SF Giants pitching prospects week in review (7/25-7/31)

SF Giants Prospects Weekly Rundown: Double-A

Notable Performers

Sean Hjelle: 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 5 K, 3.00 ERA
R.J. Dabovich: 3 G, 1 SV, 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 0.00 ERA
Caleb Kilian: 1 G, 1 GS, 4 IP, 5 H, 4 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 6 K, 6.75 ERA
Jose Marte: 2 G, 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 0.00 ERA

Sean Hjelle has posted his fourth straight start allowing runners to score with a 4.29 ERA over the stretch. A recurring theme for Hjelle all season long is him having a rather small gas tank, pitching excellently through the first three innings with a 1.49 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 36.1 innings pitched but running out of gas when the lineup bats around with a 6.85 ERA and just 21 strikeouts in 22.1 innings from the fourth inning onwards. In his latest start, however, he gave up a two-run homer in the third inning but finished the game strong with three scoreless innings. Hjelle looks much more suited in the bullpen long-term as a back-end option due to his effectiveness in short bursts.

Out of the bullpen, R.J. Dabovich has been tough as nails this week with two dominant appearances reminiscent of his performances at High-A earlier this year. Excluding his five-run outing on July 2, Dabovich has been solid with a 2.08 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 8.2 innings of work. Other relievers this week who were also effective were Patrick Ruotolo with three scoreless innings of work and newcomer Matt Seelinger with 1.2 scoreless innings.

I would end the Richmond review with a couple of words about Caleb Kilian and Jose Marte. I drafted both Kilian and Marte in our Giants Farm System Draft (Kilian falling to me in the third round and Marte as my final pick) and both were traded (Kilian to the Cubs, Marte to the Angels). I was a big fan of them and losing them in the farm system hurts.

Both Kilian and Marte have underlying flaws in their game (Kilian’s average whiff rate and questionable secondary quality, Marte’s inconsistent control). Nonetheless, both were awesome pitchers to follow all season long, especially Kilian who was a fixture of my weekly reviews because of his performance this season. Hopefully, he and Marte will have successful big-league careers.