SF Giants: Six prospects who could make an impact this season

The SF Giants have had the best record in MLB for most of the regular season up to this point. After getting off to an unexpectedly hot start, the Giants have kept their momentum going despite consistent questions about whether they had a playoff-caliber roster. Now into the third week in August, no one is arguing that the Giants aren’t a legitimate contender.

The SF Giants depth will be tested soon.

With a three-game lead in the National League West and a 12-game lead over the final Wild Card, it would take a historic collapse for them to miss the playoffs. However, even after the Giants added pieces at the trade deadline, their depth will be tested in the coming weeks. MLB removed the 40-man roster expansion in September, meaning teams will not be able to call up a dozen reinforcements to bulk up their pitching staff and give their starters ample rest. Instead, after playing a shortened 60-game season in 2020, teams will be forced to push their players back to a 162-game season with even fewer replacements than most fans are accustomed to.

While teams like the Giants will be aggressive on the waiver wire and minor-league free agency hoping to add the finishing touches on a championship contender, organizations will have to primarily rely on their own farm systems to replace injured or struggling players. Fans have already seen players like Thairo Estrada, Jay Jackson, and Mauricio Dubón contribute this season, but if the front office decides to turn to some less-proven players, these are the six prospects best prepared to make an impact over the coming weeks.

6 SF Giants prospects who could make an impact this season: 1. Kervin Castro

Right-handed pitcher Kervin Castro was ranked the 26th-best prospect in the system heading into the season after a breakout performance in last fall’s instructional league and was added to the Giants 40-man roster and invited to big-league spring training. While he was overshadowed by fellow young fireballers Gregory Santos and Camilo Doval early in the year, Castro has quietly emerged as the best of the trio at Triple-A.

Castro relies primarily on a mid-90s fastball and power curveball that play off each other well. Developed as a starting pitcher until this season, Castro had never pitched in full-season affiliate ball until 2021. Faced with the massive challenge of a transition to the bullpen alongside a jump from short-season ball to Triple-A at 22, the young righty has responded admirably.

In the incredibly hitter-friendly Triple-A West league, Castro has made 26 appearances this season, racking up 52 strikeouts and recording a strong 3.23 ERA in 39 innings while surrendering 29 hits, 19 walks, and just three home runs. Since allowing two runs in his first appearance of June, Castro has been even better, recording a 1.86 ERA over his last 29 innings.

Just as importantly for the Giants, Castro has done something few other options for the front office have this season: consistently made multi-inning appearances. To lessen the transition to relief, the Giants have kept Castro on a relatively regimented usage pattern, often giving him at least two or three days between outings while pushing him up to (or beyond) 30 pitches. In fact, Castro has completed at least two innings in 10 of his last 16 appearances.

The Giants bullpen has been heavily taxed recently. Adding an arm comfortable being stretched to 50 pitches (51 is his season-high) and capable of pitching in high-leverage could be exactly what manager Gabe Kapler needs. With Kervin Castro already on the 40-man roster, it seems easy to envision him joining Doval and Santos by making his MLB debut in 2021.

6 SF Giants prospects who could make an impact this season: 2. Joey Bart

With the Giants atop the standings and a resurgent Buster Posey playing like he’s in his mid-20s again, top-catching prospect Joey Bart has seemingly disappeared from most fans’ consciousness. Yet even though he’s moved slightly off the radar, the third-best prospect in the Giants system heading into the season could very easily play a pivotal role in the closing weeks of the regular season.

Assuming the former second overall pick recovers from a quad strain he’s been dealing with for just over a week, Bart is one injury away from needing to play a significant role at the big-league level. The Giants have received fantastic production from Posey and Curt Casali behind the plate this season in part because they have committed to a timeshare that has enabled both of them to remain well-rested. With Casali set to turn 33 in November and Posey already 34, injuries behind the plate should remain a concern for the remainder of the season.

As great as Posey and Casali have been this year, it’s hard to imagine the Giants abandoning the regimented rest schedule they’ve built, even if one of them goes down. If that’s the case, Bart could be one injury away from starting three games a week for the Giants.

Given how poorly Bart performed against big-league competition last season, hitting .233/.288/.320 in 111 plate appearances, the Giants are hoping he’s taken the necessary strides to be a viable everyday player over the past year. Bart has been productive in his first season at Triple-A, blasting 13 doubles and 10 home runs with a .314/.379/.536 triple-slash over 50 games. However, there remain some reasons for caution.

Bart’s numbers far from standout in the Triple-A West league, even struggling to rank among his teammates with Sacramento. Granted, the River Cats lineup has been stacked with experienced minor leaguers, many of whom have extensive MLB experience. Most concerningly, though, Bart has continued to record below-average strikeout (29.0%) and walk-rates (7.5%).

Still, Bart remains one of the best catching prospects in baseball. Even with concerns about his ability to make contact, the Georgia Tech alum would already be an average everyday player if he had the opportunity. While matching Posey’s elite production would be an impossible ask, Casali has been fantastic in his own right for the Giants this year, even while hitting just .228/.331/.409. If Casali or Posey has to miss a significant amount of time with injury, Joey Bart will have to prove he can post a comparable line.

6 SF Giants prospects who could make an impact this season: 4. Camilo Doval

Camilo Doval was ranked the 31st best prospect in the organization heading into the season, but an impressive spring training performance earned him an early-season promotion to the MLB roster. The flamethrowing righty got off to a strong start but ultimately recorded an ERA north of 7.00 across 10.2 innings pitched while surrendering six walks and four home runs before he was optioned to Triple-A.

Control and consistency have always been a problem for Doval. He’s clearly taken massive strides since 2019, but that does not mean he’s ready to be in a big-league bullpen, particularly one in a pennant race. While he’s been effective in a pair of spot callups since his first big-league stint, his numbers at Sacramento show all the rough edges. Doval has struck out 34 hitters across 25.1 innings pitched but recorded a 5.33 ERA with 22 walks.

Even with all the reasons to suggest the Giants should pass on recalling Doval this season, there’s arguably enough upside to justify the risk. He has elite closer upside with one of the nastiest pitching arsenals in the organization. Doval works from a funky three-quarters delivery, making it particularly difficult for right-handed hitters to pick up his pitches. He frisbees in a high 90s four-seamer that registers strong spin rates and a 88-92 mph cutter/slider with nasty late horizontal movement.

Doval’s velocity had major fluctuations early in his career but has stabilized over the past year. It appears that he’s found an even higher gear this season, consistently topping 100 mph and even throwing a pitch that clocked in at 104.5 mph. Needless to say, if Camilo Doval can find just a bit more consistent command, he could very easily find a role facing off against tough right-handed hitters out of the Giants bullpen.

6 SF Giants prospects who could make an impact this season: 5. Sean Hjelle

On the opposite end of the pitching prospect spectrum from Doval, Sean Hjelle does not have premium velocity. He might not have a pitch in his arsenal that earns plus grades but could be exactly the innings-eater the Giants need if their rotation continues to be hit by injuries. While he is not currently on the 40-man roster, he will become eligible for the Rule 5 draft this winter, almost assuredly requiring he be added this offseason.

Drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2018 MLB draft, Hjelle has remained a mid-tier prospect for the entirety of his professional career. Ranked the 13th-best prospect in the farm system heading into the season, Hjelle picked up right where he left off in 2019 at Double-A. In 14 starts for the Richmond Flying Squirrels, before he was promoted to Triple-A, Hjelle recorded a 3.15 ERA across 65.2 innings with 69 strikeouts and 19 walks.

Hjelle has flashed for average or better big-league pitches over his career, but his curveball has clearly emerged as his best pitch. His fastball plays up early in his outings, when it sits in the mid-90s, but does tend to dip as he tries to work the second time through the order. However, while Hjelle may not have an overpowering arsenal, at nearly seven feet tall, he generates fantastic groundball rates from his unique approach angle.

Sacramento has been a tough adjustment for Hjelle, as it is for nearly every pitcher. While he’s completed 12.1 innings in two starts, he’s issued twice as many walks (6) as strikeouts (3). Given his development path, Hjelle probably needs some significant time at Triple-A before he’ll be ready to pitch in the majors. However, with limited starting pitching depth in the upper minors, Sean Hjelle might need to be called upon (even for just a start or two) sooner than anticipated.

6 SF Giants prospects who could make an impact this season: 6. Bryce Johnson

The odds of Bryce Johnson receiving a big-league call-up this season remain low, but it’s far from an unforeseeable scenario. While the former sixth-round pick out of Sam Houston State has never ranked among the top prospects in the Giants farm system, he’s always had a particular set of tools that could carve out a solid MLB career. Several teams have tried to employ designated pinch-runners in high-leverage games late in the season, and Johnson would be the prime candidate.

Johnson can flat-out fly. One of the fastest players in the organization, Johnson has always received rave reviews for his outfield defense and ability to wreak havoc on the basepaths. While it’s not uncommon for fast prospects to see their propensity to steal bases decrease as they move through the minors, Johnson has shown an adept ability to adjust to better competition. In just 78 games this season in Sacramento, Johnson has swiped 20 bags and been caught just twice.

Johnson has never been known for his hitting ability, but that’s taken a huge step forward this season as well. He got off to a flaming hot start this season at Triple-A but has cooled off over the last few months. Still, he has a solid .281/.374/.428 triple-slash, making him far from a pushover at the plate. If the Giants want to get creative late in the season and give Kapler an elite late-game option as a defensive substitution and/or pinch-runner, don’t be shocked if Bryce Johnson finds his way on the active roster.

The SF Giants hope to see their entire roster remain healthy through the rest of the 2021 season. However, injuries are sadly a part of every MLB season. As the Giants continue chasing a division title and more, they may have to turn to unproven prospects to reach their ultimate goal. While it’s far from the ideal scenario, players like Kervin Castro, Joey Bart, Jaylin Davis, Camilo Doval, Sean Hjelle, and Bryce Johnson will be waiting to take advantage of any opportunity that becomes available.