SF Giants prospect Hunter Bishop out and will undergo elbow surgery

2019 SF Giants first-round pick Hunter Bishop has been sidelined by another injury. The former Arizona State outfielder is out with a right elbow injury and, per a report by Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area, is set to undergo elbow surgery. The severity of the injury is not known, but the team expects to set a timetable after the operation.

It's another frustrating stroke of luck for a prospect with some of the most tantalizing tools in the Giants farm system. A Bay Area native who graduated from Junipero Serra High School, Bishop starred at Arizona State. In 2019, he hit .342/.479/.748 with 22 home runs, 50 walks, and 61 strikeouts in 57 games with the Sun Devils and emerged as a consensus top-10 prospect in the draft.

The Giants drafted Bishop with the 10th overall pick in that summer's draft, signing him to a below-slot $4.1 million signing bonus. He hit .229/.438/.429 with five home runs in his pro debut, but he has struggled to stay on the field since.

The COVID pandemic cost Bishop the 2020 minor-league season, and a series of recurring injuries, particularly in his shoulder, sidelined him for much of the 2021 season. Last year, Bishop missed several weeks with injuries, but was able to appear in a career-high 86 games. He hit .233/.318/.404 with 11 home runs at High-A Eugene.

Bishop is an above-average athlete with exceptional power potential. However, he has struggled with consistency at the plate throughout his career, even in high school and college. The series of injuries have only made it harder for him to find a rhythm. He was not ranked among the top prospects in the Giants farm system in Giants Baseball Insider's latest rankings but was included on the list of players who just missed the list.

There remains hope that Hunter Bishop could rekindle his 2019 form with prolonged health. However, for now, the SF Giants are hoping Bishop's surgery goes without a hitch and gives him a chance to return to the field this season.