SF Giants Minor Lines 6/12/17: Welcome to the Heliotpad!

Ah, the Giants got me an über-toolsy high school OF for Draft Day, just like I always wish for (well, not always, lots of times I wish for an über-toolsy high school SS)! Thanks Giants! That was awesome of you. Now if it’s not too much to ask for, could you please turn into a star, Heliot? Remember, old man Buster’s gonna need your help to keep Titletown in the Bay Area. Lots of this please!

As is often the case for me, I first got a case of the Heliot’s at the Under-Armour Game, the televised annual showcase event for High School draft talent held at Wrigley Field. And in last year’s event, Ramos really stole the show...once the lights came on. The BA write up of that game gives a good hint at the development challenges ahead for Ramos and the Giants, but also the considerable potential reward:

Better game player than practice player? Why I remember when Joe Montana used to be accused of that! (particularly by one Dan Devine). Until the games start, I’ll just keep on looking at that lede: “It’s hard to have a better game that the one Heliot Ramos put together at Wrigley Field.” Yeah, that’ll feed some dreams, alright.

HIGHLIGHTS: Ronnie Jebavy had three hits, including double, triple; Marco Gonzalez struck out 8 over 4 innings.

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Sacramento and Richmond both had scheduled off days

Possibly so that they could keep an eye on more important matters:

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San Jose won at Modesto Nuts (Mariners), 6-4

San Jose strung together five hits in the 2nd inning, including back to back RBI doubles from Gio Brusa and Jonah Arenado, and a two-out two-run single from Ryan Howard. The early four-run explosion allowed the Giants to more or less cruise to a 6-4 win.

Ronnie Jebavy led the team’s hit parades (12 more hits) by collecting ³⁄₄ of a cycle. Ironically, Jebavy had nothing to do with the four-run rally, striking out with runners on 2nd and 3rd, but his triple led to the team’s final run.

Suddenly hot Matt Paré chipped in with his 1st HR of the year. The multi-talented (and Boston College alum!) backup talked with Joe Ritzo before yesterday’s game about the team, his internet fame with Homeless Minor Leaguer and what’s coming from his great v-log. You can here that interview here. (that Roger isn’t me by the way, though I surely wish it were!).

Paré’s HR was the team’s 61st of the year as they continue to up the long balls.

After starter Michael Connolly let Modesto climb back into the game, the San Jose bullpen shut it down in the late innings, with Carlos Diaz and Dylan Rhealt allowing just 1 hit over the final three innings while striking out 6.

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Augusta lost to Greenville Drive (Red Sox), 6-4
splitting their four game series, 2-2

Augusta committed three errors in helping an early 2-0 slip away and losing the chance for a second consecutive series win. Augusta managed just five hits in the game, including two from recently returned Frandy de la Rosa and Sandro Fabian’s 14th double of the year (tied for 11th in the Sally). Newly named All Star Kelvin Beltre had a hit and a walk.

Given the defensive lapses behind him, Stephen Woods pitched fairly well, but he was one off his lowest K total of the year, striking out 3 while walking 3. He also had two WP. On the bright side, he reached his highest pitch total of the year, stretching out for 96 pitches in his near six innings of work.

And before we leave Georgia, a well-deserved congratulations:

Vizcaino, just by the by, will already be Rule 5 draft eligible this winter, which means there’s a good chance that his development might end up being affected by the awful service time rules concerning IFA teenagers. Like other DSL graduates before him (Escobar, Flores, Gregorio) if he ends up having a strong campaign the Giants may feel forced to protect him and start his options clock even though he’s a long way from developed. I believe that this is not true of Melvin Adon (despite Adon’s being two years older), who should still have one more season in 2018 before he needs protecting.

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DSL Giants lost to DSL Padres, 6-2

19 year old Venezuelan lefty Marco Gonzalez struck out 8 in four innings of work. He has 12 Ks, 5 BBs in 7.1 IP so far this year. In 2016, he had a 15/15 K/BB ratio going in 14 IP, so he’s got a good head start going on improving those peripherals significantly. Jorge Labrador was a pitch away from his second consecutive scoreless outing when he gave up a 9th inning three-run bomb to ruin his line.

17 year old Venezuelan Catcher (the Giants love them some Venezuelan catchers!) Keyberth Mejias had one-third of the team’s hits in his second start of the year. The young backstop was signed for $230,000 last year on the J2 market.

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Today’s Scheduled Starters:
Sacramento: Tyler Beede vs. Wilfredo Boscan
Richmond: Sam Coonrod vs. Glenn Sparkmann
San Jose: Mark Reyes vs. Nick Neidert
Augusta: Melvin Adon vs. Joey Wentz (second straight matchup between these two)
DSL: Norwith Gudino

And finally of course, all of the Bay Area salutes the new champions!