SF Giants add New York Mets 2019 2nd-round pick on a minor league deal

The SF Giants added a once-promising pitching prospect on a minor league deal. Former New York Mets and Cleveland Guardians prospect Josh Wolf has joined the organization according to the team's transaction log.

SF Giants add New York Mets 2019 2nd-round pick on a minor league deal

Wolf has been assigned to the Arizona Complex League (ACL) Giants to get ramped up. He does not have experience above High-A, so this is one of those moves that may not impact the upper minors right away, if at all.

The Mets selected Wolf in the second round of the 2019 draft out of St. Thomas High School in Hoston, Texas. He impressed scouts leading up to the draft with an uptick in velocity, throwing a fastball that sat comfortably in the high-90's.

The 23-year-old had leverage in the draft as he had committed to Texas A&M. However, the Mets swayed him away from that commitment with a $2.15 million bonus. The slot value of his pick was $1.37 million, so his deal was well above slot value.

Wolf's time with the Mets was short-lived due in part to the canceled 2020 season. He was shipped to the Guardians in 2021 in a six-player deal that netted New York both Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco.

The righty pitcher struggled for much of his time with the Guardians. In five minor league seasons, he has tallied a 5.49 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, 9.4 K/9, and a 1.28 SO/W ratio. He saw time as a starter earlier in his career, but he has transitioned to the bullpen due to control issues. These numbers include a 5.11 ERA in 10 appearances in High-A this season before he was released by the Guardians organization.

At one point, Wolf was thought to have mid-rotation upside. He still flashes a mid-90's fastball with a slurvy slider and a changeup. All three pitches are quality offerings that play down to well below-average command.

This is not one of those moves that will excite Giants fans. That said, Wolf was a high school draftee not that long ago and is still relatively young (23). With only 157.1 frames to his pro ledger, there could be some development left to realize. For the time being, he will work out with the ACL Giants before he is assigned to a more competitive affiliate.