SF Giants midseason top 30 prospects: New No. 1, power hitter falls from top spot

SF Giants midseason top 30 prospects: New No. 1, power hitter falls from top spot

1. Bryce Eldridge 1B 
Hit 30/50 | Raw Power 60/80 | Game Power 45/70 | Speed 30/30 | Arm 55/55 | Field 40/45
PV 20 | FV 55

Eldridge has already experienced a pretty complete life of a prospect in his first full season. He’s had his fair share of highs, lows, injuries, developmental adjustments, and everything in between. He was off to a solid start to his 2024 season but sustained a minor injury after a couple of weeks of play. His timing was off once he returned which needed tweaks to his swing. It resulted in an offensive explosion in May and then he continued to hold a solid standard to end his first half of the season. He was promoted to Eugene and has continued to find success at the level.

The power potential is obviously immense, and he already possesses all-field power even though he is still a lean athlete and has yet to gain substantial muscle. His feel to hit still needs plenty of seasoning but his pretty swing mechanics hold plenty of promise. He’s also learning how to battle consistently but continues to expect a pretty high number of strikeouts due to his large frame. Eldridge’s peak could be akin to the prime years of the premier lefty power hitters like Chris Davis and Travis Hafner.

2. Hayden Birdsong P
FB 55/60 | CB 60/60 | SL 55/60 | CH 50/55 | CMD 40/45
PV 40 | FV 50

Birdsong continues his rather rapid ascension through the Minor Leagues. He has not looked as dominant as he did a season ago, but the numbers continue to speak for themselves. He ranks among the best in not just the Eastern League but in the entire Giants system in ERA and opponent’s batting average. It earned him a Triple-A promotion after two months of play and an eventual big-league promotion.

It is quite difficult what to make of the sudden uptick in velocity when he made his Triple-A debut, topping out at 99 mph, as he was around 91-96 mph with his fastball with solid life up in the zone. Where Birdsong shines is with the quality of his both curveball and slider that generate plenty of whiffs. The changeup also improved this season and is now a respectable fourth pitch capable of swings and misses. The most important thing for Birdsong that has yet to happen is the improvement of his fastball control. With a complete arsenal and a burgeoning control, he is the best pitcher in the farm system with as high of a ceiling as anyone.

3. Reggie Crawford P
FB 70/70 | CB 50/55 | CH 40/45 | CMD 45/50
PV 40 | FV 45

Crawford has been treated very conservatively but moved through the Minors very aggressively this season. He was placed in Richmond to begin the season and was promoted to Sacramento after only a handful of appearances. It seems that the Giants really want Crawford in their 2024 squad, even if it means losing reps, reps that do not hurt pitchers as much as it does with hitters.

The stuff that Crawford has is undeniable. The fastball can get up to triple digits with great life up in the zone. The issue that I have is that he is losing quite a bit of the late movement and effectiveness when he’s not throwing at 100%. His curveball is a good out pitch but can be not as sharp at times. The changeup has seen some effectiveness against Minor Leaguers but the overall quality is only fringy at best. The Giants are banking on Crawford’s extraordinary makeup, work ethic, and solid foundation of strike-throwing to make his starter dreams work, though it will likely come when he’s already graduated as a prospect.

4. Marco Luciano OF/1B
Hit 40/45 | Raw Power 70/70 | Game Power 45/60 | Speed 40/40 | Arm 60/60 | Field 40/40
PV 40 | FV 45

Luciano has been in a precarious situation right now, though it might have likely started last season as a part of an aggressive promotion spree that resulted in a Patrick Bailey breakout and a Luis Matos surge from time to time, but largely hampered the Giants hitting prospects as a whole. Poor performance in the Majors paired with an injury put Luciano in the doghouse that Heliot Ramos once belonged in.

The contact woes that Luciano was having in the Minors over the past two seasons have looked a bit better in the Majors this season. It seemed like the patience and the pitch selection that he actively learned in the Minors is now starting to translate. Of course, there is still the raw power that he possesses that we could see fully blossom in a couple of years. The thing that has put Luciano in the doghouse is the defense at shortstop. It seemed like he’s regressed considerably after flashing the ability to make routine plays last season. Even unnatural shortstop fits such as Brett Wisely have done much better with the glove. It now begs the question of where you would put Luciano’s and how much the Giants believe in the bat.

5. Landen Roupp P
FB 55/55 | CB 70/70 | SL 50/50 | CH 45/45 | CMD 45/50
PV 40 | FV 45

Roupp has been a star of this year's Spring Training, dominating the competition that eventually led to him being added to the 40-man roster and making his big league debut this year. He experienced the ups and downs of a rookie pitcher early on and was sent back to Sacramento to continue his development. He suffered a relatively minor injury in the middle of May and is now rehabbing.

The right-hander is a known curveball merchant, and for a good reason as it's a damn good pitch. It is a true plus-plus offering with a very high spin rate, sharp depth and sweep. The only thing that does not make it a true 80 pitch is the premium velocity, but we know that high velocity is not really needed to call a curveball a true 80 pitch. Big leaguers managed a better job than was initially expected, possibly because of a lack of a true compliment to Uncle Charlie. His sinker averaged in the mid-90s in relief but should go down a tick in a starter's role. It is not a snug fit with his curveball, but he continues to diversify his movement profile by adding a slider, cutter, and a changeup.