Everything SF Giants fans need to know about the High-A Eugene Emeralds

We have been reviewing each of the SF Giants minor leagues affiliates just as the 2024 season is getting underway. We started with the Sacramento River Cats on Monday and moved to the Richmond Flying Squirrels on Tuesday. Next up: The Eugene Emeralds.

Everything SF Giants fans need to know about the High-A Eugene Emeralds

Players in the IL

Will Bednar
Brett Standlee
Aeverson Arteaga
Jared Dupere
Jairo Pomares

Pitchers

Daniel Blair

Blair was highly effective in San Jose last season as a piggyback reliever but his fringy strikeout tendencies got exposed when he was exposed in Eugene where he was mainly used as a starter. His fastball has a great life above the strike zone that tops out at 96 mph. He is a very good athlete who has a great tempo on the mound. His main secondary pitch is a low-80s slider with good sweeping movement at best and also has sparingly thrown a changeup.

Jack Choate (#35 prospect)

Choate should have plenty of intrigue as a deceptive lefty arm. His fastball only sits in the low-90s but generates plenty of deception with his crossfire, low 3/4 slinging delivery. Pair it with his very tall presence on the mound gives his heater a unique look to hitters. His changeup and slider both flash promise with the slider having plenty of sweep and his changeup flashing great fading action. His control looked solid for the most part as he's shown that he can control the tempo of his mechanics. An uptick in velocity might be unlikely, but he has the ingredients to become a big-league arm.

Seth Corry

Injuries and strike-throwing troubles continued to plague Corry in 2023. The stuff though still looks like the Corry of old, and that's something that keeps him as a prospect. His low-90s fastball has plenty of sink and his low-80s changeup and high-70s curveball are still above-average to plus pitches at their best.

Luckily, the Giants were able to bring back Corry after he reached free agency in the winter.

Cameron Cotter

Cotter was a reliable arm whenever he got the call for San Jose last season in relief. He has a complete arsenal of pitches with a fastball that can touch in the mid-90s with a slider, curveball, and changeup. He throws from a downhill plane with a slight tilt in his pitching motion. He throws plenty of strikes and knows how to make hitters chase with his breaking balls.

Dylan Cumming

Cumming pitched in a variety of roles for the Giants this season and was a reliable option whenever he got the call. The low-80s frisbee was Cumming's best pitch that he used to make a lot of Low-A hitters look silly while also having decent control of his low-90s sinker from a sidearm slot as well as a fringy changeup. The effectiveness of his slider from a lower-than-usual arm slot should help him develop into a reliable reliever and could potentially reach the big leagues in his late 20s. 

Everything SF Giants fans need to know about the High-A Eugene Emeralds

Position Players

Scott Bandura (#38 prospect)

Bandura is an intriguing athlete with a very projectable frame and already decent raw power. He has good speed but projects to slow down as he fills up his frame. His swing is somewhat reminiscent of Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager in terms of the lower half flexibility while having a solid uphill bat path. His plate discipline also looks good against low-A competition. This is the kind of small-school project that could break out with improvements in his frame and swing.

Justin Bench

Bench had an abbreviated 2023 season with the Giants where he played for the squad in the second half of the season but did not finish it through. His swing is more geared towards line-to-line contact with an easy swing path but not a lot of explosion. He has below-average power and will likely be a doubles than a homers guy. He has good speed and he takes advantage of it in the base paths as a solid baserunner and base stealer while also providing him versatility on defense where he can play both in the infield and outfield.

Garrett Frechette

Frechette has not performed up to par throughout his pro career but gets a shot with Eugene as their first baseman this season. Frechette has an easy-looking swing where he just flips his hips and turns his bat to generate easy pull power but has struggled to make below-average contact at best. His eye at the plate did not change much throughout the years and has struggled with chase pitches. His defense at first base is average.

Thomas Gavello

Gavello served as San Jose's utility man playing third base, second base, and behind the dish last season while leading the team in home runs. He has legitimate contact issues but his uphill swing path allows him to hit double-digit homers every season. His peak power potential might be fringy at best though. He is an average runner with a strong arm but has to work more on his craft if he wants to become a legitimate catcher.

Matt Higgins

Higgins showed why he was one of the underrated power-hitting prospects in the Giants farm system last season. His frame is already fully baked but it is a compact ball of energy. He is capable of turning on one with high exit velocities and has enough uphill in his swing path to hit long homers and plenty of doubles the other way. He does struggle with breaking balls and general contact but the power is there. Outside of the power, no one tool stands out as average with well below-average speed and below-average defense at first base.

Turner Hill

Hill got the job done last season after getting trusted to the center field role that Carter Howell vacated after he got promoted to Eugene. He's shown the ability to steal bases at a high rate and also has plus range in the outfield where he's been at least a solid defender. His bat is light but he's shown the ability to control the strike zone and take advantage of his speed by hitting the gaps.

Everything SF Giants fans need to know about the High-A Eugene Emeralds

Position players (continued)

Andrew Kachel

Kachel provided a stable left-handed presence in the San Jose lineup last season. There are strikeout issues that were exacerbated when he was promoted to Eugene but there were also good moments with the bat. Expect more doubles than home runs though for a guy with an uphill swing path. He is not a liability on the bases and defense as a pretty versatile defender wherever the coaches slot him.

Zach Morgan

Morgan has turned himself into one of the more intriguing but very under-the-radar prospects in the Giants farm system. His best trait is his catch and throw skills where he can get off his crouch quickly and throw accurate balls to any base with enough pace. His overall receiving still needs a bit more work but he is a good athlete behind the dish. His bat is light with a solid feel for the strike zone and the barrel but with little pop in his swing.

Quinn McDaniel

McDaniel received an aggressive promotion to Eugene after a cup of coffee in San Jose that saw him hit for power, draw plenty of walks, but strike out a lot. The most certain thing though is that McDaniel does not get cheated as he he has a big leg kick similar to a Dustin Pedroia or a Mike Napoli and he also swings as hard as he can without compromising his balance or his vision. He can only play second base right now with his limited arm strength and decent range but he plays hard.

Tanner O'Tremba

O'Tremba was a solid contributor in the San Jose lineup last season in terms of extra-base hits and even in terms of base stealing. His broad but fully baked frame gives him a solid average or more raw power that he gets the most out of in his swing. He has a solid feel for the strike zone but has shown a tendency to chase. He extracts the most out of his solid speed with good base running instincts and that speed also translates to the outfield where he is a solid defender in both corner outfield spots.

Jack Payton (#37 prospect)

Payton is a strong athlete with good pull-side power. Most of his hits will be toward his pull side but he makes enough contact to make his pull-happy approach work. His defense is a work in progress with a solid arm and good athleticism to improve but with so many options behind the plate, he might be limited to 1B/DH. He has backup potential who could be a solid pro if he develops more power.

Onil Perez (#28 prospect)

Perez has the tools to become a second-division regular as a solid, all-around backstop. He's not an explosive athlete but he's smooth and has plenty of strength. He has a solid feel for the barrel and can translate his power to games due to his slight uphill in his swing. He's also a very good defender behind the dish with a strong arm, developing framing, and promising game-calling skills. He will be in for a timeshare with other catchers but he has the most promise among all low-level backstop prospects.

Alexander Suarez

Suarez is continuing to show that he is one of the toolsiest players in the organization but his progress so far has been slower than what the most hardcore of Giants prospects followers would expect. His power-speed combination is very tantalizing posting some of the best exit velocities in San Jose last season but has continued to struggle with his approach and his free-swinging tendencies. He does have a future as a defender with the speed and arm strength to play at center or at right field.

Diego Velasquez (#23 prospect)

Velasquez showed considerable improvement last season to think that he can be a potential big-leaguer, albeit in a utility role. He improved his strength to the point that his beautiful swing has translated to production on both sides of the batter's box. He is still clearly a hit-over-power hitter with a good approach at the box but he has the potential to hit 10 homers in a full-season. He is not a twitchy athlete but his improved physique showed up defensively with his ability to make spectacular plays in the middle infield though he is a second baseman long-term.

Justin Wishkoski

Wishkoski is one of the Giants' Day Three picks last year who is slightly turning some heads as a sneaky breakout pick. He does not have a standout tool but has a good feel for the strike zone and has made a lot of contact. He has yet to be challenged in terms of opponents so the Eugene assignment should be fascinating to watch. He has worked on both corner infield spots but has an average arm strength though it is accurate.