SF Giants hitting prospects rundown (5/8 - 5/14)

SF Giants hitting prospects rundown (5/8 - 5/14)

Flying Squirrels Hitting Prospects

Frankie Tostado: 6 G, 27 PA, .360 AVG, .927 OPS, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K
Brandon Martorano: 5 G, 24 PA, .158 AVG, .924 OPS, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 2 BB, 8 K, 1 SB
Brett Auerbach: 5 G, 22 PA, .167 AVG, .651 OPS, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 4 BB, 8 K

We have not talked about Frankie Tostado for quite some time but the first baseman is off to another strong start this season for the Flying Squirrels. The 24-year-old has a .333 batting average, .861 OPS, seven doubles, and four homers this season. His power production has been consistent for the past three seasons and he's shown that he does not mind hitting against lefties (.333 batting average against) or righties (also a .333 batting average against). The only couple of aspects that I am worried about in Tostado's 2022 season is the massive decrease in his walk rate (2.6%) as well as his swinging strike rate (19.8%, second-highest in the farm system) but the line drive rate is as high as it's ever been (26.2%) and he's been a massive believer in the opposite field approach this season. Tostado might not be more than a high-Minors depth piece but his bat could find a way to the Majors if he can sustain his hot starts towards the end of the season.

I have a question for you, guys. How can you still achieve a greater than .900 OPS while having a batting average below the Mendoza line? As Brandon Martorano proved to us, have all of your hits go out of the yard is the answer. After a strong start to the season, Martorano's production went to the gutter for the past couple of weeks but has pretty much turned on his power production. Ten of his 15 hits this season went for extra bases (five doubles and five homers) and his slugging has been inside the top five among all Richmond hitters while being in the bottom five in terms of batting average. His defense behind the plate has been pretty solid with the exception of his run game control. He's turned himself into a three-true-outcomes hitter with good framing ability behind the plate.

It's been pretty weird to not ever hear about Brett Auerbach's whereabouts since he missed two weeks from the end of April to the start of May. I asked a couple of people and it looked like Auerbach was sick, physically sick enough to miss games. Well, he's back and that's what matters. He's also hit an opposite-field home run last game and he's been clearly shedding off some rust before he pops off once again.