The Prospect Round-Up, 8/13/17

In The End, the Giants Get Jack…Or, They Don’t Get Jack

Remember how excited we were about the Giants essentially getting a free draft pick, signing Jack Conlon after the Baltimore Orioles did not offer him a contract? How the Orioles have a reputation for being too picky with their medicals?

Well, maybe they were right.

It was reported Saturday that Conlon will not sign with the Giants, and instead will now head to Texas A&M for his college career.

Wow…if Rosenthal’s source is correct, that the Giants had a different physical concern than the Orioles did…I wonder what kind of health this kid has.

In the end, the Giants actually lose nothing. But it certainly takes a little more depth away from the farm system.

Not-So-Toolsy

The past week, Baseball America released its “Best Tools” surveys. These are surveys of the managers of the Full Season leagues (sent in July) about which players have the best tools.

Now, anyone following the Giants’ minors will probably not be too surprised to discover the system doesn’t have a lot of these guys on the lists. But the two names who showed up were….well, pretty unexpected from my view.

First, from the Eastern League survey, was Tyler Cyr, rated the “Best Reliever”. Whoa.

Cyr, the Giants 10th round pick from the 2015 draft, has been having a good season, for sure. He’s got a 2.40 ERA in 39 appearances, with 15 saves in 17 opportunities. He’s got a low 90’s fastball and a potentially plus curveball. His 49 K’s to 18 walks in 41.1 innings is good, but neither his BAA of .264 nor his WHIP of 1.48 screamed out as spectacular, which is what one would have to be to win one of these votes.

So, huh. I’m guessing there’s something more than what the stats show to Cyr. Otherwise, good for the Fremont kid, and I hope he keeps it up next season in the PCL.

The other name came from Richmond, but not from the field: Kyle Haines was named the best Managerial Prospect. The 34-year old now is in his 3rd season of managing, the previous 2 with Salem-Keizer. Considering he’s handling a roster full of minor league vets, many just a few years younger than him, he must be doing well to earn the respect of his players, much less his peers. So, good job, Kyle. I’m sure one day the Giants will change their coaches at the Major League Level.

Chris Shaw’s Shawsome 2 Weeks

On Friday, Chris Shaw saw his 14-game hit streak come to an end. Obviously, as Grant has pointed out a few times, the Giants are unlikely to see the power-hitting left fielder in September for roster rule reasons, but Shaw broke out of a 1-for-21 slump to get into that hitting streak, and his numbers needed it.

In the streak, he was 19-for-54 (.352) with 6 doubles and 5 home runs, and he raised his batting average from .276 to .292. I don’t know if Shaw is going to be the solution to left field next season, but boy that is a nice run.

And then on Saturday…

Oh, hell…

STOP IT SERIOUSLY

Luckily, Heliot got some time off but is playing regularly again, but still, stop getting hit on the hands. Or head. Or…anywhere.

San Jose Sweeps The Week Awards

In a welcome note, the San Jose Giants had both the Player and Pitcher of the Week for the California League last week.

Jonah Arenado, who also won the Round-Up’s hitter of the week, was on top of the Cali League list. He continued his hitting this week, and has bumped his average to .265 with 10 home runs on the year.

Closer Dylan Rheualt took home the pitching award. As of today, he now has a 2.44 ERA in 46 games, with 19 saves in 21 opportunities. He hasn’t given up an earned run since July 25th, and hasn’t given up a hit since July 27th. San Jose has been home to some nice relief prospects in the past few years. Rheault isn’t the most dominating of them, but his at least doing what he needs to do at this level.

Heliot and Johnson Get Noticed, Nationally

The always enjoyable Jonathan Mayo wrote up a piece on MLB.com about the top 20 prospects coming out of the 2017 draft. And unlike some national pieces on prospects, the Giants had some pretty good recognition.

Heliot Ramos is #2 among the five 1st round hitters listed, and Mayo says that Ramos “might have been a bit of a surprise overall, but he’s hitting like he belongs there.” I won’t quote the stats, since they are a little outdated, and Ramos has begun to slump a bit as he may be tiring in his first pro season, but it is very, very reassuring to see him recognized. Only #9 overall pick Keston Hiura of the Brewers, who has been DHing while trying to rehab an injury, was listed higher.

In the “Beyond the First Round” section, Bryce Johnson got some recognition for his fast start with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes…especially for being fast on the basepaths. As of August 9th, Johnson’s 17 stolen bases on that date were enough to lead the draft class (I don’t have the time to check all the draftees to see if that’s still true). Johnson is still at 17, and is only 3rd on his own team(!), and 5th overall in the NWL.

What It Means To Be A Ballplayer

Pros and Cons on Seth Corry

Earlier this week, the Giants’ 3rd round pick Seth Corry had a pretty awful start. Bobby Demuro, founder of Baseball Census, was in Arizona to see it, and he had some good thoughts.

TL:DR?

There is one thing I really, really liked about Seth Corry last night though: as he started to struggle and lost control of his fastball, he slowed the game down and became deliberate on the mound. Most young pitchers have a tendency to stress out and speed up when facing adversity, trying to do too much and pressing too hard to change their luck. Corry opted to become more deliberate during his struggles: he took a breath, took a pause, and slowed the game down with the hopes of figuring out his release point and command issues.

I do recommend reading the whole thing, but more than reports on Corry’s stuff, I like this. Recently, the Giants have taken to finding one quality in particular in their players they have drafted: Hard working, good attitude guys. A toolsy player that needs to be coached into something is a difficult job; but first, the player has to want to change.

A pitcher’s first pro-half season, especially a high school pitcher, can be one that is difficult to judge. Often, it’s the things not in the stat line that will provide much of the information about his future.

The Immaculate Inning

So, there’s this thing called The Immaculate Inning. Have you heard of it? It’s when a pitcher gets three strikeouts in 9 pitches; nothing wasted. It’s a pretty special thing, as there have been less Immaculate Innings in the Majors (89) than No-Hitters (252 in the modern era).

Well, Logan Webb, it’s not the majors, but it’s pretty special!

Gee, could that announcer have been more not excited? I don’t think he even noticed.

The 20-year old Webb has been having a nice season with Salem-Keizer, with a 2.37 ERA in his first year relieving. He had a 6.21 ERA in 9 games at Augusta last season. Perhaps relieving will be this 4th rounder’s path to the majors.

That said, the Immaculate Inning may be going away as something special. This season has set an MLB record for Immaculate Innings thrown with 8; the previous record of 7 was just in 2014. The last Giant to do it in the Majors? Santiago Casilla on May 17th, 2015. Before that, you have to go back to Orel Hershiser in ’98…yes, with the Giants.

The Horrible Outing

Ouch. And that didn’t happen in Lancaster, it was in Stockton.

Watson’s 8 runs allowed in his last start does not look good, his ERA jumping from 3.02 to 4.12 because of it. But it’s also a good lesson, sometimes you’ll just go out there and have nothing. Hopefully he’ll bounce right back.

Hitter of the Week - Franklin Labour

For this week, we’re going to head down to the DSL, where young Franklin Labour continues to rake for the Giants affiliate. Labour was 9-for-20 over the week, with a double, 2 triples and a home run, along with 3 walks, 3 strikeouts and a pair of stolen bases. That gave him a .450/.521/.850 batting line.

The 19-year old outfielder is batting .331/.427/.531 in 48 games this year, and has collected 2 hits in 7 of his last 8 games, raising his average from .293 to .331. He’s also added 12 steals on the year, in 20 attempts, and has a fantastic batting line of 23 walks to 23 strikeouts.

Pitcher of the Week - Connor Kaden

Now in the 3rd level he’s played at this season, Kaden has taken to Augusta and has been dominating. He pitched in 3 games at Augusta, and for the week, that was 5.2 IP with 11 strikeouts, and just 2 baserunners (from a single and a hit batter) allowed. On Saturday, he also picked up his first save of the season at any level.

Kaden had spent most of the year in San Jose, where he had a 4.34 ERA in 21 appearances, with 31 walks against 24 strikeouts. But he’s also had a 3.60 ERA in 3 appearances in the NWL. Perhaps the best sign for Kaden is that he has recently shown excellent control; he hasn’t walked anyone in his last 9 appearances (13 innings), which includes 3 appearances at each level.

Draft Pick Race

Despite the Giants having a suddenly upward trend in wins, the other teams in the cellar have been doing okay themselves. The Giants hold just a hair’s advantage over the Chicago White Sox for the second pick, and are just 3 wins behind the Phillies for the top pick.

This is the part where I remind you that with baseball drafts, getting the top overall pick really only matters when there’s a Bryce Harper or Steven Strasburg. There isn’t this year. Buster Posey was a #5 overall, after all. Madison Bumgarner was a #10. Clayton Kershaw was a #7 overall. But…at least being higher gives the Giants a better shot at a future superstar.

Saturday’s Lines

3 Doubleheaders scheduled today, and 2.5 completed? Wow, I’ll try to summarize as much as I can.

• In Sacramento, the biggest news was Chris Shaw getting hit by a pitch in his hand in the 4th inning. He stayed in the game but was lifted in the 6th, what would have been his next time up. As mentioned, he was removed for precautionary reasons
• Andrew Suarez took the tough-luck-loss, despite pitching into the 9th. He has allowed 2 ER or less in each of his last 5 starts.
• Mac Williamson hit his first AAA home run since June 22nd, and his 10th of the year at AAA.
• Richmond got swept in the double-header, gathering just two hits in Game 1. One hit was Caleb Gindl’s 5th home run of the year, in his 24th game.
• Dan Slania’s tough year continued, giving up more hits than innings pitch for the second straight game. Between Double-A and Triple-A, batters have a .304 average against him.
• Game 2’s highlight was Daniel Carbonell (yes, he’s still around) hitting 2 doubles on 2 hits. That gives him 7 on the season.
• Steven Duggar got his 9th double of his shortened season as he continues to come back from injury. He also added a walk and strikeout, and has 13 walks against 35 strikeouts in 93 AB.
• Augusta was to have gone in a DH, but they were only able to get in the finish from yesterday’s game (which went only 4 outs) before more weather postponed game 2.
• Sandro Fabian got his 9th home run, and has been on a nice run. He’s 10-for-25 (.400) over his last 6 games, but the home run was his first of the run.
• Connor Kaden picked up his first save of the season at any level, in his 3rd game at the South Atlantic League.
• First baseman Ryan Kirby had a heck of a game with the Volcanoes, going 3-for-3, and also picking up his 7th error of the season.
• Logan Webb had his longest outing of the season by innings, pitching 3 full and allowing just 1 hit.
• Seth Corry bounced back from his last outing (as you read about above) with an excellent 4 innings, allowing just 1 hit and 1 walk. The 4 innings matches a season-high for him.
• Ismael Munguia has 4 multi-hit games in his last 8, after going 3-for-4 today.
• First baseman Franklin Labour was 4-for-7 with a double and a home run combined between today’s double-header.
• Norwith Gudino has allowed 2 earned runs or less in each of his last 5 starts.
• Francis Pena bounced back well from giving up 4 ER in his last start with a shutout start in Game 2.

The Wrap-Up:

Earlier this week, Roger posted this in one of the Minor Lines, noting that I may be adding this to my jersey collection.

Unfortunately, neither my wallet nor closet can support a true jersey collection (now, the hats, different story). However, I do plan to add this one, because next weekend, I’ll be reporting (columning?) live from Keizer Oregon, waiting for the sun to come to an end. Briefly.

I don't know if I’m going to get to do any press-style interviews, but I will absolutely be doing a little scouting (C’mon, promote Heliot and Jacob you guys!). So, if there’s anything you want me to keep an eye open for, please let me know in the comments.