San Francisco Giants: 10 Prospects That Fans Can't Wait to See in the Bigs

Just because Zach Wheeler is no longer in the San Francisco Giants' farm system—thanks, Brian Sabean—that doesn't mean it has completely run dry of talent.

Everyone is talking about Gary Brown, the center fielder of the future, and rightly so. There aren't many holes in Brown's game, and it's not every day that the Giants have a top-prospect who is not a pitcher.

But there is talent outside of just Brown, even though he is widely recognized as the only sure-thing prospect in the system. And even his label as a sure-thing isn't as certain as say, Buster Posey, when he was the Giants' top prospect in 2010.

Nonetheless, here's a list of the Top 10 prospects that Giants fans should be excited to see in the big leagues.

Note: This list will only include players who have yet to see any action in the major leagues.

10. Angel Villalona

You remember him?

It has already been five years since the San Francisco Giants signed the 16-year-old phenom to a $2.1 million contract. Scouts were raving about his potential, and some even stated that he was further along in his development than perennial All-Stars like Vladimir Guerrero and Bobby Abreu when they were 16 years old.

But after being arrested in 2009 for the murder of a 25-year-old man in a Dominican Republic nightclub, Angel Villalona has missed the past two seasons and jeopardized his future in MLB.

However, Andrew Baggarly reported that Villalona has been taken off the restricted list and is now awaiting word on a U.S. work visa.

Giants VP Bobby Evans stated that the club is not anticipating any problems, so Villalona was placed on the 40-man roster back in November of 2011.

But should Villalona still be considered a top prospect in the Giants' farm system?

Before his arrest, Villalona wasn't performing up to his potential. He had an abysmal 235/42 K/BB ratio over his first three professional seasons, and his lack of conditioning should be somewhat alarming.

However, he is still only 21 years old and has plenty of time to recapture his talents on the baseball field.

9. Chris Dominguez

Chris Dominguez has the most raw power of any prospect in the organization.

In 2011, Dominguez hit 11 home runs and drove in 40 while playing for the San Jose Giants (Single-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants).

Dominguez's power shouldn't come as a surprise either, as he stands 6'3" and weighs 215 pounds. He'll look even bigger than that if you see him play in person. It truly looks like he's a man playing among boys.

But there are a few things that stand in Dominguez's way.

First of all, he does have a lot of holes in his swing. He is a dead pull hitter who has trouble catching up to fastballs that travel upwards of 90 MPH. Couple that with his inability to adjust to breaking pitches, and you have a batter who will get eaten alive by power pitchers at any level.

Second of all, he is 25 years old already. Dominguez would be a highly-touted prospect if he was 19 years old, but that is simply not the case. He has a lot of maturing to do at the plate, and isn't getting any younger.

Lastly, Pablo Sandoval is the third baseman of the present, as well as the future for the Giants. He is the same age as Dominguez, but has already proven himself to be one of the premier sluggers in baseball. Connor Gillaspie is also playing third base in Triple-A Fresno, so he's another potential roadblock in Dominguez's journey to the major leagues.

But Dominguez's power is still something to covet. The Giants might use him as trade bait down the road.

8. Ehire Adrianza

Ehire Adrianza is considered to be the best defensive infielder in the Giants' farm system. He has a wiry frame (6'2", 165 pounds), and displays great range at the shortstop position.

The general consensus is that he can be a plus-defender in the MLB, but the big question is his ability to hit.

He has virtually no power, but could develop some if he can find a way to fill out his frame. He is only 165 pounds, after all. But don't hold your breath, either.

Scouts have also said that he has poor strike-zone judgement, and his pitch recognition isn't that sharp either.

One thing that is standing in Adrianza's way is Brandon Crawford. He is equally as nifty with the glove, and is slated to be the starting shortstop on Opening Day for the San Francisco Giants. Plus, Crawford has already displayed excellent pitch selection at the plate, which is something that Adrianza has yet to establish.

But anytime the Giants have an exceptional fielding shortstop in the farm system, it automatically deems him a top prospect within the organization.

7. Andrew Susac

Andrew Susac was projected to be a first-round pick in the 2011 MLB draft, but a wrist injury late in the college season allowed him to slip to the Giants in the second round.

Susac displays promising power and could end up being a 20-plus home run guy annually in the big leagues. He is also an exceptional defensive catcher with an above-average arm.

Scouts have said that his long swing will prevent him from hitting for a high average in the major leagues, but this video seems to contradict that statement. His swing is actually quite short, and he does a fine job staying inside the ball and punching some line drives to the right side.

He also uses a high leg kick to generate power, and puts excellent backspin on the ball in order to lift it over the fence.

I love Susac's potential, and could easily see him being the starting backstop for the San Francisco Giants somewhere down the road. That will all depend on whether or not Buster Posey makes the move to another position in order to prolong his career.

6. Kyle Crick

Now that Zach Wheeler is nothing more than a distant memory—at least that's how I would like to think of it—Kyle Crick is considered to be the best starting pitching prospect in the Giants' farm system.

The Texas native is a prototypical power pitcher with a fastball that travels somewhere within the 92-95 MPH range. It has also touched 98 MPH, but don't expect him to be throwing that fast on a consistent basis.

He has a big frame (6'4", 220 pounds), and a smooth delivery for a pitcher of his stature. He also has a plus-slider with movement, but that's about all that Crick has in his arsenal of pitches.

He's extremely raw to put it simply. He lacks the confidence to throw his secondary pitches, but that will come in time. He is 20 years old, after all.

He is also more of a thrower than a pitcher, but that is also something that many pitchers don't address even a few years into their major league careers.

Some scouts are drooling over Crick's potential.

As John Kilma stated, "Kyle Crick is going to go good if I know anything. Not sure how you would find something not to like in this look."

It makes you wonder if a pitcher like Crick gave the Giants' management the confidence to deal Wheeler before the trade deadline in 2011.

5. Tommy Joseph

The San Francisco Giants' farm system is oozing with talent at the catcher position. On top of Susac and Tommy Joseph, Hector Sanchez has already had a cup of coffee at the major league level.

And oh yeah, there's also that Buster Posey kid. Barring a position change later on in his career, he'll be the catcher for the Giants for at least the next decade.

However, Joseph is one of the Giants' top prospects down in the farm. He could have the most raw power of any Giants prospect, but others believe the nod should go to Chris Dominguez.

Joseph's power emerged in 2011, as he smacked 22 home runs and 33 doubles in only 127 games.

He also isn't too shabby behind the plate. His defense improved so much so that he was crowned the best defensive catcher in the California league by Baseball America. His 37 percent caught stealing percentage was also an impressive statistic.

One thing he needs to work on—like the rest of the Giants' prospects—is his walk-to-strikeout ratio. He only walked 29 times last season, but struck out 102.

Joseph is certainly one of the Giants' top prospects, but since first base and catcher have an abundance of young talent throughout the organization, there won't be much room for him to make an impact anytime soon.

4. Joe Panik

Joe Panik is a professional hitter, who could be the most major league ready prospect in the Giants' farm system.

While he won't be hitting for a lot of power, he is a prototypical gap hitter who can spray the ball all over the field. His had a triple slash of .341/.401/.467 for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes last season.

His patience at the plate could be his greatest virtue. He's not afraid to work a count and look for his pitch, but some scouts believe it to be one of his faults. Panik can be too selective at times, but that's nothing that some coaching can't fix.

Where he will fit in defensively, however, is the burning question. He certainly has the glove to be a shortstop in the major leagues, but his range makes him better suited for second base. His arm strength is decent, but it'll be considered a below-average arm if he plays shortstop.

I think he can play shortstop if need be, but I believe he'll take Freddy Sanchez's spot at second base once his contract is up after the 2012 season. I think the Giants are planning on the same thing as well.

If he continues to hit in the minor leagues, no matter which level, don't be surprised to see Panik in the major leagues come September.

3. Francisco Peguero

There is no doubting that Francisco Peguero has all the tools to become a star in the major leagues.

He can hit for average, steal 30-plus bases a year, has tremendous bat speed, has good range in center field and has a cannon for an arm. Scouts also believe that his power should continue to develop.

However, no one really knows how to rate a prospect such as Peguero. He possesses all of the tools, but also has horrendous plate discipline. He walked only five times in 296 at bats in Double-A Richmond, which is certainly an alarming stat.

Scouts fear that once he makes it to the major leagues, he's never going to see a hittable ball until he learns how to be more selective at the plate.

Sure, you can look at players like Pablo Sandoval and Vladimir Guerrero, who have proven that aggressive hitters can thrive in this league. Peguero did only strike out only 45 times in those 296 at bats last season.

However, players like Sandoval and Guerrero, who have that kind of approach and hit for a high average, are few and far between.

Even though his lack of discipline at the plate is worrisome, Peguero does have the potential to be an everyday starter for the Giants one day. He has too much raw talent for Giants fans not to be excited about him.

2. Heath Hembree

Fastball, fastball and then another fastball to finish off the hitter.

This video of Heath Hembree striking out the side with nothing but fastballs was one of the most dominant sequences I have ever seen.

Ladies and gentleman, you are looking at the pitcher who will be taking Brian Wilson's job within the next two years.

Listen to his statistics in High-A ball: 0.73 ERA, 24.2 innings pitched, 12 walks, 44 strikeouts and 21 saves. Those are jaw-dropping numbers at any level in baseball, especially his 44 strikeouts in 24.2 innings pitched.

He has a fastball that travels upwards of 95-96 MPH, but it is quite straight. He'll need to develop a cutter of some sort, much like Brain Wilson did earlier in his career. It's all about becoming a pitcher, rather than just a thrower.

How Hembree is able to progress through the minor league ranks is also something to keep an eye on. He accumulated a 2.83 ERA with a 34/14 strikeout-to-walk ratio once he moved up to Double-A Richmond last season, so that is certainly an encouraging sign.

I really like what I have seen from Hembree. If he continues to do what he did in 2011, he'll be in the big leagues in no time.

1. Gary Brown

He might not be any Buster Posey or Tim Lincecum, but Giants fans should be very excited to see Gary Brown in the major leagues.

They won't have to wait long either.

Here's the plan: Angel Pagan is the stopgap who will play center field during the 2012 season. Then once Brown is ready to make the jump to the major leagues, the job of patrolling the spacious grounds in AT&T Park will be his for the next 10 years.

It really is that simple, especially for a player like Brown. He's unlike any prospect that the Giants have ever had before. He will be the first homegrown leadoff hitter that the Giants had had since, well, I don't even know.

Let's put it this way: The Giants haven't had a player steal over 30 bases in a season since 1997. Gary Brown stole 53 with the San Jose Giants in 2011. It's safe to say that it's been a while since the Giants have had a legitimate leadoff hitter who can swipe bases with ease.

Not only are scouts saying that he's one of the fastest, if not the fastest player in the minor leagues, but he can hit as well. He hit .336 with 14 home runs, 13 triples and 80 RBI last season.

Oh yeah, did I mention that Brown has the potential to cover as much ground in center field as Andres Torres did in 2010-2011? As a Giants fan, you have to appreciate that.

However, if you have to knock Brown on anything, it would be his inability to work a count and draw walks. He only walked 46 times last season in 638 plate appearances, which simply won't cut it at the leadoff spot.

But that's a misleading stat because Brown only struck out 77 times. He simply puts the ball in play and utilizes his blazing speed to put the pressure on the defense.

It will be very interesting to see how he adjusts to the pitching in Double-A ball next season. He won't be able to rely on natural talent to be a successful hitter.

If Brown learns how to work a count and be more selective, he could be a star in the making.