SF Giants prospects: Trevor McDonald wins NWL Pitcher of the Month
After one of the most dominant months of his career, SF Giants pitching prospect Trevor McDonald (Giants Top 41 Prospect) was named the Northwest League Pitcher of the Month for August. McDonald made six starts in August for the Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco's High-A affiliate), allowing just two runs (one earned) on 13 hits and four walks across 26 innings pitched with 28 strikeouts.
McDonald made one appearance with the Emeralds early in the season before landing on the injured list for the bulk of the summer. After spending several weeks rehabbing in the Arizona Complex League, McDonald finally returned to High-A on August 1st. He's been arguably the most dominant pitcher at the level.
While McDonald has a short arm action that led many scouts to project him as a relief-only prospect, the righty has flashed some of the best command in the organization. In fact, McDonald is one of the few pitchers who comfortably utilizes a deep pitch mix, although his slider is his most dominant offering.
McDonald reached High-A in a breakout 2022 season. He recorded a 2.31 ERA with 120 strikeouts and 42 walks in 101.1 innings pitched (29 games) between Single-A and High-A. Following a late-season promotion to Eugene, McDonald struck out 11 in his first appearance with the Emeralds.
Coming off that success, McDonald was a top sleeper in the Giants farm system heading into 2023. Given how quickly he is proving to be ready for a new challenge, it's worth wondering where he would have gotten if health had not robbed him of a significant chunk of the minor league season.
The Giants drafted McDonald in the 11th round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of George County High School in Lucedale, Mississippi. The Giants coaxed him away from his commitment to South Alabama with an $800,000 signing bonus (equivalent to the slot of a third-round pick).
The SF Giants have several impressive pitching prospects throughout the organization. However, none were more dominant than Trevor McDonald in the month of August. In fact, McDonald was the best pitcher in the Northwest League. On the season, McDonald now has a 1.04 ERA with 47 strikeouts and ten walks in 41 innings pitched (13 games) between High-A and the Arizona Complex League.
