SF Giants prospects rundown 5/11: Drew Robinson goes deep

SF Giants Prospects Rundown 5/11: Low-A

San Jose Giants 5 at Stockton Ports 1
Performance of the Game: Ryan Murphy (4.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 11 K)

The most exceptional early-season outings from SF Giants pitching prospects have been monopolized by college draftees at San Jose thus far. In his second start of the year, 2020 fifth-round pick Ryan Murphy showed fans why they should not let his well below-slot $25,000 signing bonus distract them from his true prospect potential. After a season-opening start not too dissimilar from Long’s, allowing five runs alongside strong peripherals, Murphy dominated batters at the hitter-friendly confines in Stockton.

A first-inning walk could have spelled early trouble, but Oakland Athletics 2020 first-round pick Tyler Soderstrom ran into an out after a single, which kept Murphy out of any high-stress threat. He induced an inning-ending flyout and stranded a runner at third. Then, Murphy struck out nine of the next ten batters he faced (eight of the strikeouts were swinging). In the bottom of the fifth, Murphy induced a groundout and K’d one more batter before he hit his pitch count (70) and was removed from the game. He finished his outing with 11 strikeouts over 4.2 innings.

Offensively, the young bats in San Jose were happy to play in the more arid climate. Top outfield prospects Alexander Canario and Luis Matos each blasted their first home runs of the season, and last year’s second-round selection Casey Schmitt made sure Murphy was not the only player from the Giants 2020 draft class with a highlight-worthy moment, launching his second big fly of the season as well. Armani Smith went 2-4 and drove in the team’s only run not scored via a home run. No one else recorded multiple hits or an extra-base knock.

We’ll be back with looks at the SF Giants farm system throughout the minor-league season with daily rundowns on the entire organization’s minor-league affiliates.