SF Giants pitching prospects rundown (5/14 - 5/20)

Make sure to revisit our weekly SF Giants prospect rundowns to keep up with each of the organization’s minor-league affiliates.

SF Giants pitching prospects rundown (5/14 - 5/20)

If you do not feel well acclimated to the prospects throughout the farm system, you might want to revisit this year's Prospect Week article (specifically the SF Giants 2022 prospects depth chart) or purchase the 2022 SF Giants Prospects Primer filled with scouting reports of 150 San Francisco Giants prospects from the best of the best to the unheard-of prospects. If you’re just interested in the biggest names, then the monthly updated 2022 Top 30 Prospects is just what you need.

River Cats Pitching Prospects

Notable Performers

Enmanuel de Jesus: 2 G (2 GS), 9.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R (4 ER), 5 BB, 14 K, 3.86 ERA
Tristan Beck: 1 G (1 GS), 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 6 K, 3.00 ERA
Raynel Espinal: 1 G (1 GS), 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 HBP, 1 BB, 4 K, 0.00 ERA

Enmanuel de Jesus brought his strikeout stuff this week highlighted by his 4.1 innings of two-hit work with nine strikeouts. The walks have been an issue with de Jesus this season as he allowed at least two walks in six straight appearances but he's picking up the pace recently on the strikeout column. His breaking ball looks pretty good as well as his fastball and it's just honing it in that is what's holding de Jesus back this season.

After a couple of rough outings, Tristan Beck has finally put a strong outing at the Triple-A level against Tacoma. The good thing for Beck is that he's still throwing strikes (65% strike rate) and he is not getting beat via the long ball unlike Frisbee when he got promoted last season. Beck's 9.68 ERA in the Triple-A level should go down (5.73 xFIP) but what Beck could become is still a pending question to be answered.

Raynel Espinal has been the best starting pitcher in the River Cats staff this season with a 2.70 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 30 innings this season. His funk really stands out and he keeps on being consistent even though his walk rate is a bit high (11.3%). His near five-foot release height gives his pitches a good plane above the zone where he attacks hitters with his fastball and slider. There is a chance that Espinal could see the big leagues this season and potentially be a good relief pitcher with some starter traits.

SF Giants pitching prospects rundown (5/14 - 5/20)

Flying Squirrels Pitching Prospects

Notable Performers

R.J. Dabovich: 1 G, 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 0.00 ERA
Kai-Wei Teng: 2 G (2 GS), 14 H, 9 R (9 ER), 2 HBP, 4 BB, 5 K, 8.68 ERA
Matt Frisbee: 1 G (1 GS), 5.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R (5 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, 8.44 ERA

After a bit of a stumble last month, R.J. Dabovich is starting to pick up steam again. It's actually pretty funny to see that Dabovich gives up three earned runs at the start of each month before shutting the doors down afterward until the end of the month. The 4.05 ERA might be disappointing but I am actually feeling pretty good about the form that Dabovich is in recently because the crispness of the fastball came back this month after looking a bit shaky in April. The control still looks a bit worse this season compared to last season so that's something that I would like to see him refine as the weather warms up.

Both Kai-Wei Teng and Matt Frisbee got roughed up this week and honestly, both of them have a similar feel to their game right now so I clumped both of them in one talk. Both Teng and Frisbee have an at least above-average breaking ball with a feel to spin and enough control for the pitch to induce plenty of swings and misses but their overall control, specifically their fastball control, has gotten away from them this week. Teng's fastball control will not be resolved unless he makes adjustments to his lower half in his delivery. With Frisbee though, I am concerned that he's plateaued in his development and his confidence might be hit when he got shelled in Sacramento last season.

SF Giants pitching prospects rundown (5/14 - 5/20)

SJ Giants Pitching Prospects

Notable Performances

Mason Black: 1 G (1 GS), 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 0.00 ERA
Esmerlin Vinicio: 2 G, 4.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 HBP, 1 BB, 6 K, 2.08 ERA
Evan Gates: 1 G, 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 0.00 ERA
Spencer Bivens: 1 G, 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0.00 ERA

Mason Black has been the most consistent pitcher in the San Jose Giants team this season. Among pitchers with at least 20 innings pitched this season in the California League, Black is first in ERA, third in xFIP, fourth in groundball rate, and fifth in K/BB. The thing that is a bit concerning with Black is the dip in his swing and miss ability and ability to rack up the strikeouts (13.5% swinging strike rate, 31.9% strikeout rate which is sixth among Giants pitchers with more than 20 innings pitched) which might be a result of his fastball shape but it's working out very well for Black right now in terms of his strike-throwing and pure stuff.

Esmerlin Vinicio was considered as the top pitcher in the 2019 Giants' international FA class but he has not lived up much to the expectations so far. Vinicio has a 4.50 ERA and a corresponding 4.89 xFIP this season with 17 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched. The most worrying thing for me is the lack of physicality on his frame. He has not added much on his frame and that limits him to a relief role. His baggy clothes hide the thin frame that he has underneath. But Vinicio can viciously spin it as his curveball is at least above-average to plus. The issue is that his fastball velocity has not ticked up and he has not develop in terms of fine command. Vinicio is a fit for relief.

Entering this season, I have named Evan Gates as one of the potential breakout prospects and while it might be loud, Gates has been very good reliever in the San Jose bullpen this season. Gates is effective because of his north-south approach with his high fastball, low curveball combination. The velocity reaches 94 MPH and the curveball is very effective in inducing swings and misses. He might be 24 years old but Gates can be a dude who might reach the high-Minors.

Who the hell is Spencer Bivens? How can a 27-year-old pitch in a professional setting for the first time in his career? Well, because Bivens has some potential. Signed to a Minors deal, and Bivens toiled in Indy ball for the past couple of years after coming out of college (Rogers State graduate) but looked like has spent the past couple of years at Tread Athletics. Bivens has a funky delivery with a pretty stiff look at leg kick and a whirling motion that resembles Tim Lincecum. Bivens has a very horizontal movement profile with his pitches similar to Logan Webb and his twirling motion gives him deception. It would be interesting what the Giants plan with Bivens but he might be a potential diamond in the rough.