The Giants have generally had three top prospects everyone has talked about since 2018: Marco Luciano, Joey Bart, and Heliot Ramos. For over three years, those three rule the top of the Giants rankings, but as 2021 was starting, there were some rumblings that someone else was moving into that top tier. The 2021 season solidified it: Luis Matos was the real deal.
Matos has pushed his way into the top prospect talk not just in the system, but among the Top 100 prospects in all of baseball. However, the well is getting pretty deep for the Giants. The Giants have both drafted and signed a lot of center fielders the past few years, and they’ve begun showing up in the system. Quietly, the Giants have a lot of raw, upcoming talent in the position. This list was hard to limit to three, but could be even more exciting in future years.
#1 – Luis Matos
A lot has been said about Matos, and it’s pretty much all true. Matos is the best five-tool prospect in the system, and has a good shot to stay in center field going forward, which just adds to his value. He and Luciano could be the most exciting duo going through the system and for the Giants in the future.
#2 – Ismael Munguia
Munguia plays way past his tools with emotion and aggressiveness. Watching him during Eugene’s championship run, he stood out in all ways. It’s hard to bet on over achieving but undersized players, but there’s a certain charm and presence with Munguia that makes one want to believe.
#3 – Grant McCray
McCray was drafted in the 3rd round in 2019 as an uber-talented high schooler with baseball bloodlines. The truest defensive center fielder in the system, McCray’s been slow to get started in the system, thanks to 2020 being lost. But there is a ton of upside, and McCray is a scout’s favorite to break out soon.
Other Prospects To Note:
Down in Arizona, Alexander Suarez was making a lot of noise, and was so very close to making this list. Suarez hit .311/.379/.503 and has had two straight good short-season performances. His full-season test is coming…Vaun Brown was the Giants highest-drafted hitter in the 2021 draft (10th round), and was a hot hitter in Arizona, batting .354/.480/.620…In Triple-A, Bryce Johnson had a breakout year, hitting .286/.377/.433 and stole 30 bases in 34 attempts. Johnson could become an option in San Francisco in 2022…Down in the Dominican Summer League, Mauricio Pierre had a solid debut but looked a bit raw. Pierre signed for $490K out of Panama as part of the 2020 international class and is worth keeping an eye on as he moves up the system.
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