SF Giants outfield prospect continues stellar 2022 campaign with promotion to High-A

The Eugene Emeralds boast the most talented group of prospects in the SF Giants farm system and they are getting another top outfield prospect.

SF Giants outfield prospect continues stellar 2022 campaign with promotion to High-A

Vaun Brown began the 2022 season with a conservative assignment in Low-A, but he is being rewarded with a promotion to High-A. The 24-year-old outfielder was probably overdue for a promotion, but he did not let that affect his performance at the plate.

The Giants originally drafted the right-handed bat in the 10th round of the 2021 draft out of Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. Oddly enough, the Giants leaned heavily on pitching prospects in last year's draft, selecting a pitcher with nine of the first 10 picks. Brown was the first-position player picked by the Giants in 2021.

His pro career got off to a torrid place as he slashed .354/.480/.620 (185 wRC+) with two home runs, 14 RBI, and 24 runs in 98 plate appearances for one of the Giants' Arizona Complex League (ACL) teams.

Despite the strong results, Brown began the year with the San Jose Giants. He was a catalyst in San Jose's lineup, slashing .347/.428/.636 (172 wRC+) with 14 homers, 41 RBI, and 50 runs in 262 plate appearances. This included a solid 9.5 percent walk rate against a 25.6 percent strikeout rate.

By the end of May, Brown was being labeled as the "best prospect that nobody knows about." It bears mentioning that the former 10th-round pick spent five seasons at Florida Southern College, meaning that he was a bit on the older side for his draft class and likely too old for the California League.

He will join a team that includes top prospects such as Luis Matos, Marco Luciano, Ryan Murphy, Nick Swiney, and Casey Schmitt. In the case of Schmitt, he and Brown might not be teammates for long as the former is one of the next prospects in line for a promotion.

The Eugene Emeralds were definitively the best team in the Northwest League in the first half of the season as they posted a 38-25 record. The next best team was the Spokane Indians with a 34-30 record.

The Emeralds will be even tougher to beat in the second half of the season as they are adding one of the top bats from the California League in Brown. Brown has quickly emerged as one of the Giants' top prospects from last year's draft class, but High-A will be a good barometer for what type of skill level he possesses.