San Francisco Giants: Stock Up, Stock Down for Top 10 Prospects for Week 19

In the beginning of the season, the San Francisco Giants were hitting well while struggling to find consistent starting pitching. Since the All-Star break, the Giants have been pitching much better, but they're struggling to score runs.

The Giants have a 3.38 ERA since the break. Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain have gotten back on track, and Ryan Vogelsong threw well in his first start back from the disabled list. Unfortunately, the Giants are tied for last in runs scored during that stretch.

The rotation looked like it was going to be the biggest issue for general manager Brian Sabean to address this winter. It now appears that Sabean will have to focus more on upgrading an offense that is 27th in the league in runs scored.

The Giants don't have any position players in its farm system who are likely to help in 2014. Outfielder Roger Kieschnick has hit just .265/.286/.265 in 34 at-bats since coming up from Triple-A Fresno.

In an ideal world, 2010 first-round pick Gary Brown would have been the replacement in center field when Angel Pagan went down in late May. However, Brown has had a tough year in Fresno, hitting just .230.

Let's take a look at how Brown and the rest of the Giants' top ten prospects did during the season's 19th week.

All statistics are courtesy of MiLB.com and Baseball-Reference.com.

1. Kyle Crick

2013 Stats at High-A San Jose: 11 GS, 1-1 W-L, 1.78 ERA, 32 BB, 69 K, 50.2 IP

 

Overview

Kyle Crick continued to struggle with his control last week. He walked five in five innings of work to raise his seasonal total to 32 in 50.2 innings pitched.

His walk rate of 5.7 per nine innings pitched (BB/9) is far too high. He put up a walk ratio of 5.4 BB/9 last year at Low-A Augusta.

Crick has overpowering stuff, including a fastball that tops out at 97 mph. However, he hasn't yet learned how to consistently attack the strike zone. He'll need to improve his control to reach his ceiling as a top-of-the-rotation starter for the Giants.

Last Week: 1 GS, 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 5 K

Stock: Even

2. Clayton Blackburn

2013 Stats at High-A San Jose: 20 GS, 7-5, 3.62 ERA, 28 BB, 119 K, 117 IP

 

Overview

Clayton Blackburn continued to pitch well at High-A San Jose. He allowed three unearned runs, four hits and a walk over six innings of work while striking out four.

Blackburn has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six straight starts. Over his last 10 starts, he's posted a 2.80 ERA.

Blackburn is a polished prospect with above-average control. However, he lacks the premium fastball velocity that Crick possesses. Thus, Blackburn will likely end up as a No. 3 or 4 starter in the big leagues.

Last Week: 1 GS, 6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Stock: Up

3. Chris Stratton

2013 Stats at Low-A Augusta: 19 GS, 8-3, 3.11 ERA, 41 BB, 114 K, 113 IP

 

Overview

Like Blackburn, Chris Stratton is on a roll lately. He's had four straight starts in which he's allowed one earned run or less. He allowed a solo home run and nothing more over 6.2 innings last week.

The Giants used their first round pick on Stratton last season. According to Baseball America, he's a four-pitch guy with a 91-93 mph fastball that tops out at 95.

Stratton has had a solid first season in the Giants' system. He's posted a 3.11 ERA while striking out over a batter per inning. His last four starts have been among his best on the year.

Stratton will turn 23 later this month, so the Giants will have to start getting aggressive with him in the near future. If he finishes this season strong perhaps the Giants will consider moving him up two levels to Double-A in 2014.

Last Week: 1 GS, 6.2 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K 

Stock: Up

4. Edwin Escobar

2013 Stats at High-A San Jose: 16 GP, 3-4, 2.89 ERA, 17 BB, 92 K, 74.2 IP

2013 Stats with Double-A Richmond: 6 GS, 3-3, 3.09 ERA, 6 BB, 36 K, 35 IP

 

Overview

Last week, Edwin Escobar had his worst start since being promoted to Double-A Richmond. He allowed eight hits and five runs over four innings of work. His ERA shot up from 2.32 to 3.09.

Even with the poor start last week, Escobar is still having an incredible year. The 21-year-old lefty has posted a cumulative 2.95 ERA and an exceptional 5.57 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Escobar features a fastball that tops out at 95 mph, a slider, a curve and a changeup. He has an intriguing combination of stuff and control that should make him the first of the Giants' top starting pitching prospects to reach the big leagues.

Last Week: 1 GS, 4 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Stock: Down

5. Andrew Susac

2013 Stats at Double-A Richmond: .256/.362/.458, .820 OPS, 17 2B, 12 HR

 

Overview

Andrew Susac remains on the disabled list with a shoulder impingement (h/t Jon Laaser, the radio broadcaster for Richmond). Before the shoulder issue, Susac spent time on the disabled list with a hand injury.

Prior to the injuries, Susac had established himself as the top hitting prospect in the system with his outstanding combination of patience and power.

Unfortunately, injuries are nothing new for Susac. He was available in the second round of the 2011 draft because of a broken hamate bone that derailed his final season at Oregon State.

Last Week: Did not play.

Stock: Even

6. Joe Panik

2013 Stats at Double-A Richmond: .266/.341/.360, .701 OPS, 24 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR

 

Overview

Joe Panik hit is fourth home run of the season and walked three more times last week. He's walked and struck out 50 times each in 514 plate appearances this season.

Panik is hitting .341/.391/.439 over his last 10 games compared to his seasonal line of .264/.340/.359. He's hit safely in eight of those contests. If he can translate what he's done over the past week-plus to the big leagues, he'll be a solid everyday player.

Since he doesn't have a lot of power, he's going to have to hit close to .300 to keep his on-base and slugging percentages at acceptable levels.

Last Week: 9-for-25, 3 BB, HR 

Stock: Up

7. Martin Agosta

2013 Stats at Low-A Augusta:  15 GS, 8-3, 2.03 ERA, 34 BB, 97 K, 79.2 IP

 

Overview

Martin Agosta has made just two starts since June 22 due to injuries. He hit the disabled list at the end of June with a dead arm. Then, a blister issue forced him to the disabled list two separate times after he recovered from the arm injury.

Agosta, the Giants' second-round pick last year, has struck out 97 in 79.2 innings of work this season. He's posted a 2.03 ERA, and opponents are hitting only .178 against him.

Last Week: Did not pitch 

Stock: Even

8. Heath Hembree

2013 Stats at Triple-A Fresno: 47 GP, 1-3, 4.15 ERA, 15 BB, 58 K, 47.2 IP, 26 Saves 

 

Overview

After the Giants' bullpen allowed seven runs over two innings on Sunday to turn a close game into a blowout, perhaps Heath Hembree will get more attention from the brass.

He's saved 26 games for Fresno this season. Over his last 10 games, he's struck out 11 hitters in nine innings while notching seven saves.

According to Baseball America, Hembree features a 93-96 mph fastball and an 82-85 mph slider. The Giants don't have enough guys who can miss bats in the late innings right now. Perhaps Hembree can come up and give the bullpen a jolt before the end of the season.

Last Week: 1 GP, 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K 

Stock: Up

9. Mac Williamson

2013 Stats at High-A San Jose: .276/.358/.473, .831 OPS, 24 2B, 2 3B, 20 HR

Overview

Mac Williamson launched two doubles and a home run last week. He's now blasted 46 extra-base hits in 446 at-bats this year.

The 6'5", 240-pound Williamson has the most power of any prospect in the system. The Giants used their third-round pick on him last season.

Williamson is similar to Roger Kieschnick in a lot of ways. Kieschnick, who also came up as a right fielder, hit .296/.345/.532 with 23 home runs at High-A San Jose in 2009 after the Giants used their third-round pick on him the year before.

Kieschnick then hit just .254/.307/.409 over two seasons at the Double-A level. Williamson will have to prove that he can handle the tougher competition of the upper minors to establish himself as the right fielder of the future for the Giants.

Last Week: 6-for-23, 2 2B, 2 BB, HR 

Stock: Even

10. Gary Brown

2013 Stats at Triple-A Fresno: .230/.289/.388, .677 OPS, 26 2B, 6 3B, 12 HR

 

Overview

Gary Brown continued to slump last week at Triple-A Fresno. He went just 1-for-17 with a walk and eight more strikeouts. He's now struck out 115 times in 469 at-bats this season.

Brown's strikeout rate is 22.1 percent this year, and his batting average is down to .230. He struck out just 12.1 percent of the time two years ago while hitting .336. Last year at Double-A, he hit .279 while striking out in 14.3 percent of his plate appearances.

Brown has started to make less contact as he's advanced up the chain, and his batting average has gone in the tank. The Giants used their first-round pick on Brown in 2010 after he hit .438 and struck out only 12 times at Cal State Fullerton.

Brown has to figure out how to get the bat on the ball more to tap into his excellent speed. He'll turn 25 next month, so he's suddenly in a race against the clock.

Last Week: 1-for-17, BB

Stock: Down

Honorable Mention

Here are some other notable prospects to keep an eye on:

• Ty Blach has struck out 109 against only 15 walks for San Jose.

• Kendry Flores has posted a 2.81 ERA while striking out 115 over 121.2 innings at Low-A Augusta.

• Christian Arroyo is hitting .284/.357/.433 through his first 32 professional games after the Giants used their 2013 first-round pick on him.

• After getting roughed up in his return to the big leagues, Eric Surkamp has allowed just three earned runs in 21 innings at Fresno.

• Michael Kickham hasn't allowed an earned run over 14 innings spanning his last two starts for Fresno.