SF Giants minor league notes: A combined no-hitter, Joe Whitman's quietly solid finish

The San Jose Giants fell short of the California League title, but they made at least one memory during the Championship Series. In the second game of the series, the SF Giants Low-A affiliate tossed a rare, combined no-hitter.

SF Giants minor league notes: A combined no-hitter, Joe Whitman's quietly solid finish

1. A combined no-hitter in a playoff game

The Giants faced off against the Lake Elsinore Storm in the Championship Series after defeating the Stockton Ports in the division round. In the division round, Andy Polanco was a surprise performer, including recording the first multi-homer game of his pro career.

The Storm commanded much of the three-game series, but San Jose pulled out a victory in the second game. The offense put up nine runs. Again, Polanco was a standout performer, collecting three hits with two steals in four at-bats.

The pitching side was unhittable. Argenis Cayama led the way with five hitless innings while allowing one unearned run. Ian Korn and Eric Nachtsheim followed with two scoreless innings apiece. Korn and Nachtsheim were 2026 draftees, with the latter displaying one of the best fastballs in college baseball this year.

2. Joe Whitman's quietly solid finish on the mound

Joe Whitman may force a decision for the Giants in the offseason. He is one of the many propsects eligible for the Rule 5 draft. While it is not yet known if baseball will hold the Rule 5 draft in the winter due to the looming lockout, the process of protecting eligible players will occur before the Collective Bargaining Agreement expires.

Whitmam returned to Double-A to start the year and quickly earned a promotion to Double-A. Before he did, he was recognized as the Eastern League Pitcher of the Month for May.

It was an up-and-down run with the Sacramento River Cats, which included a shift to the bullpen for a brief stretch. However, he finished the year on a positive note. In his final eight outings, he tallied a 2.80 ERA with 33 strikeouts and eight walks in 45 frames.

On the mound, Whitman throws from a high three-quarters arm slot. He leans heavily on a low 80's slider, and he is comfortable throwing it against left-handed and right-handed hitters. He mixes in a pair of low 90's fastballs. Neither fastball grades out particularly well, but the sinker does a nice job of inducing ground ball contact. Whitman also offers up a mid 80's changeup that he uses to neutralize the platoon advantage against right-handed hitters.

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