Everything SF Giants fans need to know about the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats

Everything SF Giants fans need to know about the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats

Position Players

Trenton Brooks

Brooks was acquired a year ago in a rare trade with the Athletics for Sean Newcomb. Originally drafted in the 17th round of the 2016 draft by the Cleveland Guardians out of the University of Nevada - Reno, he has been a solid if not spectacular bat with a track record of having a good knowledge of the strike zone boosted a bit by the ABS. He is limited to the corners but will likely be a first baseman in the long term.

Yusniel Diaz

Diaz was once considered a top-100 prospect in baseball with the Dodgers before being packaged in the deal to acquire Manny Machado at the 2018 trade deadline. Diaz still has good raw tools such as raw power, arm strength, and speed, but he's struggled to crack the big leagues once again. His contact ability has been fringy at best and he is limited in the corner outfield.

Marco Luciano (#4 prospect)

Luciano is still an exhilarating prospect with the ability to hit 30 homers a season while playing shortstop. His ability to make contact is questionable but his raw strength allows him to hit the ball very hard when he connects. He also improved his fundamentals defensively last year and there is now a coin-flip chance that he will stick at the position long-term. The Giants' everyday shortstop position is his for the taking later in 2024 barring any big-league addition. He still projects as a 30-homer hitter with now teammate Jorge Soler as his likely outcome.

Luis Matos

It is tough to put a lid on what Matos would likely become after undergoing a massive transformation to his physique this offseason. He added strength to his frame which allowed him to hit for more home runs this spring and potentially in the hitter-friendly PCL. He's always displayed a penchant for contact but drawing more walks would benefit his cause also. His buffed-up frame will also likely result in him losing a step, hurting his chances at playing in center field consistently.

Wade Meckler (#14 prospect)

Meckler looked overmatched when he reached the Majors late in the season but he blasted through the Minors in his first full pro season. His ability to make contact and plate discipline is the best in the organization. His swing is simple and direct to the ball but he's been beaten by big league breaking balls so there's an adjustment to be made. His raw speed is plus-plus but has yet to fully realize his potential. It gives him great range in the outfield but has to improve on his reads and routes. He is also not a volume-base stealer who needs to improve on his technique.

Ismael Munguia

This year's Barney Nugent Award winner deserved it after posting a spectacular spring. He is a ball of pure energy and his best tool might be his sparkplug character in the dugout and on the bases. He has an exceptional feel for the barrel and has surprising pull-side pop too. It is hard to expect him to hit more than double-digit home runs in a season but he will likely end up with plenty of extra-base hits. He is not the fastest runner but he can threaten the bases by hustling for the extra base. His defense needs more work as his routes and reads are fringy at best alongside a below-average arm.