SF Giants hitting prospects week in review (8/21-8/27)

SF Giants Prospects Weekly Rundown: Double-A

Notable Performers

Diego Rincones: 6 G, 25 AB, .360 AVG, 1.189 OPS, 1 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K
Will Wilson: 6 G, 21 AB, .333 AVG, .964 OPS, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 4 BB, 5 K
David Villar: 5 G, 19 AB, .316 AVG, 1.223 OPS, 1 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K

A trio of Flying Squirrels hitters were officially on fire this week. First, outfielder Diego Rincones. Rincones had his seven-game hit streak snapped in last night’s game, but he is still often finding the barrel often with a .349 batting average, .984 OPS, six doubles, and five home runs. He is not walking to the tune of only a 3.3% walk rate but he is not also striking out a lot either with a 14.1% strikeout rate. Rincones knows where his bread is buttered as he terrorizes pitches on the lower half of the strike zone and the bat has MLB potential.

After hitting rock bottom since getting promoted to Richmond, Will Wilson has turned a leaf and has found his footing. You might ask what has changed? After missing a week of action, Wilson has looked like his old self over the past two weeks. In his first five weeks as a Flying Squirrel, Wilson has changed his approach towards pulling the ball more. It clearly has not worked to the tune of a .157 batting average and a 38% strikeout rate in 31 games. Over the past eight games, Wilson reverted to his more patented gap-to-gap approach that has worked as an Emerald and it has worked wonders with a .357 batting average and just an 18% strikeout rate. Looks like the old Will Wilson is back.

David Villar has taken his game to another level this month with his stellar offensive performance. The third baseman is batting .333 this month with 1.1118 OPS, eight doubles, and six home runs. He is now one home run away from setting the Flying Squirrels single-season record.

He is now inside the top 10 in both doubles and home runs in the Double-A Northeast with 23 doubles and 17 home runs, respectively. His strikeout rate which is a concern for him for much of this season has been kept in check this month with an 18% rate. His strong August and Major League-quality defense gives him a puncher’s chance of becoming a big leaguer.

SF Giants Prospects Weekly Rundown: High-A

Notable Performers

Marco Luciano: 7 G, 23 AB, .391 AVG, .831 OPS, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 7 K
Jairo Pomares: 7 G, 27 AB, .296 AVG, .704 OPS, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 7 K
Brett Auerbach: 6 G, 24 AB, .292 AVG, .778 OPS, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 8 K, 2 SB
Sean Roby: 6 G, 22 AB, .273 AVG, .788 OPS, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 9 K

For Marco Luciano, adjusting to High-A ball is more a matter of when and not if. If you guessed that it will only take him nine games and 38 at-bats, however, then take the cake because that’s what Luciano did. After batting .105 in his first nine games, Luciano is batting .366 in his last 12 games. He has not flashed the power in his hot streak with only one extra-base hit (a double), it might be for the better as he continues to improve his plate approach against better competition. The strikeouts are still high over the stretch with a 35.56% rate but we are seeing the maturity of Luciano as he continues to soak in the experience.

Speaking of soaking in the experience, another one who is handling the promotion well is Jairo Pomares. He’s had a base hit in 10 of 11 games for the Emeralds this season and he is batting .326 for the squad. The power surge that Pomares truly enjoyed in San Jose has not yet carried over to Eugene, however, with a .488 slugging percentage compared to his .693 slugging in Low-A ball.

Brett Auerbach has another strong all-around week. He has hit a home run in three straight games over the past two weeks, the third and the only home run was an inside the parker. Auerbach has now hit 12 home runs as an Emerald which is already good enough for third even though he has only played for the team for just over two months. A cumulative 20-20 season is a possibility if he can hit six more in September.

A slowdown for Sean Roby this week was to be expected after his bat caught on fire in the first two weeks of action. It was not as sharp of a decline that I expected, however, as he still hit a double and a home run in six games. His August is still awesome with a .337 batting average, eight doubles, a triple, and eight home runs. Strikeouts are the only thing that limits Roby’s ceiling with a 29.1% strikeout rate amidst the hot-hitting. A strong finish for Roby sets him up well for a Double-A stint next season.

SF Giants Prospects Weekly Rundown: Low-A

Notable Performers

Patrick Bailey: 6 G, 24 AB, .375 AVG, 1.090 OPS, 4 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K
Harrison Freed: 5 G, 19 AB, .421 AVG, 1.266 OPS, 4 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K
Grant McCray: 6 G, 22 AB, .227 AVG, .519 OPS, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 9 K, 1 SB
Luis Matos: 6 G, 25 AB, .160 AVG, .314 OPS, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 4 K

“Better late than never” might be Patrick Bailey‘s motto this season as he is currently on a two-week hot streak where he is batting .419 with five doubles, three home runs, and just seven strikeouts in 35 plate appearances. His hot streak boosted his August numbers to a .302 batting average with a .988 OPS. The catcher is still a disappointment on both sides of the ball this season with a .231 batting average across two levels, especially with how much preferential treatment that the front office gave to him last season. A hot streak at the end of the season can alleviate some of that disappointment, however.

Harrison Freed has enjoyed his time in Lake Elsinore this week as the power-hitting outfielder is batting .500 with four doubles and a home run against the Storm. The big-bodied outfielder has had a solid August with a .259 batting average, .818 OPS, five doubles, and a couple of home runs. He’s also trimmed down his strikeouts a bit with 27.4% this month, but is still recording a 31.25% rate this season. He is poised to lock down one of the corner outfield spots as the Giants look to secure first place in their division.

A couple of prospects got called up for their first taste of full-season ball this month. Grant McCray is one of them. After launching his first home run as a San Jose Giant in his first at-bat, it’s been rough goings for the lefty outfielder as he looked overmatched often. I am highly optimistic that he will adjust eventually as he fully gets his feet wet against better pitching but he is still providing strong value as a defender in the outfield where he grades out as above-average in center with plus speed and instincts.

For the first time this season, Luis Matos is in a slump, only batting 4-25 this week. His rough week resulted in him plummeting his batting average from .324 to a more modest .313 this season which is still good for fifth in Low-A West. Upon observation, there is not really a deviation upon his approach recently and he is more of running into outs rather than forcing too much. It will be interesting if this slump extends into September or will he finish his first full season strong.

SF Giants Prospects Weekly Rundown: Rookie

Notable Performers

Diego Velasquez: 5 G, 16 AB, .375 AVG, .911 OPS, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 SB
Garrett Frechette: 5 G, 17 AB, .412 AVG, .885 OPS, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K
Donovan McIntyre: 5 G, 17 AB, .294 AVG, .812 OPS, 1 3B, 0 RBI, 3 BB, 7 K, 3 SB
Mauricio Pierre: 4 G, 13 AB, .308 AVG, .896 OPS, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 4 K

The more I see how Diego Velasquez is faring in Complex ball, the more I am getting more and more impressed. The 17-year old is flashing one of the most advanced bat control and strike zone awareness as evidenced by his under 9% walk rate and 11% strikeout rate. There is still little power to his swing with his .029 ISO but he projects as more of a contact-oriented hitter who has yet to physically mature and it is evident to his rather Japanese-style swing mechanics. I expect him to finish the season in Arizona.

After getting overwhelmed by an aggressive promotion to the full-season ball where he only managed to hit for a .219 batting average, the Giants sent down Garrett Frechette to Arizona to regain his form. After 36 games, it is safe to say that Frechette’s back on track. He is fifth in the Arizona League in batting average with .339 with a .863 OPS, 10 doubles, a triple, and a homer. The lack of home run power is slightly worrying and his greater than 25% strikeout rate across two levels is also concerning but the silver lining is that he is only 20 years old and is flashing strong bat-to-ball ability.

While the first five draft selections by the Giants this year have not yet started their professional career, several of their Days 2 and 3 selections have started playing in Arizona. After a week of action, Donovan McIntyre is off to a good start to his pro career with him flashing off his assets starting with his at least plus speed with his triple and three stolen bases. How refined his approach at the plate as he steps in pro ball is something to follow this season.

With the way things are going this early in their professional careers, it looks like the Giants have added a couple of very promising Panamanian prospects in Adrian Sugastey and Mauricio Pierre. While Sugastey has already established himself as a top 30 prospect as he is currently second in the Arizona League with a .350 batting average, Pierre is doing very well for himself especially with the way their rhythm has been hampered by a COVID outbreak and a storm. The Panamanian hit his third home run this season this week and is batting .308 and a .915 OPS in 16 games this season. The athletic outfielder has the tools to become a top 30 prospect.

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