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A trio of Giants prospects are competing against each other for a prestigious pitching honor.

Right-handers Tim Alderson and Kyle Nicholson and left-hander Madison Bumgarner are among the six finalists for top starting pitcher in the 2008 MLB.com This Year in Minor League Baseball awards. Also, San Francisco's low-Class A Augusta affiliate is one of five nominees for Team of the Year.


Alderson, 20, finished 13-4 with a 2.79 ERA for the Giants' high-Class A San Jose team. He was named to the in-season and postseason California League All-Star squads.

Bumgarner, 19, was named the South Atlantic League's Pitcher of the Week five times, as he compiled a 15-3 record with a 1.46 ERA for Augusta. He also struck out 164 batters in 141 2/3 innings and was named MiLB.com's Most Spectacular Pitcher. Like Alderson, Bumgarner was also an in-season and postseason All-Star.


Nicholson, 23, went 6-1 with a 1.15 ERA for short-season Salem-Keizer. In 62 2/3 innings, he yielded just 34 hits and walked three while striking out 54. His 0.59 WHIP (walks and hits allowed per inning pitched) looked like a typographical error.

Fan voting ends Friday. To cast votes, visit here.

http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/mlb/minorleagues/awards/y2008/tyib/index.jsp