2022 Pre-Season SF Giants Prospects: 30-21

2022 Pre-Season SF Giants Prospects: 30-21

27. Ricardo Genoves

Position: C
Age: 22
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 190 lbs.
Projected Level: Richmond (AA)
MLB ETA: 2024

Tool Grades: (Present/Future)

Hit 30/40 | Raw Power 50/50 | Game Power 30/45 | Speed 20/20 | Arm 55/55 | Field 45/45

PV 30 | FV 40

It felt like there were two different Ricardo Genoves that played in 2021. Genoves was considered being the best overall hitter in the loaded San Jose squad in the first two months of the season but all of his momenta came to a screeching halt when he struggled to put up the numbers that were expected from him when he got promoted to Eugene in the second half of the season.

Genoves’ swing has always been driven more by his strength than his twitch. However, he’s done a good job of tapping more to his power by adding loft to his swing. He hit well for average and power and showed maturity in his plate discipline in San Jose. But when he got promoted to Eugene, however; he looked like a completely different hitter as he struggled to make contact and was prone to whiffing, but still managed to tap into his power and work the count.

His offensive slump after his promotion is not the biggest issue surrounding Genoves. It was his defense behind the plate that was his biggest asset before, is now a liability. He’s looked comfortable framing using a one-knee set-up but his legs and agility were completely affected more by his athleticism rather than his new set-up, particularly in terms of blocking where he looked lazy all season long. His arm is still strong and accurate, but base stealers have tested him far too often this season to question his athleticism behind the plate.

Genoves entered the season as a defense-over-offense prospect behind the plate. After the season, he has looked more of an offense-first prospect based on his regression behind the plate. There are also swing and miss questions that need to be answered and if Genoves cannot stay behind the plate long-term, his value drops drastically as his bottom-of-the-scale speed only limits him to play first base as a fallback option.