SF Giants Top 31 Prospect Rankings: 2020 Midyear Update

SF Giants top prospects: No. 6 — LHP Seth Corry

Age: 21
Highest Level: Class-A (Augusta)
Acquired: Draft (2017)
Future-Value Grade: 45+

The previous scouting regime selected a trio of high school prospects at the top of the 2017 draft. All three—Heliot Ramos, Jacob Gonzalez, and Seth Corry—stalled during the 2018 season and some became concerned that the class could be a catastrophic bust.

While Gonzalez seems like a nonfactor moving forward, both Corry and Ramos had career years in 2019.

As a prep pitcher in Utah, Corry drew comparisons to a young Matt Moore. Back then, he was a two-pitch pitcher who worked off a 90-92 mph fastball and a curveball with advanced feel that projected as a plus pitch. He’s since added a changeup that proved pivotal in his 2019 success.

According to one industry source, Corry’s changeup generated a whiff rate of over 46% in 2019. That kind of effectiveness suggests it has the potential to be another above-average pitch. His fastball still sits in the low 90s, but it has an above-average spin rate and touches 95 mph occasionally. His curveball remains his best pitch, averaging over 2,600 rpms and generating whiffs on over 50 percent of swings against it in the South Atlantic League.

From the onset of his pro career, Corry has missed bats, striking out roughly a batter an inning at each level. However, he tended to walk roughly a batter an inning as well.

Last year, in his first full-season assignment, Corry got off to a start reminiscent of Kyle Crick’s minor league career. Into June, Corry had a great 2.58 ERA and accrued 69 strikeouts in just 45.1 innings, but he had also issued 36 walks. Then a mechanical adjustment allowed him to take off.

From the start of July to the end of the season, Corry made 11 starts. During that span, he posted a 0.99 ERA in 63.2 innings, struck out 86 and allowed just 16 free passes.

Corry has always had a better handle on his offspeed pitches than his fastball, which tends to be a better sign than the reverse. Still, there is a marked difference between control and command. Giants fans have become accustomed to pitching prospects like Andrew Suarez, Shaun Anderson, and Conner Menez showing low walk-rates in the minors that inflate at the major league level.

This season was expected to be pivotal for Corry’s prospect status. Maintaining his gains in control and taking another step forward with the development of his changeup could have moved him into most top 100 prospect lists by midseason. However, any regression would’ve called his strong finish in 2019 into question.

Corry will go as far as his control will take him. He has the stuff to be a solid mid-rotation arm or lefthanded setup option but finding consistent mechanics will be pivotal. As previously stated, the Giants prioritized bringing hitting prospects to the alternate site in Sacramento, so Corry will be working out on his own to keep progressing for whenever he returns to affiliate ball.