SF Giants promote handful of 2023 draftees, including top pick, to San Jose

With the Arizona Complex League coming to a close earlier this week, the SF Giants were eager to extend the season for a handful of 2023 draftees. Top pick and two-way player Bryce Eldridge was among seven 2023 draftees to be moved up to the San Jose Giants according to the team's transaction log.

SF Giants promote handful of 2023 draftees, including top pick, to San Jose

Charlie Szykowny (ninth round), Quinn McDaniel (fifth round), Drew Cavanaugh (17th round), Trent Harris (UDFA), Cale Lansville (14th round), and Justin Wishkoski (16th round) rounded out the list of this year's class to receive a promotion. In addition to this, Javier Francisco, a 2020 international signing, was bumped up to San Jose as well.

There is usually not a lot of movement for players in their draft year as they adjust to the changes of pro ball. That has not been the case for the Giants as they had already moved a handful of 2023 draftees up to San Jose prior to this.

Perhaps, one omission from this list is left-handed pitcher Joe Whitman. Whitman was a second-round pick out of Kent State University. He recorded four scoreless innings with the ACL Giants Black this summer. After a full college season in which he made 15 starts, the Giants might decide to shut him down for the remainder of the year. That is not that uncommon, especially with pitching prospects.

The most notable name from the group is Eldridge. It was not that long ago that if a high school prospect reached full-season ball in his draft year, it was the sign of someone who might be on a fast track. That was before baseball consolidated the minor leagues, but that point still holds some weight.

The left-handed bat performed well in rookie ball, slashing .294/.393/.647 with five home runs, 13 RBI, and eight runs in 61 plate appearances. This included nine walks against 16 strikeouts. The Giants drafted him as a two-way player, but he did not make it to the mound in the Rookie League. That will likely not change with San Jose, but the bat has made a lot of noise as well.

Each of these prospects have a long way to go before they are knocking on the door for a promotion. However, the rapid movement can be seen as an encouraging sign from this year's draft class.