Similar to their orange-and-black counterparts, the Giants have made strides in compiling young talent and are primed to start competing at the big league level. As usual with San Fran, it all starts on the mound.
2007 1st-rounders Madison Bumgarner and Tim Alderson, currently teammates at Double-A Connecticut, are 2 of the best pitching prospects in the entire game. Bumgarner seems determined to never have an ERA above 2.00, as he's fastball-ed his opponents into submission effortlessly for the last two years. Bumgarner is 24-5, 1.50, with a 235-45 K-BB ratio and just 5 home runs allowed in 228 career innings. I want to see his secondary pitches get up to snuff before I crown him, but, boy, his numbers and command of his fastball are truly remarkable. Alderson is also stingy with the walks, having handed out just 1.7 free passes per 9 innings this year. The Scottsdale prep product isn't as dominant as Bumgarner (his fastball generally ranges from 89-91 mph), but he does have a wicked curveball and a projectable 6-6 frame.
The Giants have a stable of power arms after that pair. Their top pick from last month, high school righthander Zack Wheeler, is projectable and already hits the upper-90s. Jason Stoffel (4th round) could be back-of-the-bullpen material with his high-octane stuff. Henry Sosa is having a good bounceback year after injuries kept him and his electric right arm off the mound for much of 2008. 19-year-old RHP Jorge Bucardo is terrorizing the Northwest League, while his brother Wilber is his rotation-mate. LHP Aaron King is having an up-and-down year in Low A, but he has a high ceiling as well.
San Francisco has more quality arms who don't light up the radar gun. LHP Scott Barnes, a 2008 draftee in the midst of banner year in the Cal League (11-3, 2.81 ERA), is probably the Giants' 4th-best pitching prospect. The St. John's product has a plus changeup and good know-how on the mound. Kevin Pucetas, a Triple-A righthander, is cut from the same cloth. A soft-tossing former 16th-round pick, all Pucetas has done in his career is win. He's 41-9 with a 2.62 ERA lifetime. LHPs Ari Ronick, Clayton Tanner, and Ben Snyder lend more depth to the system.
Who's going to catch all of these guys in the big leagues? Well, the best backstop in the world not already in the MLB. The reason Pablo Sandoval will never start behind the plate for the Giants. Buster Posey. The 2008 NCAA Golden Spikes winner (yeah, you should get that award when you bat .463/.566/.879 and lead your team to Omaha) is an extremely athletic ex-shortstop who could hit .320 annually. He's a future all-star who is head-and-shoulders above the rest of the position players in the system. The most interesting of the rest of the lot:
- Roger Kieschnick, a thumping outfielder from Texas Tech who is producing at the plate this year in his first full pro season.
- Angel Villalona, a ballyhooed first baseman who needs to mash to be valuable (.703 OPS this year).
- Ehire Adrianza, a prized shortstop who is struggling to hit in Low A but has great defensive skills.
- Conor Gillaspie, a grinder who makes solid contact but isn't having a great year.
- Thomas Neal, an emerging outfielder who's hitting .345 this year.
- Jesus Guzman, a late-blooming minor league vet who could have some value as an offensive infielder.
- Rafael Rodriguez, a $2.55 million bonus baby who can do it all--except make consistent contact at the plate.
- Brandon Crawford, a toolsy shortstop who whiffs too often.
- Nick Noonan, a 20-year-old second baseman who is struggling this year but could become Chase Utley without the power.
- Mike McBryde, a swift centerfielder who could be useful if his bat comes along.
- Chris Dominguez, an imposing third baseman with a cannon for an arm, gargantuan power, and huge strikeout totals.
- Tommy Joseph, a lumbering high school bopper who's received comparisons from Mike Napoli to Paul Konerko to Kelly Shoppach.
Madison Bumgarner
Buster Posey
*Photos courtesy of www.logoshak.com, www.mlb.com and www.orlandosentinel.com
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