SF Giants pitching prospects week in review (8/22-8/28)

SF Giants Prospects Weekly Rundown: Low-A

Notable Performers

Kyle Harrison: 1 G, 1 GS, 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 9 K, 1.80 ERA
Nick Swiney: 1 G, 1 GS, 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K, 0.00 ERA
Randy Rodriguez: 2 G, 1 W, 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K, 0.00 ERA
Prelander Berroa: 2 G, 2 GS, 11 IP, 7 H, 6 R (5 ER), 1 HBP, 5 BB, 12 K, 4.09 ERA

Even though the Giants have looked after his pitch load in recent weeks, Kyle Harrison was as good as ever in his latest start with five innings of one-run ball and nine strikeouts. Known for generating a high whiff rate, Harrison has his best month ERA-wise in August with a 2.33 ERA and 33 strikeouts in just 19.1 innings pitched. The nine walks and six hit batters are however on-brand for Harrison’s sometimes erratic control, but he is generally in the strike zone more often than not.

Nick Swiney had another stellar start this week as he continues to pile up the innings after missing a good chunk of the season with a concussion. Swiney is on a 50-pitch limit but he is making up for the lost time. His latest start against Lake Elsinore was vintage Swiney as he got the Storm hitters off-balanced by junk balling them with curveball and changeups that drew out 11 swings and misses. The changeup consistently flashed plus while the control of his curveball was decent even though it flashed above-average. Due to how advanced Swiney is and how many reps he missed due to injury, there is a possibility that he will be pitching in the Arizona Fall League.

After being named the Low-A West Pitcher of the Week, the first San Jose reliever to win the award this season, Randy Rodriguez continued his stellar month with two more dominant outings this week. If Rodriguez made his final appearance of the month last night, it will cap off what was potentially one of the most dominant months I have seen from a reliever all season long, with 15.2 innings of shutout baseball allowing only nine hits with a 27:3 strikeout to walk ratio. He looks electric on the mound with great athleticism, lightning-quick arm speed, mid-90s fastball, and a hard slider. Rodriguez has a shot to win the Pitcher of the Month with his performance.

Prelander Berroa had a tough August with a 4.84 ERA but the most concerning thing is his strike-throwing having only thrown 58% of his pitches for strikes compared to July where he threw 64% of his pitches for strikes. He allowed 14 walks in 22.1 innings pitched. His latest start, however, was reminiscent of Berroa’s dominant July except for a home run he allowed on a hanging slider. Even though Berroa’s numbers looked rough this month, I like how he tried to use his slider as a chase pitch a bit more often.