Ever since winning their third World Series in five years in 2014, the San Francisco Giants have basically been in a downward spiral. They did make the playoffs in 2016 as the second wild card but lost to the eventual World Series champion Chicago Cubs in the National League Division Series. Since then, they haven’t finished above .500 and are in a full rebuild. The Giants have some solid options in the farm system but they have plenty of work to do before they are back to be a successful team. Nevertheless, San Francisco will see these top five prospects make an impact in one to three years. Let’s get into it.
1. Marco Luciano – SS
Hit: 55
Power: 65
Run: 50
Arm: 60
Field: 50
Overall: 60
The Giants signed Luciano for $2.6 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2018 after two years of having restrictions on their international spending. They were being restricted due to blowing past their bonus pool allotment to sign Lucius Fox in 2016. The top-rated infielder in his international class, Luciano went straight to the states for his pro debut in 2019 where he really impressed at age 17. While reaching the short-season Northwest League, he slashed .302/.417/.564 with 10 home runs, 42 RBI, and nine stolen bases.
Standing at 6-foot-2, 178 pounds, the young middle infielder has some of the best bat speed and raw power of any prospects in the minors right now. The more he fills out his frame, the more pop he will be able to add to his bat. Luciano has the ability to hit to all fields and with the added power can turn into a true all-around hitter. He has the willingness to take walks as he had a 45/32 strikeout to walk ratio in his pro debut. He also has plus arm strength and instincts to be a solid defender at the premium position of shortstop. Brandon Crawford is entering his final year of his contract, and Luciano shouldn’t take long to slide into his place.
ETA: 2023
2. Joey Bart – C
Hit: 50
Power: 60
Run: 40
Arm: 60
Field: 55
Overall: 55
Bart was the second overall pick in the 2018 Draft out of Georgia Tech and the Giants signed him for $7,025,000, which was the largest up-front bonus for a position player at the time. Despite only having 22 games of experience above High-A San Jose, he was catipulted into the majors because of Buster Posey opting out of the 2020 season. He impressed the club during Summer Camp and the veteran pitchers fought for him to make the Opening Day roster. Bart has plus pop potential with his 6-foot-2 frame, bat speed, and strength. He wasn’t able to show off much of it during his debut, as he got too aggressive and struck out 37 percent of the time and walked just three percent of the time in 111 plate appearances.
In the minors, he showed more patience and let his power in his swing come to him, smashing 29 homers in 517 at-bats over two seasons. His defense behind the plate is what really jumps out at you as he is a solid blocker of balls in the dirt and has a strong and accurate arm to throw runners out. He has been praised by pitchers for his strong ability to call a game and has quality leadership skills. Bart still has some things to work on, and Posey returns for this season. With that in mind, he was one of the Giants’ cuts on Monday as he will likely start the season at Triple-A Sacramento where he will get the reps needed to further his development.
ETA: 2021
3. Hunter Bishop – OF
Hit: 60
Power: 55
Run: 55
Arm: 55
Field: 55
Overall: 55
Bishop had originally committed to play football as a walk-on at the University of Washington before changing his mind and deciding to play baseball at Arizona State. Following in his older brother Braden’s footsteps, outfielder for the Mariners, Bishop exploded onto the scene his junior season in 2019. He slashed .342/.479/.748 with 22 homers and 12 steals in 57 games before the Giants drafted him tenth overall in that year’s Draft. The Giants signed him to a below-slot value of $4.1 million and played well in his pro debut.
Bishop mashed five taters while stealing eight bases and recording a 26 percent walk rate in 32 games. The average didn’t carry over from his junior season as he hit just .229, but he was able to get on base at a .438 clip and had an .867 OPS. He has plus power potential with a smooth swing and quick bat speed. Along with that, he has the speed to flirt with 20-20 and 30-30 seasons. Add that to his ability to reach base, and he will be a huge asset in the middle of the Giants’ lineup sooner rather than later. Bishop is also an above-average fielder in center field with an accurate arm.
ETA: 2022
4. Heliot Ramos – OF
Hit: 50
Power: 55
Run: 50
Arm: 60
Field: 50
Overall: 55
Ramos was the 19th overall selection by the Giants in the 2017 Draft out of Leadership Christian Academy in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. The Giants signed him for $3,101,700 after he showed one of the top power/speed combinations in the draft class. The shortstop played well in his pro debut season, had a down year in 2018, then broke out with a .850 OPS in 2019 while reaching Double-A Richmond at age 19. He earned himself a spot in the All-Star Future’s Game and continued his development at San Francisco’s alternate training site in 2020.
Ramos has filthy good bat speed and strength which helps him to drive the ball out to all fields, despite not being able to produce much launch angle in his swing. He has worked on his discipline and patience at the plate, which will help him get at least decent average numbers to add to his plus power potential. Ramos grades as a plus runner, but as he has started to fill out more, his added strength projects him more as an average runner. The Giants have used him mostly in center, but he has the arm strength and instincts that profile more as a right fielder.
ETA: 2021
5. Patrick Bailey – C
Hit: 60
Power: 55
Run: 55
Arm: 55
Field: 55
Overall: 55
Despite already having Bart in the system, the Giants selected Bailey with the 13th overall pick last June. The three-year starter out of North Carolina State mashed 29 taters in 131 college games and signed for $3,797,500. He is a switch-hitting catcher with impressive defensive ability from behind the plate.
Although there was no minor league season in 2020, Bailey impressed at the Giants’ alternate site and instructional league. He exhibited a great ability to take charge of a pitching staff and call a game. Bailey has 20-25 homer potential and he also makes consistent contact. That makes him a chance at being a force at the catching position within a few years. If he has a solid season in 2021, he could overtake Bart as the catcher of the future for the Giants. Only time will tell, but we will just have to keep an eye on how both catchers do this season. Bailey is making his pro debut this season, but he is a good bet to start out at Low-A Augusta.
ETA: 2023
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