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

The SF Giants farm system has seen its farm system drop down in terms of the overall organization rankings at the midway point of the 2024 season. We will take a look at those factors. For now, the list has a new No. 1 in Bryce Eldridge with Marco Luciano falling from the top spot.

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

The first is the graduation of a number of their too prospects such as Kyle Harrison, Lee Jung-hoo, and Keaton Winn. As a Giants fan, however, you'll take it as they are currently contributing to the big league club.

The second, and biggest factor, is the relative stagnation of their hitting prospects except for the person up top. The Sacramento squad was doing plenty of work early in the season, but the lineups of Richmond, Eugene, and San Jose sure left a lot to be desired. A lot of the breakout hitters last season either took a step back or have only done little to take the next step of their development

There are still plenty of prospect success stories this season, but they generally came from the pitching front. Another crucial factor is the relatively mixed results from the 2033 Giants draft class which post-draft drew plenty of universal praise. Injuries claimed both Maui Ahuna and Jack Payton, and the hitters outside of Bryce Eldridge and both Joe Whitman and Josh Bostick experienced plenty of ups and downs.

Building an updated Giants top prospects rankings was difficult. Only Bryce Eldridge and Hayden Birdsong are currently projected to be at least a potential everyday player. There are only currently six prospects that have a Future Value (FV) of 45 and the rest are 40 FV prospects. The positive thing about the Giants is that there is a high volume of pitchers who have a non-zero shot of making the big leagues, even if they are rated below 40 FV.

The Giants have specialized in finding pitchers who have one big-league quality pitch and building an arsenal off it. There are a lot of two-pitch pitchers in the organization, be it in the rotation or the pen, that are essential in organization building. It's like there are no wasted pitchers. That strength, however, is being put to the test this season as the farm system has seen a lot of their pitchers get injured throughout last season and are currently rehabbing in the Papago facility. It might be a good thing though as the facility features the top-of-the-line equipment necessary to improve strength and performance. This ranking features plenty of breakout pitchers, but keep in mind that there are plenty of unranked prospects who also deserve their flowers.

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.

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

6. Carson Whisenhunt P
FB 50/50 | CH 80/80 | CB 45/45 | CMD 45/50
PV 40 | FV 45

Whisenhunt has been doing quite well in the PCL this season, registering solid stats relative to the offensive-focused environment. And yet, there is little to no talk about his potential big-league promotion, which was on the front page of prospect-related content last year. There were a couple of bad starts early this season but he strung together a stretch of good performance.

We already know what the changeup is all about. It is an all-world pitch that is sure to be one of the very best individual pitches in the Majors once he gets there. However, one might say that the Whiz stalled out in terms of development. His fastball velocity was similar to last year but its mediocre life is now getting exposed in Triple-A. Getting squeezed at times by the ABS also did not help his cause. He’s also struggled to develop his curveball to a true swing-and-miss offering. He was flirting with a slider early on this season but curiously scrapped it not long after.

7. Rayner Arias OF
Hit 20/50 | Raw Power 50/55 | Game Power 40/50 | Speed 55/55 | Arm 55/55 | Field 50/50
PV 20 | FV 45

Arias has plenty of believers in the Giants community and it is not difficult to see why. He possibly has the best package of tools in the Giants farm system. Injuries hampered his playing time, with him only playing until recently due to an injury in Extended Spring Training.

Even though he is just starting his career, Arias has been lauded for his rather advanced skill set for a teenager. His more recent clips have shown him to be a more dynamic player than initially thought. Aside from being able to hit for both average and power, he's also shown the ability to stick up the middle as opposed to eventually moving to the corner outfield. He's shown the range and his frame is chiseled yet dynamic. One negative thing that is noticeable so far in his young career is his struggle with breaking balls where he takes breaking balls in the zone while chasing balls outside the zone. He seems to not have an issue with velocity but anything with good movement fazes him so far. If he can correct that, the tools are there for him to fully take off.

8. Tyler Fitzgerald SS
Hit 40/40 | Raw Power 55/55 | Game Power 40/45 | Speed 70/70 | Arm 50/50 | Field 50/50
PV 40 | FV 40

Fitzgerald might be what you call a quintessential AAAA-type player. He's done well this season in limited playing time with San Francisco but has shown the potential to absolutely turn on the jets in the PCL, bashing homers and wreaking havoc on the bases.

We essentially know what Fitzgerald is all about at this point. His rather grooved swing will limit how much contact he generates but he has a good feel for the strike zone and will take his walks from time to time. His range and defensive versatility seemed like an asset in the big leagues, but with the crowded position player groups, having Fitzgerald play a wide variety of positions at least at an average rate while continuing to hone his bat might not be good for his development. He will prove his value once the youth movement and a player of his skillset is needed.

9. Grant McCray OF
Hit 30/30 | Raw Power 55/55 | Game Power 40/45 | Speed 60/60 | Arm 55/55 | Field 60/60
PV 40 | FV 40

McCray has brought a lot of divisive opinions from the Giants community throughout the past two seasons, but most especially, this season. He was off to an abysmal start to the 2024 season, got hot in May, cooled off once again in June, received a relatively surprising Sacramento call-up in the second week of June, and has been solid if not spectacular with the River Cats so far. He is also eligible for a 40-man spot, something that the Giants are clearly considering right now as they continue to evaluate whether he is worth adding to the roster given the season that the likes of Heliot Ramos and Brett Wisely currently is having and with Luis Matos and Tyler Fitzgerald still in the mix.

The biggest supporters of McCray will continue to point out the athleticism, the tools, and the legitimate ability to stick up the middle. When he's on, he can single-handedly change the game with his muscle, legs, and glove. The biggest critics of his will point out the grooved nature of swing as opposing pitchers continue to exploit McCray's biggest weakness in the batter's box which is fastballs up in the zone and playing off that. Comparisons to Steven Duggar have been long attached to McCray for a few years now, and it looks like it will not deviate anytime soon.

10. Jhonny Level SS
Hit 20/45 | Raw Power 55/55 | Game Power 30/50 | Speed 55/55 | Arm 45/45 | Field 40/45
PV 20 | FV 40

Level signed for a million dollars in the latest international free agent cycle and has come into the 2024 season as one of the most exciting prospects in the Felipe Alou Academy. He was slow out of the box to begin his first pro season but he is now picking up the pace, hitting for average, power, and flashing his present wheels.

Even though he is just 17 years old, Level is already yoked. His frame is already well-built with a near-chiseled body but offers little to no projection remaining. That gives him plenty of power for a guy a couple of inches under six feet. It also results in an explosive swing on both sides of the batter's box. His ability to fire his hips and flick his wrists is very impressive though one would wonder if he can maintain that level of explosion as he gets older. He has above-average speed and is an aggressive base stealer but could still use more discipline. He only has fringy arm strength even though has the range for shortstop which should prompt him to move to second base once necessary. Until then, he should stick at shortstop where he is still improving his fundamentals.

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

11. Walker Martin SS
Hit 20/40 | Raw Power 50/55 | Game Power 30/45 | Speed 55/50 | Arm 55/55 | Field 40/45
PV 20 | FV 40

Martin spent the entire Spring Training flirting with the possibility of joining Bryce Eldridge in San Jose. Unfortunately, he continued his progress in the backfields where he is currently playing in the ACL.

If there is one thing that is for certain, it is that the Giants made the right call in holding Martin back as he looked more raw than expected. Early on in his ACL, there are plenty of swings and misses as he is continuing to dial in with his approach. In his most recent games, he is showing signs of improvement with it, flashing a good feel for the size of his strike zone, along with his patience at the box but the swing-and-miss, particularly with breaking balls, is still there. It is easy to be worried about his long-term hit tool. The lefty stroke is short and is currently not geared for over-the-fence power, as he does not seem to rotate his hips in his swing fully. His defense at shortstop also needs plenty of polish with him taking an extra step or two before getting fully set just one of a few examples. There is still a long road ahead for Martin but is clear that he is a couple of steps back with his fellow prep top pick Eldridge right now.

12. Randy Rodriguez P
FB 70/70 | SL 70/70 | CMD 40/40
PV 40 | FV 40

Rodriguez is finally putting it all together. Entering 2024, he still has some of the best pure stuff in the organization. Interestingly, he entered Spring Training with a slight tweak to his release point, having his fingers on top of the ball more instead of along the line of his forearm. It was done with the hopes of getting him in the strike zone more often this year. And so far, it has worked nicely.

The fastball continues to hit the high 90s with him getting on top of the ball more resulting in an above-average ride. And alongside his low release point, it makes his fastball a killer pitch even in the middle of the strike zone as it drops even less than usual. Conversely, the slider continues to be a knockout pitch with above-average sweep and depth. Just a simple tweak can lead to major results and that's what happened to Rodriguez, who finally unlocked his true potential.

13. Spencer Miles P
FB 55/60 | CB 70/70 | SL 45/50 | CH 40/40 | CMD 30/40
PV 30 | FV 40

Miles' 2023 season has been washed away by undergoing Tommy John surgery. That did not stop him from developing throughout the offseason once he started rehab. What he's shown so far has been the fruit of his labor.

The Giants drafted Miles in 2022 not because of his gaudy college stats, far from it, but of his raw tools. He has a live arm with great athleticism and a big arsenal, making him an ideal ball of clay for pro-level coaching. So far, it worked. His fastball has been in the 94-98 mph range though it has vanilla traits which pulls its effectiveness back a bit. The curveball is the star of the show though, a high-70s to low-80s offering with spin rates hovering around 3,000 rpm that features both sharp depth and sweep. He also has a high-80s slider to keep hitters off balanced though most of the focus now resides on his fastball-curveball combination. The control still needs improvement but his athleticism gives him a higher chance of improving it than most.

14. Jonah Cox OF
Hit 30/45 | Raw Power 45/45 | Game Power 30/40 | Speed 70/70 | Arm 45/45 | Field 45/45
PV 30 | FV 40

Cox has been quite a return when the Giants traded Ross Stripling and cash to the Athletics for the speedy outfielder. He was off to a blistering start with San Jose as he torched the league in April and May but then cooled off a bit in June. It did not stop the Giants' brass from promoting him to Eugene, where he is off once again to a strong start.

Speed is the name of Cox's game as a lot of his value hinges on his legs. He has already amassed a high number of infield hits, he steals bases at a high volume but with a high success rate, and he covers a ton of ground in center field. The swing itself is not particularly special, as it is a line-drive swing. He does not have much raw juice but he can pile up extra-base hits due to his legs. He can struggle a bit with breaking balls but he has a relatively polished knowledge of the strike zone. One of the biggest concerns that needs to be coached up is the mental side of the game. He has an ok arm but his decision-making (where to throw the ball to) needs plenty of improvement. He also can improve his reads in the outfield and should also hone down a bit on his over-aggressive base-running tendencies. If he can correct that, he has a prototypical lead-off hitter profile.

15. Spencer Bivens P
FB 60/60 | SL 55/55 | CH 50/50 | CMD 50/50
PV 40 | FV 40

Bivens has come a long way. From pitching overseas, in the independent leagues, the Minor Leagues, and to the Majors. What a journey, what a pitcher. He was excellent out of the bullpen for the River Cats, winning PCL Pitcher of the Month in May, and has continued his success into June before being trusted in the big leagues to pitch in crucial games.

It just goes to show that age does not matter, especially for pitchers. For a guy like Bivens who already is in his 30s, he has some of the best stuff in the Giants farm system. His mid-90s sinker has a tremendous sink that is very tough to put in the air. He compliments it with a low-80s slider that does not have a big shape but breaks late and sharply inside lefties. He also has a high-80s changeup that has plenty of fade like his sinker that he uses more as a complimentary pitch but can get whiffs when needed. He has continued to refine his mechanics ever since being signed by the Giants to the point where he has solid control of the strike zone. He might not have a long big league career due to his age, but he should be proud to be in the big leagues longer than most of the more heralded, more hyped prospects that came and will come after him.

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

16. Diego Velasquez SS
Hit 40/50 | Raw Power 40/40 | Game Power 30/30 | Speed 50/50 | Arm 45/45 | Field 45/50
PV 30 | FV 40

Velasquez was San Jose's best hitter last season and enters the 2024 season as Eugene's highest-rated position player. He was off to a strong start in April but has fallen back to Earth a bit in May and June but was still good. Funnily enough, most of Velasquez's peripherals have been near-identical this season compared to last season except for a slight dip in power.

The ability to hit on both sides of the plate has been Velasquez's calling card in his pro career. However, he's struggled to hit against righty pitchers this season while seeing big success against lefties. That has hurt his power numbers because he has better power as a left-handed hitter where he can golf out balls in the lower third of the zone while his righty swing is a line drive-centric swing. His defense at shortstop has looked solid with the range, the arm strength, and the footwork to play the position. He is not an explosive athlete, and better, more explosive defenders at the position will push him off shortstop as he gets older.

17. Carson Ragsdale P
FB 55/55 | CB 60/60 | CH 45/45 | CMD 40/40
PV 40 | FV 40

Ragsdale has suffered a myriad of major injuries ever since he was acquired by the Giants in 2021. That did not stop him from keeping on grinding to become the best pitcher that he could. He has been nasty against Double-A competition, grabbing the Eastern League strikeout lead before getting promoted to Sacramento where pitching data should be available.

The fastball sits in the 93-96 mph range with solid life up in the zone that he pairs up with a low-80s curveball with an 11-5 shape and massive depth. In search of a pitch that splits the vertical difference between his fastball and curveball, Ragsdale throws a low-spin changeup, almost like a splitter, in the mid-80s. He has thrown a cutter before back in Eugene but it seems that he has scrapped it in preference to the splitter with solid tumbling action. His strike-throwing issues have been covered up by the high strikeout numbers in Double-A. But the tighter ABS and the more brutal offensive environment of the PCL could hurt his overall numbers.

18. Mason Black P
FB 50/50 | SL 55/55 | CH 40/45 | CMD 50/50
PV 40 | FV 40

Black has been a rotation staple for the River Cats this season except for the rough stretch that he experienced in June. Because of his strong early play this season, it earned him a big league call-up last May. However, it did not go to plan as he got roughed up in every way imaginable. It might have hit his confidence as the calendar flipped to June.

The Savant page tells plenty of stories about Mason Black. His overall velocity is below average but the horizontal movement that he generates is tremendous. He works his four-seamer up in the zone but could not elicit swings and misses unlike in the Minors due to the lack of oomph. He is supposed to be a big pitch-to-contact guy but the contact he induced in the big leagues was quite high. He can still spin his sweeper and gyro slider well, but he might be stuck in a relief role to gain velocity. There is a world of possibility that he can enjoy success based on an uptick in velocity in a shorter role, an uptick that should allow him to get more whiffs and more weak contact.

19. Wade Meckler OF
Hit 40/55 | Raw Power 30/30 | Game Power 30/30 | Speed 55/55 | Arm 40/40 | Field 40/40
PV 40 | FV 40

Meckler experienced a meteoric rise to the big leagues in his first pro season after posting video game-like numbers in the Minors. However, he was outmatched in the big leagues after failing to translate the contact ability that he seemingly mastered against minor-league pitching. He suffered an injury that kept him out until the middle of May when he was sent to San Jose after playing in the ACL. He had a bit of a setback that kept him out a couple of weeks before he was back in action in Papago once more.

The ability to make contact and the mastery of the strike zone have been Meckler's true strengths that was on full display last season. It did take a hit, however, when he faced big-league competition. Videos of him in the Papago backfields show that he is still not yet in the shape that he wants to be though his most recent performances have been better. A true evaluation of his hit tool shall be done once again when he gets back to the big leagues, if ever. His raw speed is still electric but his base-stealing technique has not improved much and he is a left fielder even with the impressive range as his reads, first step, and overall instincts do not fit up the middle.

20. Trevor McDonald P
FB 50/55 | SL 55/55 | CB 55/60 | CH 45/45 | CMD 30/40
PV 30 | FV 40

McDonald was added to the team's 40-man roster last offseason to protect him from getting drafted in the Rule 5 draft because of his talents on the mound. An injury prevented him from starting the season in Richmond. Instead, he got back to action in mid-May in the Papago backfields. He got back to Eugene as sort of a rehab assignment where he grabbed plenty of strikeouts but also gave up plenty of walks as he continued to zero in on regaining his excellent 2023 form.

When fully healthy, McDonald has one of the best arsenals in the entire Giants farm system. His fastball touches the mid-90s, primarily with sink but he can also throw a true four-seamer up in the zone though its shape is not optimal. His best pitches are his breaking balls, a mid-80s slider, and a high-70s curveball that he can generate good depth and sweep. He is not afraid to throw either of those breaking balls against any hitter either. He also has a changeup that has a late tumble but is a clear fourth pitch for him at the moment. He is athletic on the mound but his unorthodox motion does limit his control potential. With him also varying his tempo on the mound, it exacerbates the ceiling of his control.

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

21. Dylan Cumming P
FB 45/50 | SL 60/60 | CH 50/50 | CB 40/45 | CMD 40/45
PV 40 | FV 40

Cumming entered the 2024 season as one of my favorite prospects that I did not rank due to his unique pitching profile. He has flashed shades of Sergio Romo, Ryan Walker, and other slingshot siderarmers with a great slider. Now, he's becoming one of the organization's most complete pitchers, seeing great success.

Any conversation about Cumming starts with his frisbee slider, which he can toy with a bit to either add or subtract velocity or depth to confuse the batter. His lively sinker also gained a couple of ticks as he is now around 91-94 mph and with a still slender frame, there is likely still more to come. He also has an improved changeup with plenty of arm-side run that shape up to be another swing-and-miss pitch and a curveball that he throws to keep hitters honest. His overall control has looked good and he is not afraid to throw any pitch at any count. Even though he is on the old side, his development as a pitcher has been astonishing to watch and he should continue to improve as a late-bloomer.

22. Aeverson Arteaga SS
Hit 40/40 | Raw Power 55/55 | Game Power 30/40 | Speed 55/55 | Arm 60/60 | Field 55/55
PV 30 | FV 40

Arteaga has not been able to play this season due to a thoracic outlet injury which would likely keep him out until next season.

23. Trent Harris P
FB 55/55 | CB 60/60 | SL 50/55 | CH 40/40 | CMD 40/40
PV 30 | FV 40

Harris was an intriguing UDFA from UNC Pembroke who dominated the Papago backfields when he signed last year and later with San Jose. There is certainly plenty of promise heading into the 2024 season but he's remained under the radar. Well, now is the time for him to shine as he continued his domination of the low-Minors by destroying Cal League competition with the Northwest League looking to be the next on the chopping block. The demolition job also came from a transition of workload from pitching late in games in short bursts early on to piggybacking a starting pitcher currently.

There was a viral post on Twitter about Harris looking a bit freaky on the mound with the mechanics reminding them of Tim Lincecum. While he is far from the skinny frame that Timmy had, Harris has a comparable athleticism to the Giants legend. His over-the-top release point allows him to generate plenty of life with his mid-90s fastball at the top of the strike zone while also having some tailing action as well. His specialty pitch though is his high-70s to low-80s curveball that pairs very well with his fastball given its 12-6 shape with plenty of bite. He also has a hard slider that compliments the heater and the curve, giving him three unique looks. The slider tends to hang sometimes but at best also looks like a plus pitch. His mechanics make him hard to have pinpoint control as a true starting pitcher but this looks like another W for the Giants pitching lab.

24. Ryan Murphy P
FB 50/50 | SL 55/55 | CB 50/50 | CUT 50/50 | CH 45/50 | CMD 45/45
PV 40 | FV 40

Murphy has seemingly flown under the radar for the past two seasons. His performance last season was solid if not spectacular. He was once again off to a solid 2024 campaign with Richmond. However, development is still of the utmost importance and he's shown positive strides this year as he makes his way to the Majors.

Control has been one of the, if not the, best assets that Murphy had back in 2021 when he plowed through the California League but has taken a step back as he battles a recurring back injury. Now fully healthy, the control that he's shown before is back and is now able to locate his fastball in the corners more consistently and not give away as many free pitches as before. His low-90s fastball has solid carry up in the zone that he compliments with a mid-80s slider that is an above-average offering with sharp two-plane action. He continues to develop his other pitches and now has a high-80s cutter as a compliment to the slider, a changeup that has looked good but the quality is inconsistent, and his high-70s curveball that still looks solid. Having a consistent quality in his pitches is the next step in Murphy's development but as it stands, he has the ingredients to become a back-end, big-league starter.

25. Christian Koss SS
Hit 40/45 | Raw Power 40/40 | Game Power 30/40 | Speed 60/60 | Arm 50/50 | Field 50/50
PV 40 | FV 40

Koss has been a pleasant surprise ever since getting traded to the Giants from the Red Sox before the 2024 regular season started. He was off to a stellar start in his first week of play but was hit with an injury that caused him to miss a month and a half of action. He returned to Richmond in June after a rehab stint in the ACL. From there, he seemed to not miss a beat once he came back, winning the Eastern League Player of the Week before heading off to Sacramento to continue his hot-hitting ways.

The performance of Koss has him enter the top 30 as he continues to see the ball very well. He swings with his right arm extended which could leave him vulnerable to pitches inside. However, he's shown the ability to rotate his hips quickly and time pitches on time to seemingly not have any issues so far. He has shown the ability to hit double-digit home runs when he was younger but has not carried it as he got older, instead settling for gap-to-gap ability. He has lost a tiny bit of speed as he got older but is still quite rangy in the infield and in the basepaths. There could be a possibility of him playing multiple positions to earn a job in the big leagues.