SF Giants News: Top 3 non-roster minor league pitchers to follow in camp

SF Giants News: Top 3 non-roster minor league pitchers to follow in camp

3. Jorge Guzmán

Remember when the Giants almost traded for Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins? They got so close, but the power-hitting outfielder used his no-trade clause to be traded to the New York Yankees instead. The Yankees sent over three players including Starlin Castro, José Devers and Jorge Guzmán.

Including Castro was meant to offset a very small portion for what was remaining of Stanton's massive 13-year, $325 million contract. The Yankees added a couple of midlevel prospects as well.

Since the Yankees were taking on Stanton's salary, the prospects included were never expected to match the value that Stanton was going to produce.

That said, Guzmán was ranked as the No. 87 prospect in baseball according to Baseball America prior to the 2018 season. There was some prospect pedigree there but he never got an extended look with the Marlins.

Across seven minor league seasons, the 27-year-old pitcher has registered a 3.69 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 9.3 K/9, and a 2.01 SO/W ratio. The strikeout rate has improved to 11.7 K/9 in one seasons in Triple-A. However, Guzmán allowed eight earned runs in three appearances across two seasons with Miami.

In his brief stint with the Marlins, Guzmán did flash a mid-90's four-seam fastball. However, it came with subpar command. The righty posted a 3.63 ERA in 16 appearances with the Giants organization in 2022 but his command will need to show improvement.