SF Giants pitching prospects rundown (4/30 - 5/6)

SF Giants pitching prospects rundown (4/30 - 5/6)

SJ Giants Pitching Prospects

Eric Silva: 2 G (2 GS), 7 IP, 4 H, 4 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 10 K, 3.86 ERA
Mason Black: 1 G (1 GS), 4 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K, 0.00 ERA
Nick Sinacola: 1 G, 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 HBP, 1 BB, 6 K, 0.00 ERA
Trevor McDonald: 2 G, 4.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 5 K, 1.93 ERA

I have been ranking Eric Silva aggressively ever since he got drafted by the Giants because I see the talent and the potential. An easy counter-argument for it is pointing out his 4.91 ERA this season. However, the peripherals will tell you otherwise. His xFIP, the best stat in predicting future performance right now, is almost two points lower at 2.96. Silva has been exceptional this season as he is getting stretched more as the season wore on with his pitch count increased to 60. If there is a critique of Silva that I have it's actually his strike-throwing as he tends to lose his control entirely on an at-bat similar to Kyle Harrison last season. Nonetheless, Silva is an awesome pitching prospect.

Like Eric Silva, Mason Black has been cruising this week with another strong pitching performance. The mustachioed just keeps on delivering start after start with traits that you like to see from a pitching prospect such as velocity (93-98 MPH on the fastball), nasty stuff (36.4% strikeout rate and 31% whiff rate), promising strike-throwing (6.5% walk rate and 64% strike rate), and a penchant for generating groundballs (58.1% groundball rate and 2.27 groundball/flyball ratio).

I think we have identified who are the pitching prospects from the 2021 draft class to look out for and Nick Sinacola is right in the thick of things. Sinacola's numbers this season have been very impressive with a 1.83 ERA, 2.73 xFIP, 8.8% walk rate, and a 40% strikeout rate. His latest outing is particularly impressive because he induced a season-high 17 whiffs and a second-highest 14 called strikes against Stockton hitting. He's continuing to impress with his strong three-pitch mix consisting of his low-90s fastball, gyro slider, and tumbling splitter.

Capping off this week is Trevor McDonald with another strong relief appearance out of the bullpen. McDonald has kept up his strong 2022 and the way that his peripherals held up (34.8% strikeout rate, 6.1% walk rate) has been impressive. McDonald's been exceptional out of the bullpen and there could be talks that he could potentially be thrusted to a starting pitcher role a la Randy Rodriguez next season. The stuff looks the part and the control is good enough to do so.