SF Giants cut ties with infield prospect from 2019 draft class

The SF Giants trimmed its organizational roster recently, which is a bit uncommon at this point in the offseason. Infield prospect and 2019 draftee Carter Aldrete has been released, per the team's transaction log.

SF Giants cut ties with infield prospect from 2019 draft class

If the name sounds familiar, there is a very good reason as to why. The 26-year-old prospect is the nephew to former major league outfielder Mike Aldrete. The older Aldrete was drafted by the Giants in the seventh round of the 1983 draft out of Stanford University. He appeared in parts of 10 seasons in the majors, including his first three years with the Giants.

Since his playing career came to an end in 1996, Aldrete has served as a coach with a number of different organizations including the Arizona Diamondbacks, Seattle Mariners, and the St. Louis Cardinals. He is currently working as the first base coach for the Oakland A's.

The younger Aldrete has only been with the Giants organization for his entire pro career. He was selected in the 15th round of the 2019 draft out of Arizona State University. In 2019, he was college teammates with Giants first-round pick Hunter Bishop and Spencer Torkelson, who was the first pick in the draft by the Detroit Tigers in 2020.

Aldrete has made a gradual ascent up the minor league ladder, reaching as high as Double-A in 2022. The 2022 season was a strong one for the right-handed bat as he registered a .268/.336/.496 line with 21 home runs, 65 runs, and 76 RBI in 435 plate appearances.

Unfortunately, he was unable to replicate those numbers this past year as he struggled to the tune of a .666 OPS with 13 home runs in 409 plate appearances for the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Over the years, Aldrete has proven to be a versatile glove in the field. As he moved up the minors, he saw less time in the middle of the field and more time at the corners where a power bat usually profiles.

He will enter free agency for the first time in his career, and given his recent numbers, there is a good chance that he lands with another organization.