San Francisco Giants: Midseason Top 30 Prospects (Nos. 30-21)

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SCOTTSDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 20: Chris Shaw #79 of the San Francisco Giants poses on photo day during MLB Spring Training at Scottsdale Stadium on February 20, 2018 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

30. OF Chris Shaw

Age: 25
Current Level: Triple-A
Acquired: Draft (2015, Supplemental 1st Round)
Future Value: 35+

Ever since the San Francisco Giants drafted Shaw back in 2015, the scouting reports have remained pretty constant. Shaw’s massive 6’3”, 230-pound frame generates plus power, but the hit tool has always been a question. He’s not a very good athlete, so he’s limited to first base and left field defensively. He’s improved with the glove, but is still below-average at first and merely playable in left.

This season, Shaw lost a numbers game and was demoted all the way to Double-A to start the year. He did what he should have done against weaker competition, mashing, walking, and cutting his strikeout rate. Since being promoted back to Triple-A, he’s continued most of the positive trends, although not to the same degree.

If Shaw can contain the strikeouts and maintain his progress in walks, he could be a solid everyday player, but I’m still skeptical. The fact is, his defensive limitations mean his bat will have to justify his roster spot, and I’ve just been left hanging too many times waiting on guys with power who can’t consistently tap into it against upper-level competition.