Trio of 2019 SF Giants top picks headline Double-A Opening Day roster

The SF Giants' Double-A affiliate, the Richmond Flying Squirrels, announced its roster on Tuesday. A trio of 2019 top picks including Hunter Bishop, Logan Wyatt, and Grant McCray headline the roster.

Trio of 2019 SF Giants top picks headline Double-A Opening Day roster

Perhaps, the most notable name on the roster is Hayden Birdsong. He finished the year in Double-A last season, posting a 5.48 ERA with 33 strikeouts against 13 walks in 23 frames with Richmond. The 22-year-old hurler is part of a wave of Giants pitching prospects that the front office believes will support the rotation sooner rather than later.

Another name to monitor is 2020 second-round pick Jimmy Glowenke. The right-handed bat continues to flash good bat-to-ball skills while seeing a modest uptick in his power numbers as he advances through the minors. Glowenke finished last season with Richmond where he recorded a .744 OPS with seven home runs in 289 plate appearances. He also collected four hits in 12 at-bats with the Giants during the Cactus League this year.

For the 2019 picks, it has been a slower ascent up the minor league ladder than they would have liked. Bishop was the team's first-round pick followed by Wyatt in the second round and McCray in the third round.

Bishop missed all of the 2023 season after undergoing elbow surgery. Staying on the field has been an issue for the outfield prospect as he has appeared in just 134 games as a pro due to a nagging shoulder issue. When healthy, Bishop's at-bats usually end in one of the three true outcomes whether that be a home run, walk, or a strikeout. That skill set can play in today's game and there is still plenty of power in his swing.

Similar to Bishop, Wyatt has missed some time since being drafted in 2019. The 2023 season was an encouraging one in terms of health and production. The lefty bat began the year in High-A and produced a solid .781 OPS with nine home runs in 236 plate appearances following a promotion to Double-A. Wyatt sees a lot of pitches and is not afraid to hit with two strikes. Plus, he saw a nice uptick in his power numbers last season.

Lastly, McCray was in camp as a non-roster invitee. He collected just 12 at-bats in the Cactus League but was often used as a pinch runner and a defensive replacement. McCray fills up the stat sheet probably better than just about every position player in the Giants farm system. He recorded a solid .777 OPS with 14 home runs, 66 RBI, and 101 runs in 584 plate appearances with High-A last season. This includes 52 stolen bases in 62 opportunities. McCray is an excellent runner and has a knack for tracking fly balls in center field.