SF Giants prospects: Hot-hitting OF Wade Meckler promoted to Triple-A
The SF Giants promoted outfielder Wade Meckler (Giants Top 22 Prospect) and left-handed reliever Juan Sanchez to Triple-A Sacramento on Monday. Meckler has been one of the Giants' biggest breakout prospects this season, already making quick work of both High-A and Double-A. Sanchez, on the other hand, has spent the entire season at Double-A Richmond.
SF Giants prospect Wade Meckler celebrates after sliding into second base with Oregon State. (2022)
BRIAN HAYES / STATESMAN JOURNAL via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Meckler was selected by the Giants in the eighth round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Oregon State after one of the most unique college careers among draft prospects. Not long ago, Meckler had been released from his college team and had an uncertain future. Now, he's one step away from reaching the big leagues.
Despite multiple stints on the injured list this season, Meckler has already emerged as one of the most exciting prospects in the organization. He already became the first member of the team's 2022 draft class to reach High-A and Double-A earlier this season and will now do the same at Triple-A. At High-A, he posted a mind-boggling .456/.494/.633 triple-slash line with six doubles, a triple, and two home runs in 20 games.
Double-A pitching slowed down Meckler's power production but he's still posted a .336/.431/.450 line with seven doubles, two triples, two long balls, and a 14.4% walk rate (16.7% strikeout rate) across 39 games. He's pulled the ball and hit the ball into the ground at a higher clip in the Eastern League, but Meckler still manages to find the open holes on the field to get his hits and displayed exemplary plate discipline in the batter's box.
Meckler fell in the draft primarily due to concerns about his power potential. Meckler is an above-average athlete and has the best plate approach in the Giants' farm system. With a slight frame, though, scouts had concerns that he will not be able to hit for enough power against big-league pitching. However, it certainly has not been an issue so far in his career.
Sanchez may not come with Meckler's prospect pedigree, but the southpaw has been one of the most consistently effective arms in the Giants' organization since he made his professional debut in 2018. Still just 22, Sanchez recorded a 2.39 ERA with 52 strikeouts and 20 walks in 49 innings pitched (28 games). He has been especially effective against left-handed hitters, holding them to a .167/.211/.227 line with 21 strikeouts in 72 plate appearances.
Sanchez lacks the premium velocity associated with most big-league relievers, but he relies heavily on a plus breaking ball. He does locate his low-90s fastball well and has flashed feel for a changeup at times as well. He may not be an electric arm, but it's not out of the question that Sanchez finds his way to the SF Giants roster at some point in the future.
