SF Giants release 3 minor leaguers, including 2019 draft pick

Usually, once the draft is complete, organizations have to trim rosters to reduce headcount. This occurred with the SF Giants recently as they released infielder Ford Proctor, utility bat Simon Whiteman, and reliever Joey Marciano according to the team's transaction log.

SF Giants release 3 minor leaguers, including 2019 draft pick

Proctor might be the most notable name from this group. The Giants swung a minor trade to acquire the middle infielder last summer in a deal that sent reliever Jeremy Walker to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays were dealing with a roster glut on the 40-man roster, so the Giants tried to take advantage of that by adding an intriguing, versatile bat.

Proctor had a strong 2021 campaign where he posted a .799 OPS in 381 plate appearances in Double-A. This encouraged the Rays to add him to the 40-man roster in the following offseason. However, he was unable to sustain that momentum in Triple-A as he struggled to the tune of a .697 OPS in 459 plate appearances last season.

That said, the Giants did give him a brief audition last year. He recorded two hits, including a home run, in 18 at-bats for the Giants. The left-handed bat made it count as that one home run was a grand slam. Proctor posted a .693 OPS with the Sacramento River Cats in 2023.

On the other hand, Simon Whiteman made a gradual ascent up the minor-league ladder as he was selected in the ninth round of the 2019 draft. Whiteman produced a .637 OPS across four minor-league seasons while reaching as high as Double-A. This included 97 stolen bases and the 26-year-old proved to be a versatile glove as he appeared at just about every position.

Lastly, Joey Marciano will become a free agent for the first time in his career. The Giants selected him in the 36th round of the 2017 draft. It always felt like the left-handed pitcher was on the cusp of joining the Giants but it never came to fruition.

Marciano posted a 6.75 ERA with 51 strikeouts against 43 walks in 42.0 innings with the River Cats this season. He relies on a high-90's fastball with a quality slider, but he has struggled with his control as a pro.

The Giants now only have three players from the 2017 draft class still with the organization. This includes Bryce Johnson, Heliot Ramos, and Seth Corry. Both Blake Rivera and Keaton Winn were picked by San Francisco in that draft class, but neither signed that year. They were, however, both drafted again by the Giants again in 2018 and did sign.