The Giants used to have a great reputation for raising pitchers through the farm system, but recently their reputation has been more for rehabilitating the careers of Major League pitchers who have dealt with struggles. But after bringing Logan Webb up and him currently being arguably the team’s best player, the Giants are poised to continue to reshape the rotation from within.
Kyle Harrison has become the top Giants prospect on many lists, and the Bay Area local is on the verge of making the Majors after a big season. He could be reshaping the top of the Giants rotation very soon. Behind him, the Giants have drafted a couple of pitchers with plus pitches that could drive them into the middle of the rotation within a few years.
So this could be the most exciting Giants starting pitching group in the farm in a very long time. Enjoy them in the minors while they are there, because the #1 guy might be graduated by the time next year’s list comes out.
#1 – Kyle Harrison
There’s not much more to say than that Kyle Harrison had a star-making season in the minors this year. He’s being called the best left-handed pitching prospect in all the minors, and so there is no doubt that he belongs at the top of this list.
#2 – Carson Whisenhunt
After a positive drug test cost Carson Whisenhunt his 2022 college season, the potential first rounder slid in the 2022 draft so that the Giants got him at the end of the second round. Whisenhunt has possible the best plus-plus pitch of any Giant pitcher with his changeup, which gives him both a nice ceiling and floor in projection.
#3 – Mason Black
The Giants drafted Mason Black in the 3rd round in 2021, and retooled his slider to make it a plus pitch that gets a lot of whiffs. He mixes that with plus control, and any pitcher with a plus weapon and the control to use it, which makes him a dangerous pitcher to hitters.
#4 – Nick Swiney
It was the first fully healthy season for Nick Swiney, who had a lot of ups and downs throughout the season. Swiney’s stuff is a lot of off-speed pitches, but he could use a better fastball to make his entire arsenal more competitive. But if Swiney can improve things, he could become a very tricky pitcher moving forward.
#5 – Landen Roupp
No pitcher broke out of expectations more than Landen Roupp, who rocketed up three levels of the minors in his first pro season, using his plus curveball. Roupp flew through both Single-A levels, and will likely be returning to Double-A after finishing his 2022 there, and if he can prove it wasn’t just one hot season, he could move up the system further very quickly. It was hard to place Roupp on the list, with him being very close to both the pitcher above him and below him on this list, with a lot of last-minute flip-flopping.
#6 – Will Bednar
The former first round pick struggled through his first full season, with a lower back strain appearing to affect both his stuff and his control before ending his season in June. The question is whether this former College World Series MVP will be healthy in 2023, and whether his stuff will return.
#7 – Sean Hjelle
The tallest man in baseball made his Major League debut in 2022, but struggled with giving up a lot of hits and a lot more walks than he used to. But the Giants seem committed to letting him continue to start, and he’s got two more option years to work on things to reach his ceiling.
#8 – Carson Seymour
The Giants traded for Seymour as a big piece of their Darin Ruf trade in July 2022, and Seymour had a big first full season that was very promising. Seymour saw big gains in his control and his velocity, which led to his big season. If he can repeat those gains in 2023, he could become a big prospect for the Giants.
#9 – Keaton Winn
The Giants protected Winn from the 2022 Rule 5 Draft, which made sure he was not one of then nearly dozen players the Giants lost in that draft. But unlike some recent protections they’ve made, Winn still has a good chance with his mid-90’s fastball to stick as a starter long-term.
#10 – Nomar Medina
The Giants youngest pitching prospect has established himself in the Complex leagues, leading Arizona in ERA in 2022. The full-season leagues await, and Medina will be in San Jose for the next step up.
#11 – Tristan Beck
Beck has struggled with his health throughout the past, but he had a nearly healthy season in 2022. He’s got a great compliment of pitches to work with, and the Giants are convinced he can turn his arsenal into a starting role. But a second straight healthy season will be a big help to making that happen.
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