Pair of SF Giants prospects sweep weekly recognition in Eastern League

A pair of SF Giants prospects had a week to remember in Double-A. Pitching prospect Joe Whitman and outfield prospect Carter Howell were recognized as the Players of the Week in the Eastern League, per a league announcement.

Pair of SF Giants prospects sweep weekly recognition in Eastern League

Whitman almost led the Richmond Flying Squirrels to a no-hitter over the weekend. They completed 8.1 innings without allowing a hit in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Somerset Patriots.

The left-handed hurler tossed six perfect innings with 10 strikeouts during that game. It was one of his best outings as a pro.

The start lowered Whitman's ERA to 5.31, which sounds high, but this comes with a 3.18 FIP and 3.37 xFIP. He has recorded a lot of strikeouts without allowing many runners to reach base. If that trend continues, that ERA should come down quite a bit.

On the mound, the southpaw pitcher flashes a low-to-mid 90's four-seam fastball. He can add a few extra ticks in shorter outings. He mixes in a gyro slider that gets distinct, two-plane movement. He also has a quality changeup, but the slider is his go-to secondary offering.

On the other hand, outfield prospect Carter Howell tallied 11 hits, including two doubles and three home runs, with five RBI in 26 at-bats against the Patriots last week.

Howell is slashing .250/.350/.370 (115 wRC+) with three home runs, seven RBI, and 14 runs in 117 plate appearances this season. This includes a 10.3 percent walk rate, 20.5 percent strikeout rate, and .120 ISO.

The right-handed bat does not have much power upside. Instead, he has a swing designed for line drives and contact. He does have some speed and can put pressure on the defense when he is on base.

The Giants signed Howell as an undrafted free agent out of Augustana University in 2022. They have had some success with undrafted players. Howell is joined by Trent Harris, Bo Davidson, and Brett Auerbach, as undrafted prospects who have joined the Giants organization in recent years.

Howell has put up solid numbers as a pro, posting a .771 OPS across four minor league seasons. If he continues to perform like he has, there is a good chance of him reaching Triple-A before the end of the season.