3 prospects who could help the SF Giants in 2023

SF Giants fans have been eagerly waiting for an influx of young talent and their patience should be rewarded soon enough. Several top prospects have reached the upper minors and could be nearing a debut as soon as 2023.

3 prospects who could help the SF Giants in 2023

Perhaps, that influx of young talent has already begun with players like Logan Webb, David Villar, and Joey Bart on the roster. Even Thairo Estrada counts as young talent given that he is just entering his age-27 season next year.

Webb has quickly established himself as one of the best pitchers in the National League. He finished last season with a 2.90 ERA, 3.03 FIP, 1.15 WHIP, 7.6 K/9, and a 3.33 SO/W ratio in 32 starts. Of course, he did not make the All-Star team, but he did receive down-ballot Cy Young votes.

Estrada is penciled in as an everyday player after registering a .260/.322/.400 (103 OPS+) line with 14 home runs, 62 RBI, and 71 runs in 541 plate appearances. Bart and Villar showed some promise last season with the latter finishing the year on a very high note.

The good news is that the Giants could have help on the way soon enough. It has been years since they have had a consistent flow of talent from the farm system to the major league roster, but they are poised to reach that level again.

1. Middle infielder Marco Luciano

Top middle infield prospect Marco Luciano has one of the easier paths to reaching the majors next season among the names mentioned. The Giants added Luciano to the 40-man roster in November as a necessary move to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

Given how the front office leverages every spot on the 40-man roster, it would not be surprising to see him debut for the Giants sooner rather than later.

The 21-year-old is among the game's top prospects, ranking as high as No. 9 according to Baseball Prospectus prior to the 2022 season. Luciano slashed .263/.339/.459 (121 wRC+) with 10 home runs, 30 RBI, and 27 runs in 230 plate appearances for the Eugene Emeralds in 2022. This includes a 14.8 percent walk rate against a 25.9 percent strikeout rate.

The right-handed bat earned a brief cup of coffee in Double-A as he helped the Richmond Flying Squirrels in the Eastern League playoffs. He recorded one hit in eight at-bats across two games.

Luciano will likely begin next year in Double-A but will be pushed up to Triple-A quickly if he performs. Of course, an injury or two could put Luciano in a position to be promoted.

3 prospects who could help the SF Giants in 2023

3. Third baseman Casey Schmitt

Unlike Marco Luciano and Kyle Harrison, Casey Schmitt has played a handful of games in Triple-A. In terms of climbing up the minor league ladder, Schmitt is the furthest along. However, he might be the last of the three to debut next year.

Schmitt was selected in the second round of the 2020 draft out of San Diego State University. He served as both the team's third baseman and closer in college, but the Giants never put much thought into developing him as a reliever.

Between him and Harrison, the 2020 draft class could be one of the Giants' strongest classes in years.

Schmitt posted an .837 OPS with 17 home runs in 383 plate appearances for the Eugene Emeralds last year before receiving a promotion to Double-A. With the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the right-handed bat continued his torrid pace, posting an .895 OPS with three homers in 127 plate appearances.

The 23-year-old tallied five hits in 15 at-bats in a late-season promotion to Triple-A. He will likely begin the year with the Sacramento River Cats. Schmitt's value extends beyond his bat as he was named as a Minor League Gold Glove winner for third base.

The glove was originally considered his carrying tool, but his bat really showed improvement in 2022. Schmitt will be making a case for a promotion as soon as next season begins.