SF Giants pitching prospects week in review (8/1-8/21)

SF Giants Prospects Weekly Rundown: Double-A

Notable Performers

Michael Plassmeyer: 3 G, 3 GS, 1 W, 17.1 IP, 19 H, 9 R (8 ER), 4 BB, 23 K, 4.15 ERA
Matt Frisbee: 3 G, 3 GS, 1 W, 16.1 IP, 19 H, 9 R (9 ER), 5 BB, 16 K, 4.96 ERA
Matt Seelinger: 6 G, 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 4 BB, 12 K, 1.69 ERA

With Sean Hjelle promoted to Sacramento, it’s time for Michael Plassmeyer to be the ace of the Richmond rotation. The 24-year old left-hander is heading towards surpassing his career-high 109 strikeouts in a single season this year with his current pace, already striking out 103 hitters in just 95.2 innings of work across two teams. He’s also proved to be utilizing the home-field advantage as a Tampa Bay and San Francisco prospect, having a 2.06 ERA at home while having a 5.43 ERA on the road. He might not equal the value that Matt Wisler currently provides in the Rays bullpen, but Plassmeyer is a solid innings-eater.

https://twitter.com/GoSquirrels/status/1428143599946977284

In order to compensate the Sean Hjelle call-up, the Giants brass sent Matt Frisbee back to Richmond after having a disastrous stint as a River Cat with a 7.64 ERA. His second rodeo in Richmond was not as crisp as his first stint where he pitched a 1.24 ERA as he sported a 4.96 ERA across three starts. After watching his starts, the same issues that plagued Frisbee in Sacramento have carried back over to Richmond, where he is throwing strikes but his fastball is getting hit hard often, having already surrendered six home runs in just 16.1 innings of work.

One stellar prospect reliever as the calendar flipped to August is Matt Seelinger. The 2017 28th round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates has been pitching solid innings in the Flying Squirrels bullpen, striking out 53 hitters in just 33 innings pitched. The big issue for Seelinger is his strike-throwing with a below-average 60% strike rate and a 15.87% walk rate. Seelinger can hit mid-90s with his fastball that gets great induced vertical break that thrives up in the zone but his control, especially with his breaking ball, has been spotty.