SF Giants prospect wins Eastern League Pitcher of the Week Award

One of the SF Giants best pitching prospects in the farm system, Mason Black, was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week on Monday. The award adds another highlight to an incredible stretch of play for Black with the organization's Double-A affiliate. Black only made one appearance during the week, starting against the Harrisburg Senators (Nationals affiliate) on Saturday. He struck out eight across five perfect innings of work. Black was ranked a top-12 prospect in the organization in Giants Baseball Insider's midseason prospect rankings.

While that outing was easily Black's most dominant performance of his professional career, it built upon an incredible stretch over the past month. In Black's last five starts, the righty has allowed just eight hits and five walks in 22.1 innings pitched with 29 strikeouts. He has not allowed a single run to score over that span.

The Giants drafted Black in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Lehigh University. Last season, Black emerged as arguably the best Giants prospect from the draft class. He started the season at Single-A and earned a promotion to High-A Eugene after six dominant starts. He made 16 starts in Eugene, striking out 92 hitters in 77.2 innings pitched and posting a 3.94 ERA.

Black continued climbing the ladder this season, starting the year at Double-A Richmond. While the 23-year-old got off to a slow start in his first taste of the upper minors, he has clearly made some successful adjustments over the past month. On the season, Black has a 3.66 ERA in 59 innings pitched (15 starts) with 74 strikeouts and 20 walks.

Black has a standard three-pitch arsenal but primarily relies on a mid-90s fastball that has reached 97 mph and a slider that has flashed plus potential. Those two offerings could be good enough for Black to stick in a big-league rotation. However, developing his fringe changeup into a consistent offering would make it a lot easier for him to keep opposing hitters off balance.

Given his early-season struggles, the SF Giants could allow Mason Black to stay at Double-A Richmond for the rest of the season. Then again, given how dominant he has been over the past month, he is sure making a strong case for a promotion to Triple-A.