San Francisco Giants: Midseason Top 30 Prospects (Nos. 20-11)

12. OF P.J. Hilson

Age: 18
Current Level: Arizona Rookie League
Acquired: Draft (2018, 6th Round)
Future-Value Grade: 40+

Hilson is the perfect example of a player that is valued far more by scouts than by the casual observer.

In 236 career plate appearances in rookie ball, Hilson is hitting .190 with 89 strikeouts. He was a raw prospect when the San Francisco Giants signed him away from an Alabama commitment, and that remains the case over a year later.

Hilson was the quintessential pop-up prospect coming out of high school. He showed off his incredible toolset on the showcase circuit and even with his lack of polish teams got excited.

Hilson has a 70-grade arm, 70-grade speed, and is a tremendous athlete. In fact, Baseball America gave him the crown of best athlete, best arm, and fastest player in the entire San Francisco Giants system last year, less than six months after he signed.

That kind of combination would make a star if his hit tool develops. Of course, no tool outside of raw power is harder to develop than a hit tool. There is a 98th percentile outcome where Hilson becomes a transcendent star, while the 65th percentile outcome probably doesn’t reach Triple-A.

If Hilson does reach the majors, the most likely scenario is that he does it as a below-average hitter who adds enough value defensively and on the basepaths to earn a roster spot. In other words, an ideal fourth outfielder who could start in a pinch.

In reality, talking about Hilson’s major league outcomes is silly. He’s still so far away and so much can change between now and then that it’s all just guesswork. At the moment, he is a mystery box of tools and inexperience that the Giants hope they can shape into a productive player.