Stock Up, Stock Down for the San Francisco Giants' Top 10 Prospects in Week 1
The San Francisco Giants have not received enough credit for developing major league talent through their minor league system.
In the past few years, Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, Joe Panik, Brandon Crawford and the recently departed Pablo Sandoval all came up through San Francisco's farm system. In addition, utility infielder Matt Duffy looks like he will play an important role in 2015.
The development of the Giants pitchers has also been very good. Madison Bumgarner, Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Sergio Romo all came up through the organization.
Chris Heston, a starter who was recently promoted due to Cain's setback, has fared well in his first two starts and could become a fixture in the rotation.
The minor league season is now underway, so let's take a look at the Giants' top 10 prospects and see how they are progressing.
No. 10: Mac Williamson, Outfielder
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Mac Williamson is one of the few Giants prospects with big-time power potential. In 2013, he blasted 25 home runs and 89 RBI while playing in San Jose.
2014 was largely a wasted year for Williamson, as he had Tommy John surgery on his elbow.
Currently a right fielder, we could see Williamson move to left field or first base at some point in his career. The Giants already have Hunter Pence in right, so Williamson will likely need to find another position if he hopes to make it to San Francisco.
Williamson has been promoted to Richmond to begin the 2015 campaign. He has eight hits in 24 at-bats for an average of .333, including three doubles. His OBP is .429, with an OPS of .887.
The Giants will watch Williamson carefully to see how well he's able to throw the ball and if his power returns. If he passes these tests, he could be in line for a promotion to Sacramento before the year is out.
Stock is up for Mac Williamson.
No. 9: Adalberto Mejia, Starting Pitcher
2 of 10Adalberto Mejia was progressing rapidly through the Giants' farm system. In 2014, at the age of 21, he had already reached the Double-A level.
Unfortunately, we will have to wait to see Mejia in 2015. As Alex Pavlovic of the San Jose Mercury News reported, Mejia was suspended by Major League Baseball: "MLB suspended Giants lefty Adalberto Mejia 50 games for testing positive for banned stimulant. One of their best pitching prospects."
Although a temporary setback for Mejia and the Giants, he will have over half a season to prove himself and continue to improve.
Stock is way down for Adalberto Mejia.
No. 8: Hunter Strickland, Relief Pitcher
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Hunter Strickland was a September call-up. After a stellar month, where he helped the Giants make the playoffs, Strickland struggled in the postseason.
In September, Strickland appeared in nine games, throwing seven innings without allowing a run. Unfortunately, he was not nearly as effective in the postseason.
The hitters made adjustments and sat on his fastball, which had high velocity but not a lot of movement. They essentially ignored his slider and changeup, as Strickland had trouble throwing those pitches for strikes consistently.
In the postseason, Strickland threw 8.1 innings and allowed nine hits, six of which were home runs. His ERA for the postseason was 7.56, and it was clear that Strickland was rattled and had lost confidence.
The Giants opted to send Strickland down to Sacramento to open the season and give him more time to work on his slider, changeup and his overall command.
The move has paid off thus far, as Strickland has appeared in four games, throwing 4.2 innings without allowing a run. He has given up only one hit and one walk while striking out five. Strickland is off to a good start, which will help him build confidence and regain his swagger.
Like Steven Okert, it would not be a surprise to see Strickland in San Francisco at some point this season.
Stock is up for Hunter Strickland.
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No. 7: Keury Mella, Starting Pitcher
4 of 10Keury Mella is 21 years old and possesses a fastball in the mid to upper 90s. However, he has some work to do on his mechanics, which will help him gain consistency and alleviate any undue stress on his arm.
Mella is now pitching in San Jose, the Giants' High-A affiliate. In his first outing, Mella worked four innings, allowing one run on five hits. What was most impressive was that he struck out seven batters without walking anyone.
Mella's best pitch is his fastball, and he will need to improve his off-speed pitches in order to continue to progress. Still two or three years away, Mella has the type of power fastball, with velocity and movement, that the Giants covet.
Wilson Karaman provided this firsthand report on Mella, on Minor League Ball.
Stock is up for Keury Mella.
No. 6: Steven Okert, Relief Pitcher
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One of the fastest movers through the Giants' minor league system is left-handed reliever Steven Okert. In 2014, he began the season in San Jose and was promoted to Richmond around the middle of the year.
His combined effort at San Jose and Richmond was outstanding. He threw a total of 68.1 innings and allowed 57 hits and 22 walks while striking out 92. The better than 4-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio is impressive. His ERA was a strong 2.11, to go along with a WHIP of 1.16.
Okert was given the opportunity to play in the prestigious Arizona Fall League following the 2014 season. He excelled against many of baseball's top prospects, who also played in the AFL.
In 12 innings of work, Okert allowed only one earned run for an ERA of 0.75. He gave up only five hits, while walking one and striking out 17.
Okert was dominant and has earned a promotion to Sacramento, the Giants' Triple-A affiliate.
In his first three games with the River Cats, Okert has thrown 4.1 innings, allowed four hits and two walks, while striking out seven. His ERA of 2.08 is quite good, and he has a WHIP of 1.385.
Look for Okert to make his major league debut at some point in 2015. With Javier Lopez approaching his 38th birthday and Jeremy Affeldt almost 37 years of age, Okert is the heir apparent to the Giants' left-handed reliever role.
Stock is up for Steven Okert.
No. 5: Kyle Crick, Starting Pitcher
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Kyle Crick was a supplemental first-round pick, No. 49 overall, of the Giants, back in 2011. At one point, he was the top pitching prospect in the Giants' organization.
While the Giants certainly have not given up on him, a major concern is that Crick has not been able to harness his big arm and throw strikes consistently. Crick pitched in Richmond last year and once again will open the 2015 season at the Double-A level.
In 2014, Crick threw 90 innings and allowed 78 hits, but he walked 61. He did strikeout 111 batters, but the high walk total is a red flag. Crick's ERA was 3.80 and his WHIP 1.54. If he hopes to make the jump to Triple-A this year, he must prove he can have better command of his pitches.
In Crick's first start of the 2015 season, he lasted only four innings, walking four hitters. He struck out four and allowed only two hits and one run. Nevertheless, the walk total must improve.
The Giants like Crick's live arm, but unless he can improve his control, he could be used as trade bait if the Giants need to make any acquisitions at the trade deadline.
Stock is down for Kyle Crick.
No. 4: Christian Arroyo, Infielder
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Christian Arroyo played shortstop in high school before signing with the Giants in 2013. He was the 25th overall player selected in the amateur draft that year.
Arroyo has been working at both second base and shortstop, but what the Giants like most about him is his offensive potential.
He is off to an excellent start at the Giants' High-A affiliate in San Jose. Over his first seven games, in 28 at-bats, Arroyo is hitting .321, with an OBP of .367 and OPS of 1.045. He has two home runs and four doubles in his nine hits.
If the Giants continue to employ stopgap measures at third base over the next couple of years, it would not be far-fetched to see Arroyo move over to third base.
A pretty fair shortstop by the name of Matt Williams was moved to third base by the Giants, and he blossomed and became a star. The same could be true for Arroyo.
Stock is up for Christian Arroyo.
No. 3: Ty Blach, Starting Pitcher
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In a recent radio interview on KNBR 680, the Giants' flagship radio station, Bobby Evans, who was recently promoted to general manager, was asked which of the Giants' young pitchers appeared to be the closest to making the jump to the majors.
While thoughts of Kyle Crick, Clayton Blackburn and Chris Stratton crossed my mind, Evans singled out Ty Blach.
Blach had a solid season in 2014, pitching for the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the Giants' Double-A affiliate. In 141 innings, Blach allowed 142 hits and 39 walks, striking out 91. He had an ERA of 3.13 and a WHIP of 1.284.
Blach's performance in 2014 earned him a promotion to Sacramento in 2015. He has already gotten off to a good start at the Triple-A level. In his first start with the River Cats, Blach hurled seven strong innings, allowing two earned runs. He gave up eight hits with no walks and struck out four.
With a little more seasoning, we could see Blach in the majors later this season or as a September call-up. Looking ahead, Blach is definitely part of the future for the Giants.
Stock is up for Ty Blach.
No. 2: Tyler Beede, Starting Pitcher
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Tyler Beede was the 14th overall pick in the 2014 draft. He opened the 2015 season in San Jose, the Giants' High-A affiliate.
Following the draft, Grant Brisbee of the McCoveyChronicles filed this report (via MLB.com).
Beede has made two starts already this year, working 9.1 innings and allowing 10 hits and two walks while striking out five. The two walks over nine innings of work is a positive sign, as throwing strikes is a must for any pitcher to advance.
Beede has an ERA of 3.86 and a WHIP of 1.29 over his first two outings.
While still a couple of years away, Beede has the potential to be a middle-of-the-rotation starting pitcher.
Stock is up for Tyler Beede.
No. 1: Andrew Susac, Catcher
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Andrew Susac is the Giants' top position player prospect. He had an excellent chance to make the Opening Day roster, but a nagging wrist injury set him back
Susac opened the season in Sacramento, the Giants' Triple-A affiliate. This past Sunday, Susac was hit on his right hand by a foul ball and missed three games. He seems to have fully recovered and was back in the lineup this past Wednesday.
Susac has not gotten off to a fast start, but the good news is he avoided a serious hand injury. He is currently hitting .250.
It is still way too early to turn negative on Susac, and you can expect him to be back in San Francisco at some point this season.
Stock is neutral for Andrew Susac.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.
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