currently hitting .350 with 2 home runs and 9 RBI in his first 18 games for the Grizzlies.
Neal has progressed very steadily, proving he can hit at all levels of the farm system. We may be seeing him at AT&T Park next season, if not sooner.
2. Brett Pill
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Brett Pill passed on the New York Yankees when they selected him in the 2005 amateur draft, and the Giants drafted him the following year.
And San Francisco is sure glad that Pill waited that extra year to sign.
Pill is tearing up Triple-A pitching, currently hitting .304 with 9 home runs and 40 RBI in 51 games for Fresno so far this year. Before being promoted to Fresno in 2010, Pill hit .298, belting 19 home runs and driving in 109 runs in Double-A with Connecticut.
Though another phenomenal first baseman is already with the Giants in Brandon Belt, don't be surprised if Brett Pill is added to the roster very soon.
1. Gary Brown
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Perhaps the most impressive performance by a Giants position player prospect this season has been from center fielder Gary Brown.
Brown, who was selected by San Francisco in the first round of the 2010 amateur draft, his currently hitting a red-hot .374 with 5 home runs and 39 RBI in 50 games for San Jose.
The 22-year-old is one of the brightest of many young stars in the Giants farm system.
The Future Looks Bright in San Francisco
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With the crop of talent scheduled to come out of the Giants' farm system over the next three years, San Francisco can look forward to continued success fueled by young, vibrant talent for many seasons to come.
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