SF Giants hitting prospects week in review (7/24-7/30)

Make sure to revisit our weekly SF Giants prospect rundowns to keep up with each of their 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

Heliot Ramos: 7 G, 22 AB, .273 AVG, .838 OPS, 3 2B, 3 RBI, 6 BB, 7 K, 2 SB
Will Toffey: 5 G, 12 AB, .333 AVG, 1.050 OPS, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 6 K
Bryce Johnson: 7 G, 15 AB, .400 AVG, 1.140 OPS, 1 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K

After getting called up to the River Cats on July 21, Heliot Ramos has shown that he’s up to the task. The Puerto Rican is currently rocking a four-game hitting streak where he’s 6-17 with three doubles to his credit. It is a bounce-back month for the 21-year old after struggling very hard in June, and the front office rewarded his effort with this promotion. For someone who is almost six years younger than the average competition, Heliot looks like he belongs.

With several Giants veterans doing their rehab stints in Sacramento this week, it limited the playing time of Will Toffey. When Toffey played though, he looked pretty good on the field, displaying an ability to defend multiple positions and did not look bad at the plate. There’s little chance that he gets called up to the big league club this season as the Giants have their sights set on winning the division, but he is showing positive development.

After struggling for the past month and a half, Bryce Johnson put up what was arguably his best game this season on July 24th, where he went 4-5 with a walk, a double, a home run, and 4 RBI. It was the bulk of his production this week but it was a very memorable one. Like Toffey, it’s unlikely to see him in the big leagues this year but it’s nice to see him continue to get good playing time.

SF Giants Prospects Weekly Rundown: High-A

Notable Performers

Franklin Labour: 7 G, 22 AB, .364 AVG, 1.245 OPS, 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 7 BB, 9 K, 1 SB
Carter Aldrete: 7 G, 25 AB, .360 AVG, 1.048 OPS, 3 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 4 BB, 7 K
Brett Auerbach: 6 G, 21 AB, .286 AVG, .994 OPS, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K, 3 SB

Franklin Labour is a streaky hitter. When he’s cold, he can still do a bit in terms of getting on base via a walk. When he’s hot, however, he’s as hot as it gets. Labour is in a five-game hitting streak where he’s 8-16 with two doubles, two home runs, five walks, and just four strikeouts. Labour is showing hard three-true-outcomes traits with an 18% walk rate, 28% strikeout rate, and a .237 ISO but the tools are top 30 worthy if he shows consistent hitting throughout a season.

Carter Aldrete got his season back on track with a strong July performance. The 2019 15th round draft choice has a batting average of .296 with a .929 OPS this month with three doubles, six home runs, 10 walks, and 28 strikeouts in 91 plate appearances this month. He’s shown defensive versatility this season playing five positions (1B, 2B, 3B, LF, RF) and only committing two errors all season long. If he can finish the season strong, his power and versatility are highly intriguing.

Speaking of defensive versatility, Brett Auerbach capped off a very solid July with another steady week offensively while continuing to play all over the diamond. There’s an indication this month that Auerbach’s putting more charge to the ball with the expense of more strikeouts, as evidenced by his team-leading eight home runs and a .591 SLG this month but with a 25.5% strikeout rate. There’s little need for Auerbach to flex his muscles and strive to hit for more power as his skillset is already top 30 worthy, but if the power surge will get more people to notice him, it’s a positive for his chances to be a big leaguer.

SF Giants Prospects Weekly Rundown: Low-A

Notable Performers

Luis Matos: 6 G, 25 AB, .440 AVG, 1.081 OPS, 1 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 SB
Patrick Bailey: 5 G, 16 AB, .313 AVG, .888 OPS, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 7 K, 1 SB
Jairo Pomares: 6 G, 22 AB, .409 AVG, 1.186 OPS, 4 2B, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K
Jimmy Glowenke: 6 G, 21 AB, .333 AVG, 1.214 OPS, 2 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 BB, 9 K, 1 SB

It’s a week of healthy hitting for the loaded San Jose lineup except for top prospect Marco Luciano, who only hit .182 but with a triple and a home run as he missed a couple of days with shoulder discomfort.

The hottest hitter over the week is Luis Matos who is just unconscious over the past 15 games where he’s batting .388 with a 1.005 OPS, five doubles, three home runs, and just 7 strikeouts in 67 at-bats. The Venezuelan outfielder now is fourth in Low-A West with a .311 average and doubles, and fifth in RBI. He’s getting better and better as the season hits the home stretch, and he’s shown he’s one of the best pure hitters in the minor leagues.

A hitter who finally had a solid stretch of games is Patrick Bailey. The 2020 first-round pick had a solid four-game stretch where he hit 7-13 with two doubles, five walks, and just three strikeouts within the week. The strikeouts are still ugly with a 35% rate this week and 32.76% since getting added into the San Jose roster, but he’s still hitting the ball hard where one groundout had an exit velocity of 107 MPH. It’s been a very disappointing season for Bailey, but hopefully his solid stretch this week could spark a strong finish to the season.

A couple of strong hitters rounds out the Giants’ side of things this week. Jairo Pomares had another dominant week offensively and he’s just killing it. Among all hitters with at least 100 plate appearances this season, Pomares’ .342 batting average is the best in the Low-A West. I was skeptical early on about his aggression leading to strikeouts but over the past 12 games, his strikeout rate is under 20%. He’s getting more and more selective as the season rolls on, showing the controlled aggression to match his exemplary contact skills. He’s also improved his arm strength which was his weakest tool entering the season, peaking at above-average with good accuracy. He’s a top 10 lock at the end of the season if he continues this exemplary form.

Rounding out the hot hitters is Jimmy Glowenke who fully recovered his old stock after a rough couple of months this season as July comes to end. Among all San Jose hitters, this month, his .452 OBP was the best, his 15 walks and his 11 doubles were tied for the best with Pomares, his .337 batting average, .611 SLG, and five home runs were second-best behind Pomares. He’s getting a solid consideration as a top 30 prospect at the end of the season.

To cap off the Giants hitters, I would like to say a few words to Alexander Canario after he got traded to the Cubs. Canario is one of the prospects that were a joy to follow ever since watching this clip four years ago highlighting his power potential. Even though the years have passed since the clip and there was an ebb and flow in terms of movement in the organization, he stayed as one of the best which is a testament to his sheer talent and dedication. I wish him well and hope to see him make the big leagues as part of the next era of Cubs baseball.

SF Giants Prospects Weekly Rundown: Rookie

Notable Performers

Adrian Sugastey: 4 G, 17 AB, .412 AVG, 1.000 OPS, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 0 BB, 3 K
Kwan Adkins: 4 G, 12 AB, .500 AVG, 1.455 OPS, 1 3B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 SB
Elian Rayo: 3 G, 5 AB, .400 AVG, 1.100 OPS, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 5 BB, 1 K

Two of the biggest performers in the Giants backfields this week were in the loaded ACL Orange lineup. Adrian Sugastey hit his first professional home run on Tuesday alongside fellow prospect Aeverson Arteaga. The Panamanian catcher is now batting .348 with a .827 and has kept his strikeout rate below 20% all season long. His bat is his calling card and he flashed a good-looking swing with a direct swing path with good contact ability. He has firmly placed himself inside the top 30 prospects.

Another one who had a strong week is Kwan Adkins. The outfielder was off to a slow start in the backfields but is now batting .269 with a .948 OPS and has four home runs in the short season. With Canario getting dealt, there’s a vacant spot in the San Jose outfield. While Harrison Freed and Carter Williams can hold the spot, the 2018 30th rounder is definitely in consideration of a Low-A call-up.

Over in the Dominican Summer League, Elian Rayo has found a way to get on base via base on balls. The Nicaraguan now has 15 walks and just 3 strikeouts in 40 plate appearances. Over the last week, however, most of the Latino teenagers down in the Dominican struggled offensively this week before a Giants Black game was canceled due to a potential COVID outbreak inside the team. The Orange and Black teams are in separate facilities so hopefully the situation has been contained.

Stay tuned to Around the Foghorn for the latest news and updates on SF Giants prospects.