SF Giants prospects rundown 5/6: Heliot Ramos swinging for call-up

SF Giants Prospects Rundown 5/6: Double-A

Hartford Yard Goats 6 at Richmond Flying Squirrels 12
Performance of the Game: Heliot Ramos (3-4, 2B, HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, BB, K)

2018 Giants second-round pick Sean Hjelle made his 2021 debut and got off to a strong start, striking out four and surrendering just a hit and a walk over his first two innings. Then, in the bottom of the second, Hjelle came to the plate with the bases loaded, worked an impressive seven-pitch plate appearance that culminated in a two-RBI single. Heliot Ramos followed Hjelle with a three-run home run, and the Flying Squirrels never looked back.

However, Hjelle was far from the same pitcher when he retook the mound, allowing a pair of home runs in the next half-inning before falling apart in the fourth. Ultimately, he finished his start with seven strikeouts over 3.2 innings, allowing five hits, six runs (four earned), three walks, and three home runs.

Back to Ramos’ home run, though. Not only did he showcase impressive opposite-field power for his second homer in as many days, but the Flying Squirrels also showed off a hilarious celebration. When Ramos returned to the dugout, someone was waiting with a University of Massachusetts football helmet that he donned in the dugout (Flying Squirrels hitting coach Doug Clark attended UMass).

Ramos finished the day a triple short of the cycle alongside a walk. Three games into the Double-A season, the 2017 first-round pick has struck out in five of his 14 plate appearances, but he’s already blasted two home runs and has posted a .462/.500/1.000 triple-slash. Given how well Ramos excelled at big-league camp and the alternate site, it was already a bit surprising to see him begin the year a level below Triple-A. So far, Ramos is continuing to make a case for an express ticket to Sacramento.

Aside from Ramos, David Villar blasted his first home run of the young season. Andy Sugilio, an intriguing minor-league free agent signing away from the Cincinnati Reds organization, scored a pair of runs and drove in one on a pair of singles. Minor-league Rule 5 selection Vince Fernandez also went 3-4 with an RBI, walk, and a strikeout.

Out of the bullpen, Matt Seelinger, Frank Rubio, and Joey Marciano through a dominant 4.1 innings with seven strikeouts. Marciano’s stuff took a step back in his second inning of work and was pulled with two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth for Pat Ruotolo, who struck out the only batter he faced to shut things down.

SF Giants Prospects Rundown 5/6: High-A

Eugene Emeralds 8 at Spokane 4
Performance of the Game: Logan Wyatt (2-2, 2 R, RBI, 3 BB)

Seth Corry was easily the most exciting pitching prospect in the Giants organization heading into 2020. In his lone season at Class-A Augusta, Corry struck out 172 batters in just 122.2 innings pitched, recording a 1.76 ERA as a 20-year-old. Kyle Harrison has taken a lot of Corry’s luster, but that could change quickly if Corry shows the improved command necessary to utilize his intriguing three-pitch mix.

In his first appearance at High-A, Corry was far from his sharpest self. While an Ismael Munguia throwing error only made things worse, the 2017 third-round selection walked five batters and surrendered five hits in just 2.1 innings of work. Naturally, with that much congestion on the basepaths, four runners crossed the plate (two earned). Corry did show off some of his swing-and-miss stuff, striking out three. Quickly behind, manager Dennis Pelfrey handed the ball over to five different relievers who kept the Emeralds within striking distance, allowing just three baserunners and striking out 14 in 7.2 shutout innings.

Diego Rincones and Hunter Bishop drove in the Emeralds’ first two runs with doubles, but the team trailed until Patrick Bailey tied the game in the top of the ninth inning. Then, in the tenth inning, the offense finally exploded, with Rincones and Munguia each going deep, rounding out another impressive all-around offensive performance. In each of Eugene’s first three games, every offensive starter has recorded a hit or walk.

2019 second-round pick Logan Wyatt has picked up exactly where he last left off in the minors. The unique first baseman had easily the best strike-zone awareness of any player throughout his college career at Louisville. Still, many wondered if he would ever consistently generate much power. Thus far in 2021, Wyatt has hilariously mimicked the extremes of his scouting report, walking six times in 15 plate appearances while knocking five hits, but none for extra bases.

SF Giants Prospects Rundown 5/6: Class-A

Fresno Grizzlies 2 at San Jose Giants 1
Performance of the Game: Carson Ragsdale (5 IP, H, BB, 0 R, 7 K)

As the Giants big-league bullpen has struggled and Sam Coonrod has excelled in Philadelphia, some fans may be lamenting the righty’s departure. However, after Carson Ragsdale-the prospect acquired for Coonrod-made his professional debut with San Jose, he might have alleviated some of those longings for Coonrod.

A fourth-round pick out of the University of South Florida in last year’s draft, Ragsdale dominated Fresno hitters through five innings of work, becoming the first Giants prospect to complete five innings this year. Ragsdale allowed just one hit and walk while striking out seven and showcasing his 90-94 mph fastball, which has seemed to play beyond its velocity throughout his career, and intriguing breaking ball.

He also got a huge help from left fielder Armani Smith, who made an impressive defensive play against the wall.

At the plate, though, San Jose continued to show its youth. Luis Matos struck out three times and failed to reach base. It has been a tough start to the season for the Venezuelan, who has just one hit in 13 plate appearances. Alexander Canario, the lone SJ Giant off to a hot start at the plate, did go 1-3 with a walk. Brett Auerbach, a nondrafted free-agent signing last year out of Alabama with unique defensive versatility, was the lone hitter to record multiple hits, scoring the team’s lone run alongside a pair of singles and a walk.

Without any room for error, the bullpen had a tall task at hand. Austin Reich completed a pair of shutout innings, but Randy Rodriguez was unable to match that feat, blowing a save opportunity in the top of the ninth inning and ultimately took the loss.

All four of the organization’s full-season affiliates are once again scheduled to take the field tomorrow. We’ll be back with looks at the SF Giants farm system throughout the minor-league season.