SF Giants promote top prospect Marco Luciano to High-A Eugene

The SF Giants promoted shortstop prospect Marco Luciano to High-A on Wednesday, according to a post by the Eugene Emeralds (the Giants High-A affiliate). Luciano entered the season ranked the top prospect in the organization and has continued increasing his prospect stock over the past few months at Low-A with the San Jose Giants.

The SF Giants promoted Marco Luciano to High-A.

Despite being two years younger than the average player in Low-A West, Luciano was one of the most productive hitters in the league. In 70 games, the teenage shortstop blasted 18 home runs and posted a .278/.373/.556 line with a reasonable 22.1% strikeout rate. While many scouts believe Luciano will have to move away from shortstop as his body matures, few are concerned about his ability to become a productive big leaguer.

Since Luciano received a $2.6 million signing bonus in 2018, he has exceeded expectations at nearly every stop. In his first taste of professional ball in 2019, the Giants brought Luciano stateside for what was supposed to be a challenge in the Arizona Rookie League. In 47 games, Luciano bashed 10 home runs and a .322/.438/.616 line and forced a late-season promotion to short-season.

Even without a minor-league season in 2020, Luciano’s star continued to shine brighter and brighter. The Giants assigned him to their alternate site in Sacramento, where he consistently faced off against pitchers with upper-minors experience who were often more than a decade older than him. Many of them came away impressed. Then at instructs last fall, he hit a home run with a 119-mph exit velocity that made waves throughout MLB.

Few teenagers have had as much attention and pressure on them in the minor leagues as SF Giants prospect Marco Luciano. Luciano has lived up to the hype thus far in his career and now will look to continue exceeding expectations with the Eugene Emeralds at High-A.