Down on the Farm: San Francisco Giants Minor League Weekly Roundup 5/11

“Down On The Farm” will be a Sunday weekly recap of all the San Francisco Giants Minor League affiliates. Here is the rundown of the standings, highlights, and prospects from the Giants’ farm system.

Fresno Grizzlies (Triple-A ) 18-19, 4th in Pacific Coast League Pacific Southern

February 20, 2013; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants infielder

(81) poses for a picture during photo day at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Adam Duvall (3B) was a favorite to bring up to the majors with the injury to Brandon Belt this weekend. He hit another home run tonight, putting him at the top of the PCL with 12 long balls so far this season. This was also his sixth homer in his last seven games.

Joe Panik (2B, the Giants’ No. 5 prospect prior to the 2014 season) has also been having an excellent year so far. In 139 at bats, he has a .324 batting average with one HR and 22 RBIs. He was also named PCL Player of the Week on May 5.

Individual stats (batting):

The pitching staff  is currently ranked second in ERA in the PCL. Here are individual stats (pitching):

Jason Berken is one of best starting pitching at Triple-A so far this season. He is 5-1 with a 2.57 ERA in 42 innings pitched for the Grizzlies. Berken is a RHP that has played in the majors with the Orioles and most recently with the Cubs in 2012. He spent the 2013 season with the White Sox minor league affiliate. The Giants inked him to a minor league contract back in November 2013.

Chris Heston (3-2, 3.80 ERA) is also having a break-out season for the Grizzlies. The right-handed starting pitcher was originally drafted by the Giants in the 12th round of the 2009 MLB June Amateur Draft from East Carolina University.

Edwin Escobar (1-3, 4.89 ERA) was named the Giants’ No. 10 prospect entering the 2014 season. He was originally acquired by the Giants from the Rangers in exchange for pitcher Ben Snyder, April 1, 2010. He was favored to be the #5 starter if Vogelsong didn’t perform up to par but looks like Escobar is having a few struggles himself at the start of 2014. 

Heath Hembree (0-1, 2.77 ERA) is the Grizzlies’ closer this season and has seven saves in 14 games in Fresno. I’m hoping we see him brought up again later this season.

Richmond Flying Squirrels (Double-A) 18-15, 2nd in the Eastern League Western 

Tyler Graham (OF) has been having a standout season for the Flying Squirrels and currently has the highest batting average on the team with .329. He also has a lot of speed on the bases and also leads the team with 15 total stolen bases in 18 attempts. The 30 year-old was originally drafted by the Giants in 2006, then released in May 2012. He  re-signed as a free agent with the Giants again in January 2014 with an invite to Spring Training.

Jarrett Parker (OF) is also having an excellent season, batting .276 with 3 HRs, 4 triples, 6 doubles and 32 hits.

Angel Villalona (1B) is struggling with a .252 batting average and 33 strikeouts in 115 at bats.

Individual stats (batting):

The Dog Pound is tearing it up in Richmond this season, Clayton Blackburn (2-3, 2.78 ERA) and Cody Hall (1-1, 4,26 ERA, 2 S) are doing well out east.

Derek Law (1-0, 2.51 ERA) is the standout pitcher on the team. He’s the closer for the Flying Squirrels and also has 8 saves in 14.1 innings pitched.

Individual stats (pitching):

San Jose Giants (Class A-Advanced) 15-22, 4th place in California League North

Mac Williamson (RF/DH) underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on April 29 and will be out for the rest of the season. He was batting .318 for the Giants with three home runs in 85 at bats. Williamson was the Giants’ third-round pick in 2012 and was ranked as the Giants’ No. 5 prospect over the winter.

Jesus Galindo (CF) leads the Giants in batting average at .319, HRs with Mitch Delfino (3B) right behind him at .312. Delfino leads the team in home runs with seven so far this season.

Individual stats (batting):

Individual stats (pitching):

Augusta Greenjackets (Class-A) 15-20, 5th place in South Atlantic League Southern

Christian Arroyo has had a slow start in Augusta this year but hit his first home run of the year on May 9. He’s batting only .203 but we’re likely to see this number go up from the Giants 2013 1st round pick. He’s one of the youngest players in the league at 19 years-old.

Individual stats (batting):

Individual stats (pitching):

The Salem Keizer Volcanoes (Class A- Short Season) begin their season on Friday, June 13 at Volcanoes Stadium, Field of Dreams Way NE in Salem, OR.