The best tools in the SF Giants farm system
As we keep looking at the SF Giants farm system this prospect week, here's a look at the prospects with the most standout tools in the organization.
Also, if you missed it, you should check out our full ranking of the top 42 prospects in the Giants system.
Best fastball: Reggie Crawford
Kyle Harrison's fastball has a case to be ahead of Reggie Crawford, and he obviously has a longer track record, but Crawford flashed a fastball that sat in the high-90s and reached 100 mph with high spin rates and carry.
Best changeup: Carson Whisenhunt
The Giants second-round pick this summer, Carson Whisenhunt already has the best changeup in the team's minor-league season. Whisenhunt's changeup looks exactly like his fastball coming out of his hand and then has elite downward break. Nick Swiney has the next best changeup in the system, although Harrison's changeup has some enticing upside as well.
Best curveball: Landon Roupp
Landen Roupp reached Double-A almost entirely on the strength of his curveball. It's a low-80s offering with exceptionally high spin rates that generates great horizontal and vertical break. There's some debate about whether Roupp's breaking ball is a slider or curveball, but he views it as a curveball so that's what we are sticking with.
Best slider: Randy Rodriguez
Randy Rodriguez's slider sits in the mid-80s and consistently records more than 3000 RPMs, which would rank among the highest marks in MLB. For comparison, Camilo Doval's excellent slider only averaged 2580 RPMs last season. Harrison, once again, was a finalist in this category.
SF Giants prospect Kyle Harrison talks on the field before the All Star-Futures Game at Dodger Stadium. (2022)
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Best pitch arsenal: Kyle Harrison
We made this category because Harrison deserved to be recognized for something. While he may not have the best individual pitch of his own, he has one of the best fastballs, sliders, and (occasionally) changeups in the system.
Best command: Wil Jensen
This was probably the toughest category to pick because the Giants have very much NOT targetted pitching prospects with a command-first profile. Keaton Winn and Nick Zwack were under consideration, but they are much more control than command pitchers at this point in time. Jensen is not a highly-regarded prospect because he lacks any standout offerings and has been forced to mix and match. His ability to locate helped him record a 2.84 ERA at High-A last season, although his walk rate jumped after a promotion, when he was forced to nibble.
Best hit tool: Ismael Munguia
In his last healthy season, Ismael Munguia hit .336/.366/.502 at High-A back with an incredible 7.6% strikeout rate. Munguia has some of the best bat-to-ball skills in professional baseball, but still generates some surprising pop.
Best power: Marco Luciano
It feels like some Giants fans have developed some prospect fatigue with Marco Luciano, but he has as much power potential as anyone else in the farm system alongside an advanced feel to hit.
Best plate approach: Wade Meckler
Wade Meckler lacks any standout athletic tools, but separates himself with exceptional strike zone awareness and a combination of high in-zone contact rate and low chase rates. It's very clear he's been focusing on what the Giants want their hitters to develop for years.
Best baserunner: Vaun Brown
Vaun Brown is a plus-plus runner, but most importantly, that elite speed translates into excellent production on the basepaths. Brown stole 44 bases in just 103 games last season and was only caught six times.
Best arm: Casey Schmitt
Casey Schmitt has an 80-grade arm at third base. It's unsurprising that his cannon helped him reach the mid-90s with his fastball as a closer when he was in college. Schmitt would throw a football with his teammates before games too. His arm strength comes with impressive accuracy and the ability to throw from an array of arm angles.
Best defensive outfielder: P.J. Hilson
Brown could one day be an elite defensive outfielder, but the Giants have let him develop in a corner at this point. Grant McCray is the most refined center fielder in the farm system right now, gliding with long strides to cover a lot of ground. However, no one has more defensive upside than P.J. Hilson. Hilson may be the fastest player in the system and has the strongest arm of any outfielder (8 assists in 43 games last season). He's still improving his reads off the bat, but if he begins getting better jumps, he has the tools to be the best defensive outfielder in the league.
Best defensive infielder: Casey Schmitt
Schmitt's arm combines with impressive soft hands and the quick-twitch skills that a third baseman needs. The fact that Schmitt held his own at shortstop this season shows just how good he is. Aeverson Arteaga will probably replace Schmitt on this spot next season if Schmitt loses his prospect eligiblity.
Best defensive catcher: Patrick Bailey
The Giants catching group lacks the same defensive standouts elsewhere on the diamond. Bailey has the best set of tools, but remains inconsistent with his fundamentals. He was expected to be an above-average defender out of college, and he still has the tools to become that.
