SF Giants promote a pair of former first-round picks to Sacramento

A pair of former first-round picks are now one step closer to the majors. Both Hunter Bishop and Reggie Crawford were promoted to Triple-A, per the team's transaction log.

SF Giants promote a pair of former first-round picks to Sacramento

The Giants also moved lefty pitcher Raymond Burgos up to Sacramento. Burgos signed a minor league deal at the end of April and was ramping up in the Arizona Complex League in preparation for game action. He spent the 2023 season with the organization as well.

This is an exciting time for Giants fans. The Giants made a surprise assignment with Crawford at the start of the year by placing him in Double-A.

The lefty pitching prospect dazzled in his brief time with the Richmond Flying Squirrels, posting a 4.66 ERA wirth 19 strikeouts against five walks in 9.2 frames.

On the mound, the 6-foot-4 pitcher flashes a high 90's fastball that plays up thanks to above-average extension from his release point. He pairs this with a plus slider that gets two-plane movement while mixing in an occasional changeup.

The Giants drafted him in the first round of the 2022 out of the University of Connecticut. He was recovering from Tommy John surgery and missed the entire college season. Since then, the Giants have been cautious with this workload.

In fact, he has only tallied 28.2 innings as a pro while not pitching more than two innings in any one appearance. There is a chance that the Giants continue this path for 2024 while trying to stretch him out later on.

The Giants do not have much depth out of the bullpen from the left side. Both Taylor Rogers and Erik Miller have an ERA above four, so a need could thrust Crawford onto the major league roster by the end of the season.

On the other hand, Hunter Bishop moves up to Triple-A as well. The left-handed bat has been plagued by injuries since being taken in the first round of the 2019 draft. This includes a lingering shoulder ailment and Tommy John surgery.

Bishop flashed impressive power out of college, but he has been unable to replicate that trait due in part to missing so much time. He began the year in Double-A, slashing .242/.314/.358 (95 wRC+) with two home runs, six RBI, and nine runs in 105 plate appearances before being moved up to Sacramento.

Those numbers do not jump off of the page, but Sacramento's outfield depth has been completely depleted to support the major league roster. Even Yusniel Díaz and Chase Pinder have landed on the injured list. This should pave the way for Bishop to see considerable playing time in Triple-A and try to live up to the lofty expectations of being a first-round pick.