San Francisco Giants: Luis Castillo and the ones that got away
Honorable Mentions
Before we dive into the top five, here’s a quick look at a few other players who have become solid contributors elsewhere after starting their pro careers in the San Francisco Giants organization:
Hitters
- IF Ehire Adrianza, Minnesota Twins
- IF Charlie Culberson, Atlanta Braves
- 3B Matt Duffy, Tampa Bay Rays
- OF Adam Duvall, Atlanta Braves
Adrianza and Culberson would both fill the utility infield role currently occupied by recent call-up Donovan Solano, and both players might push a struggling Joe Panik for playing time at second base.
Duffy is currently on the disabled list and he has yet to make his 2019 debut. Still, the Giants would no doubt love to have that trade back. He was a 2.4 WAR player last season and still has team control through 2020.
Duvall enjoyed a pair of 30-homer seasons with the Reds before he was traded to the Braves. He’s currently playing in Triple-A, where he’s raking to the tune of a .999 OPS with nine home runs and 24 RBI in 33 games.
Pitchers
- RP Joe Biagini, Toronto Blue Jays
- RP Heath Hembree, Boston Red Sox
- RP Francisco Liriano, Pittsburgh Pirates
- SP Adalberto Mejia, Minnesota Twins
- RP Dan Otero, Cleveland Indians
Hembree was traded to Boston in the Jake Peavy deal, Mejia was sent to Minnesota in the Eduardo Nunez trade, and Liriano was sent back all the way back in 2003 as part of the infamous A.J. Pierzynski trade.
Biagini was snagged by the Blue Jays in the 2015 Rule 5 draft and Otero was claimed off waivers by the Yankees 2013.
All have gone on to provide positive value with their new clubs.