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SF Giants prospect wins Pitcher of the Month after incredible June run

By Nathan Smith |
SF Giants
SF Giants / Mitchell Layton/GettyImages

The SF Giants have seen some fantastic performances throughout their minor league system in 2023, with the likes of Kyle Harrison and Carson Whisenhunt making big names for themselves, but clearly, they are not the only ones on fire.

SF Giants prospect wins Pitcher of the Month after incredible June run

On Friday, Double-A prospect Mason Black was officially awarded for his incredible run of form as of late, as he was announced as the Eastern League Pitcher of the Month after compiling a 1.27 ERA and 25 strikeouts over his five starts in the month of June.

This was an especially easy award to give out. After all, Black allowed just three earned runs in the month of June. All of those runs were allowed in a game on June 2 against the Erie Seawolves. The pitching prospect went four straight starts in June without allowing a run.

Black, who is now the Giants' No. 9 overall prospect has been solid all season long in Double-A, and while the results weren't there early in the year, he has found his fastball-slider combo in recent weeks, with the heater topping out at 97 MPH and a quality slider. He is a good strike-thrower and has the makings to be a major-league pitcher.

At 23 years of age, Black has the physical makeup to be a force at the next level and over his last five starts, he's been somewhat untouchable, recording 29 strikeouts to just five walks and eight hits over his last 22.1 innings, including a five perfect innings this past week.

This is a well-deserved honor for one of San Francisco's hottest prospects, and while it's tough to see a path to the major leagues in 2023 for Black, he's definitely a name to keep an eye on for the future, or in a potential trade at the coming trade deadline.

Of course, Giants fans are wondering when he will reach Triple-A. That should come soon enough if he continues at this pace. Black may not be considered the Giants' top pitching prosect, but he has had one of the better seasons in the organization.

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