SF Giants pitching prospects week in review (6/13-6/19)

Make sure to revisit our weekly SF Giants prospect rundowns to keep up with each of the organization’s minor-league affiliates. If you do not feel well acclimated to the prospects throughout the farm system, you might want to revisit our prospect week articles that detailed the system from the top prospects to lower-level fringes. If you’re just interested in the biggest names, then the preseason SF Giants top 31 prospects list is the one-stop-shop for you.

SF Giants Prospects Weekly Rundown: Triple-A

Notable Performers
Matt Frisbee: 1 G, 1 GS, 4.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 5.79 ERA
Kervin Castro: 2 G, 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 0.00 ERA
Camilo Doval: 1 G, 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 5.40 ERA

Matt Frisbee was once again hit hard in his start this week against Salt Lake. He only allowed three earned runs but could have been four if not for this spectacular home run robbery by Jaylin Davis.

Frisbee has not been as sharp in Sacramento as he was with Richmond, posting a 7.36 ERA for the River Cats. His strikeouts have gone down drastically with only an 11.4% K rate across three starts at Triple-A. The strikeouts should come back as he never had a strikeout rate below 25% in his pro career before getting called up to Sacramento.

Kervin Castro has settled in this month, with a solid 3.00 ERA in six innings with seven strikeouts and four walks. His stuff looked crisper and was throwing strikes. Both Gregory Santos and Camilo Doval have pitched better as well this week. Both continue to look to get their feet under them. This week looked like a step in the right direction. Stin, none have gone as far to make a push for an opportunity to work in high-leverage situations for the Giants quite yet.

SF Giants Prospects Weekly Rundown: Double-A

Notable Performers
Caleb Kilian: 1 G, 1 GS, 7 IP, 6 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 9 K, 3.86 ERA
Michael Plassmeyer: 1 G, 1 GS, 4.2 IP, 10 H, 7 R (7 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 13.50 ERA
R.J. Dabovich: 2 G, 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 6 K, 9.00 ERA
Joey Marciano: 1 G, 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0.00 ERA

In his first three Double-A starts, Caleb Kilian was pitching effectively but was not producing the strikeouts that he was recording in bunches when he was in Eugene. In his lone start last week, however, Kilian finally brought out the punchouts, amassing nine in seven innings of work. He induced 13 whiffs, which is almost the same number of whiffs in his first three Double-A starts combined (14). His curveball showed up and his fastball was sitting in the mid-90s.

Last week was also the organizational debut of Michael Plassmeyer who was acquired from the Rays for Matt Wisler. He was not greeted happily by the Somerset hitters, however, as they pounced on him and scored seven runs. Known for his control over stuff as he features a four-pitch mix, he should fare much better in his next start for Richmond.

Top reliever prospect R.J. Dabovich gave up his first runs as a Flying Squirrel in his first appearance via the long ball, but all of his outs came via the strikeout. It was a rather dominant week for the right-hander as he continues to rise through the system quickly. Another dominant reliever in the Richmond bullpen is Joey Marciano. With another scoreless outing in the books, he now has only given up one run in 16 innings of work with a 22:5 strikeout to walk ratio. He continues to be dominant and deserves a Triple-A call-up. What a comeback for him.

One final note: Sean Hjelle was pulled early from his start with an apparent leg injury and was placed on the injured list.

SF Giants Prospects Weekly Rundown: Low-A

Notable Performers
Kyle Harrison: 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K, 0.00 ERA
Carson Ragsdale: 1 G, 1 GS, 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 7 K, 0.00 ERA
Wil Jensen: 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 5 K, 1.50 ERA
Ty Weber: 3 G, 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K, 0.00 ERA

Kyle Harrison just keeps getting better and better in each start as a professional. In his latest start, he churned out six shutout innings with eight strikeouts and only one walk. His control was inconsistent but his stuff was dominant as usual. He also threw the most changeups in any start this season, and it flashed above average. He is still learning to mirror his arm action to his fastball, and when he does, it has the potential to be a plus offering.

Carson Ragsdale has continued his strikeout ways, striking out seven in his last start. As a result, the right-hander is now leading the Low-A West in strikeouts with 61 and only Mitchell Parker of the Nationals affiliate has more strikeouts than him in the entire Low-A level. His walk rate has jumped a bit in the month of June, already walking eight as opposed to just five last month, but the 23-year old more than deserves a call-up nonetheless.

Last week’s Low-A West pitcher of the week Wil Jensen continued his solid form this week, pitching six innings of one-run ball. He will turn 24 soon but his pitchability and full four-pitch mix is too advanced for opposing hitters in Low-A. He will probably need to find a better offering to succeed against higher levels, but he’s doing everything that’s been asked of him by San Jose.

Ty Weber stood out once again out of the bullpen with shutout appearances this week. The 23-year old is pitching to the tune of 1.89 ERA with an excellent 22:1 strikeout to walk ratio. Like Jensen, his stuff is not overpowering but he gets the job done and deserves to be called up to the Emeralds soon.

Stay tuned every weekend for a full rundown of the SF Giants hitting prospects on Saturday and pitching prospects on Sunday.