SF Giants minor league notes: Isaiah Barkett's promotion, Jacob Bresnahan's strong summer

The SF Giants announced a wave of of promotions in the upper minors during the All-Star Break. However, this led to some movement in the lower minors as well, including Isaiah Barket moving up to the Eugene Emeralds.

SF Giants minor league notes: Isaiah Barkett's promotion, Jacob Bresnahan's strong summer

1. Isaiah Barkett's promotion

The Giants had an opening in the infield after they moved Gavin Kilen up to Double-A, so it made sense to reward Barkett for his strong first full season as a pro. In fact, he had been one of the best hitters in the San Jose Giants' lineup.

The Giants drafted Barkett in the 10th round of last year's draft out of Stetson University. A few rounds before that, they selected his teammate, Lorenzo Meola, in the third round. Both Barkett and Meola shared the infield with San Jose this season.

When the Giants drafted Barkett, it was one of many examples of them targeting contact skills in the draft. He had one of the lowest strikeout rates in college baseball last season at 3.5 percent.

While contact is one of the strengths in the right-handed bat's profile, he also brings a patient approach and speed to the table. Plus, he has hit for a tad more power than in his college days.

Barkett hit .331/.411/.474 (125 wRC+) with five home runs, 42 RBI, and 59 runs in 341 plate appearances with San Jose this year. This includes an 11.4 percent walk rate, 8.2 percent strikeout rate, and a .143 ISO. He also swiped 18 bases in 25 chances.

2. Jacob Bresnahan's strong summer

Jackson Flora is viewed as the top pitching prospect in the farm system after they selected him in the first round of this year's draft. Who is the No. 2 prospect in the system? That one is more up for debate.

Some of the candidates include Keyner Martinez and Jacob Bresnahan. Carson Bolemon may even be part of that conversation as well. There is a case to be made that Bresnahan deserves the No. 2 spot because he is the furthest along the minor league ladder while also having success.

The left-handed pitcher missed the start of the season due to an injury. He got off to a slow start, where the overall results were not bad, but he was not throwing as many strikes as he needed to. As soon as the weather warmed up, he has been excelling on the mound.

Over Bresnahan's past five starts, he has posted a 0.92 ERA with 35 strikeouts and only seven walks in 29.1 frames. It is easy to forget that he is also one of the youngest pitchers in the Northwest League.

On the mound, Bresnahan throws with a three-quarters arm slot from the left side. He flashes a four-seam fastball that sits in the low-to-mid 90's. That pitch plays above its velocity because of the late carry it gets up in the zone. He mixes it with a mid 80's changeup and a low 80's slider. Bresnahan tunnels the fastball and changeup well, making it hard for opposing hitters to pick up the pitch. The offspeed pitch is his go-to secondary, but the slider has developed into an effective third option this year.

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