San Francisco Giants: Final 2019 Top 30 Prospects (20-11)

16. RHP Gregory Santos

Age: 20
Acquired: Trade (2017, via BOS)
Future Value: 40+ (grade down)
Stock: -5

Gregory Santos was a lottery ticket when the San Francisco Giants acquired him with Shaun Anderson from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Eduardo Nunez at the trade deadline in 2017.

While Anderson has worked himself onto the MLB roster, Santos still has the potential to end up being the bigger addition.

The 20-year-old has a mid-90s sinker and cutter that he pairs with a slider that also flashes plus. He began throwing a changeup for strikes this season and while it doesn’t project as more than an average pitch, it doesn’t need to be much more than that for him to succeed.

Control was a concern for Santos early in his career, but since joining the Giants, he’s trusted his stuff more. That has cut into his strikeout numbers, but it has also allowed him to work deeper into games with better results.

While he was viewed as a breakout candidate entering the season and performed well when healthy, he missed time early in the season with a shoulder strain and then returned to the injured list after just eight appearances.

An arm injury, especially a shoulder injury, create significant cause for concern. If he’s healthy next season, Santos is primed for a breakout, but a lot will depend on his health.