SF Giants prospects rundown 5/14: Will Wilson’s hot bat

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SF Giants, Will Wilson, SF Giants Prospects

SF Giants infielder Will Wilson (85) hits a three-run double against the Los Angeles Angels during a spring training game at Tempe Diablo Stadium. (Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports) /

SF Giants Prospects Rundown 5/14: High-A

Hillsboro Hops 1 at Eugene Emeralds 3
Performance of the Game: Nick Morreale (5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K)

Before getting into the game, Giants fans did get some bad prospect news from Eugene to start their Saturday.

Per source, Hunter Bishop, the #SFGiants first-round pick in 2019, has been out after experiencing a pain in his shoulder during an at-bat earlier this season. He was assigned to High-A Eugene, but has not appeared in a game since 5/6.
— Marc Delucchi (@maddelucchi) May 15, 2021

On the field Friday, it was another 2019 first-round pick, Will Wilson (15th-ranked prospect), who continued an impressive stretch of play on the field. Wilson finished the day 3-4 with a pair of doubles to continue his eight-game hitting streak to start the season. In 40 plate appearances on the season, Wilson is hitting a robust .424/.525/.818 with five doubles, a triple, and two home runs. After a relatively disappointing professional debut in 2019, Wilson is answering any questions about his ability to adjust to pro ball.

Otherwise, Sean Roby (24th-ranked prospect) was the only other Emerald hitter to record multiple hits, mashing his third home run of the season. Roby has always had plus power potential but struggled to have it play in games without seeing his strikeouts spike. Thus far in 2021, though, he’s showing the ability to hit for power without tanking the rest of his offensive production.

Sean Roby absolutely tanked one last night off the 18th overall pick in '20 draft and one of best arms in the college class, Duke's Bryce Jarvis, who was throwing high 90s throughout. Roby's 3rd of year. pic.twitter.com/7SSWIKbeCj
— Roger Munter (@rog61) May 15, 2021

On the mound, Nick Morreale, the Giants 14th-round pick in the 2019 MLB draft out of Georgetown, had an impressive start, surrendering just two hits over five innings with nine strikeouts and zero walks. Morreale has a powerful 6’5”-220 lbs frame working primarily off a low-90s fastball that has reached the mid-90s on occasion. Like Caleb Kilian, many saw Morreale moving to the bullpen as a professional, but so far in 2021, they both are showing far more potential. While it may not play at higher levels, it remains a great sign.

Out of the pen, Taylor Rashi, Ryan Walker, and Jose Marte combined to allow just one unearned run in four innings of work (Rashi went two), each striking out two while surrendering a pair of hits. Marte has been a different pitcher since his move to the bullpen this season. In three appearances, he’s struck out nine over 4.1 shutout innings without yielding a walk. At 24, the Giants player development team could put him on the fast track to the upper minors.

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