SF Giants pitching prospects week in review (6/27-7/3)

SF Giants Prospects Weekly Rundown: Double-A

Notable Performers

Michael Plassmeyer: 1 G, 1 GS, 1 W, 5.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 8 K, 1.69 ERA
Ronnie Williams: 2 G, 1 W, 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 HBP, 3 BB, 9 K, 0.00 ERA
Norwith Gudino: 2 G, 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 0.00 ERA

Michael Plassmeyer made his home debut for the Flying Squirrels this week and struck out eight. Excluding his Richmond debut where he got tagged for seven runs, the left-hander acquired from Tampa Bay has been as expected, if not a bit more. In his last three starts, Plassmeyer has an ERA of just 1.65 with an 18-to-three strikeout to walk ratio across 16.1 innings pitched. A known strike-thrower, 71% of his pitches have been strikes with a CSW of 29%. There’s a good chance that the 24-year old will make my Top 30 prospects lists in mid-season.

One of the best pitchers on the team after two months of play is Ronnie Williams, with the right-hander pitching throwing one of his best outings in the Giants organization as he threw three hitless innings with six strikeouts. After a strong week, Williams’ ERA is down to a measly 1.08 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 33.1 IP. His 17 walks and five HBP stand out, but he’s able to get through trouble cleanly and throw multiple innings. The six-foot right-hander has big-league potential with his low approach angle to his low to mid-90s fastball and when he is on, his breaking ball flashes above-average.

Another one of the pitchers who was quietly dominant this season out of the bullpen for the Flying Squirrels is Norwith Gudino. The 25-year old has an ERA of 1.44 this season with a 39-to-10 strikeout to walk ratio in 25 innings pitched. The right-hander has been used as more of a set-up man after the promotions of both Jose Marte and R.J. Dabovich to the Richmond roster. He’s still more control and command for most of the year but he’s able to be effective against Double-A hitting with his mid-90s fastball and a fringe-average slider.

Before the start of the season, I had Luis Amaya as a potential break-out prospect that could potentially be the best left-handed relief prospect in the organization. After two months of play, that did not happen as his ERA is at 4.82. However, if the first two outings of his year were removed, his ERA would only be 3.31 as he had a seven-game stretch of shutout baseball. His strikeout rate is at a career-best 33% and there’s potential for improvement in the second half of the season as his BABIP is at a very unsustainable .429.

SF Giants Prospects Weekly Rundown: High-A

Notable Performers

Aaron Phillips: 1 G, 1 GS, 1 W, 7 IP, 7 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 HBP, 3 BB, 4 K, 1.29 ERA
Nick Avila: 1 G, 1 W, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 0.00 ERA
Kai-Wei Teng: 2 G, 2 GS, 6.1 IP, 11 H, 8 R (8 ER), 2 HBP, 5 BB, 5 K, 11.37 ERA

It was a tale of role reversals this week as the two best pitching prospects on the Emeralds roster pitched poorly while two unheralded prospects twirled gems.

The first one who had a strong outing this week was Aaron Phillips, who pitched seven strong innings. While it was not Phillips’ finest outing this season as he threw six shutout innings back on June 1st, he threw the most pitches this week with 91, 58 of which were strikes. The 2017 9th round selection has an above-average curveball but currently posts the lowest strikeout rate of his career at 15%.

Nick Avila threw six shutout innings of three-hit ball and retired eight straight at one point. The soon-to-be 24-year old has been used in a piggyback role in his last three appearances, pitching after an opener, and his latest appearance is easily the best this season. He’s pitching to the tune of a 6.51 ERA but his FIP of 4.10 is an indication that better numbers could be on the horizon.

After twirling a masterpiece last week, Kai-Wei Teng pitched poorly this week where he pitched in a heatwave in his first start and has little to no feel for his slider in his latest start. His two innings pitched tied last night was tied for the shortest outing this season (the other one is where he was ejected for foreign substance). He should fare better in his next start.

The other top prospect who pitched poorly this week was Seth Corry, where he pitched five innings of two-run ball but allowed a season-high six walks. Corry has allowed more walks than innings pitched but his strikeout rate is also a career-high 35%. He has been an enigma this season and it is looking more and more that the Corry that we saw in the second half of 2019 is now well in the past.

SF Giants Prospects Weekly Rundown: Low-A

Notable Performers

Ryan Murphy: 2 G, 2 GS, 1 W, 11 IP, 6 H, 5 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 16 K, 1.64 ERA
Carson Ragsdale: 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 8 K, 4.50 ERA
Kyle Harrison: 1 G, 1 GS, 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R (4 ER), 1 HBP, 3 BB, 4 K, 7.20 ERA

After a strong May performance, Ryan Murphy had a rough month of June for the Giants with a 5.75 ERA. The main issue with Murphy was the long ball, allowing seven across five starts including three in his final start in June. His first start in July however was a masterpiece where he brought his A-game to pitch seven innings of one-hit, shutout ball with a dozen strikeouts, his finest performance as a professional. He is now second in all of the pitchers in the entire farm system in strikeouts with 72 and he brought his ERA down to 3.29 ERA. I am excited to watch what he can do in the second half of the season.

With another high strikeout performance, Carson Ragsdale kept his farm system lead in punchouts with 84 which is also among the five largest tallies in all of the minor leagues. His stuff is definitely too good against Low-A hitters and he deserves a second half promotion to Eugene. Kyle Harrison looked mortal in his latest start where he allowed the most runs in a start as well as the first time where he struck out less than a batter an inning. He deserved a Futures Game invite but he’s entrenched himself as a definite Top 100 prospect after two months of play.

Out of the bullpen, big Ivan Armstrong leads the charge after two months of play with a 1.63 ERA. He’s being used in multiple innings in all but two of his appearances this season, and he has shown the control of his stuff worsens in the second inning of work. He’s given up a base on ball in his last five appearances but he’s still able to strike out more than a batter an inning this season. I expect him to be promoted to Eugene in the second half of the season.

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