Former SF Giants corner infield prospect lands with American Association club

A former SF Giants corner infield prospect found a new home for 2025 with an independent ball club. Luis Toribio has joined the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association according to the league's transaction log.

Former SF Giants corner infield prospect lands with American Association club

The American Association, Atlantic League, and Frontier League have become popular landing spots for pro players in recent years. This is due to Major League Baseball reducing minor league headcount to 165.

This is partly why so many teams are not as active in minor league free agency as they once were. For example, the Giants have only signed a handful of minor leaguers to contracts this offseason. This excludes the 15 international free agents that they signed last week. They just do not have the room to add.

The Giants originally signed Toribio for $300,000 out of the Dominican Republic during the 2017 international free agency cycle. That was the largest signing bonus they could hand out during that cycle due to the penalties incurred from surpassing their 2015 international bonus pool.

They exceed their bonus pool after agreeing to a $6 million signing bonus with Lucius Fox. This led to pretty stiffy penalties for the ensuing two signing periods.

There was some hype with Toribio not just due to the sizable signing bonus, but also due to his rookie year as a pro. In the Dominican Summer League in 2018, the left-handed bat slashed .270/.423/.479 (160 wRC+) with 10 home runs and 39 RBI in 274 plate appearances. That type of production in that league will put you on the map.

The 24-year-old infielder made a gradual ascent up the minor league ladder, reaching as high as Double-A in 2024. Overall, he registered a .236/.353/.419 line with a 14.6 percent walk rate, 29.3 percent strikeout rate, and .183 ISO in six minor league seasons.

Toribio did flash decent power as he reached double-digit home runs in three of his six seasons with the Giants organization. This includes hitting 38 home runs in two seasons with the Eugene Emeralds.

The young infielder elected minor league free agency earlier in the offseason as he reached six years of service time. He now joins a Sioux City club that went 48-51 in 2024.