The big news is that Marco Luciano is getting called up after just six games in Triple-A.  But he didn’t even have the biggest game for Sacramento today.  Meanwhile Ismael Munguia is on a roll in Richmond, and Taiwanese signing Chen-Hsun Lee made his pro debut.

Okay, let’s just get the big news out of the way.

First…I’d be surprised if he’s in the lineup on Wednesday.  If anything, he was told in Albuquerque on the road on late night (if he was even told then).  Traveling to SF and then playing that night, especially when half his stuff is still in Sacramento…it’s not impossible, but it’s a tough situation.

Secondly…I’m going to catch flak for this, but I’m going to say it.

I don’t like this move.  I don’t think he’s ready.  He’s had a hot streak, and he puts a charge in the ball.  But he’s still dealing with strikeout issues, and has really struggled with contact, and even just getting over to field balls cleanly at times (including his SportsCenter Top 10 play).

I think we might see something like Casey Schmitt, where he started off well, but pitchers figured him out, and now Schmitt is batting a bingo number in July (.083, 4-for-48).  Or Ramos, who was called up suddenly in April in 2022, got a couple of hits in his first game, and then didn’t get a single hit the rest of the season in the bigs as he got bounced around between Triple-A and the bigs, and also struggled in Triple-A after that.

I want Luciano to do well…but I’m afraid this is not putting him into the best situation, and fans will turn on him if he struggles.  And it will set back Luciano’s development as well.

If the Giants wanted a right-handed hitting middle infielder, Tyler Fitzgerald is right there, who has been proving himself for half the season so far in Triple-A.

AAA: Albuquerque 9, Sacramento 6

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Top Sacramento Performances:

  • DISCLAIMER: The River Cats are in Albuquerque, with an altitude higher than Denver.  Don’t get over-excited by all the home runs.
  • Armando Alvarez had the biggest day, going 3-for-4 with two solo home runs on the day.  That gives Alvarez six on the season in 39 games, and in Sacramento he’s hitting .340/.391/.583 with five doubles and a triple to go with those home runs.
  • Marco Luciano had one home run, going 1-for-4 with a walk.  That gives Luciano two home runs in two games (and six games overall in Triple-A).  He had the three hardest hit balls of the game, all over 108 MPH.  He’s hitting .292/.370/.625 so far in Triple-A.  EDIT: and is now called up.
  • Third baseman Tyler Fitzgerald was 2-for-4 and got back into a tie for the team lead in home runs in Sacramento.  It was his 12th with Sacramento, and 14th overall including his time in Richmond.  He’s hitting .285/.345/.492 with the River Cats over 58 games.
  • Starting pitcher Mason Black suffered in the altitude.  Black gave up a pair of home runs, leading to five runs (four earned) in 4.0 innings, over seven hits and three walks, while striking out just four.

Other Notable Lines:

  • RF Luis Gonzalez: 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 E (1) (first game back in AAA after four games of rehab in the ACL)
  • DH Heliot Ramos: 1-3, 1 BB, 2 SO
  • 2B Will Wilson: 2-4, 1 2B (11), 1 SB (18), 1 E (10)

AA: Richmond 6, Portland 0

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Top Richmond Performances:

  • Ismael Munguia was 3-for-4 on the day in Richmond.  Since returning to Richmond, Munguia is 7-for-17 (.412) over four games with two doubles, and a walk with two strikeouts.  Overall, Munguia has been having a good year at Richmond when healthy, he’s batting .313/.374/.442.
  • Second baseman Hayden Cantrelle had all of Richmond’s extra-base hits, going 2-for-4 with two doubles, giving him 11.  Through 82 games, Cantrelle has 11 doubles, a triple, and four home runs, and has a batting line of .215/.389/.321.
  • Starting pitcher Ryan Murphy threw four innings to lead the shutout, giving up just a hit and two walks, with three strikeouts.  Murphy has a 4.24 ERA after five starts in July, and overall has a 4.67 ERA, with 68 strikeouts to 36 walks in 69.1 innings this season.

Other Notable Lines:

  • SS Shane Matheny: 2-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 2 SO, 1 SB (3), 1 CS (2)
  • RF Wade Meckler: 1-4, 1 R, 1 SO
  • RP Wil Jensen: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO
  • RP Jose Cruz: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO

High-A: Eugene 7, Spokane 1

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Top Eugene Performances:

  • Shortstop Aeverson Arteaga had a great game, going 3-for-4, with a home run and a double.  Arteaga now has 19 doubles, three triples, and 12 home runs after 86 games this season.  His batting line is .225/.306/.408, and he has 35 walks to 100 strikeouts. 
  • Third baseman Luis Toribio kept up with Arteaga in the home run leaderboard, going 1-for-4 with his 12th home run as well.  Toribio has a batting line of .230/.357/.438, with 12 home runs, nine doubles, and a triple, but has 44 walks to 71 strikeouts.
  • Reggie Crawford had another scoreless inning in his start, striking out the side though he gave up two hits, a walk, and a wild pitch.  In Eugene, he’s made three starts and pitched three innings, with four hits and four walks allowed, but just one run and six strikeouts.
  • The lion’s share of the innings belonged to Hayden Birdsong, who had 5.0 scoreless innings, giving up three hits, a walk, and a HBP, while striking out three.  He has a 3.09 ERA after 32.0 innings at High-A, with 40 strikeouts to eight walks.
  • Jared Dupere was lifted in this game after the 4th inning, when he struck out.  He appeared to briefly grab his side after his second swing, though he stayed in to finish the at-bat.  He was 1-for-2 before being taken out.  No word on his status.

Other Notable Lines:

  • LF Carter Williams: 1-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 SO, 1 2B (2)
  • 1B Sean Roby: 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 SO
  • RP Nick Morreale: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO

Low-A: Rancho Cucamonga 10, San Jose 7

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Top San Jose Performances:

  • Left fielder Alexander Suarez had the big hit for San Jose, going 1-for-4 with a home run, plus a walk and two stolen bases.  It’s his first home run since July 4th, and gives him five in 67 games this season.  He also now has 14 steals in 16 attempts.  Overall, he has five home runs, four triples, and seven doubles, and has a batting line of .250/.314/.371.
  • Catcher Zach Morgan was 3-for-5 with two doubles.  Morgan now has 11 doubles in 58 games, with a triple and four home runs, and has 42 walks to 44 strikeouts this season.
  • Shortstop Diego Velasquez was 2-for-5 with a double and a stolen base.  Velasquez now has 15 steals in 17 attempts in 76 games, and a batting line of .310/.391/.443.  He’s got 20 doubles, a triple, and six home runs.
  • Second baseman Jose Ramos was 1-for-2 with a walk and a HBP, and stole two bases.  That gives him 26 steals in 30 attempts after 76 games, with a .211/.310/.292 batting line.
  • Starting Manuel Mercedes struggled, giving up 10 runs in 2.2 innings, but only two earned runs.  The eight unearned runs came in the 3rd inning after the inning started with three consecutive errors.  Mercedes still gave up eight hits and one walk, while striking out three.

Other Notable Lines:

  • 1B Dilan Rosario: 2-5, 1 R, 2 SO, 1 E (8)
  • 3B Justin Bench: 0-4, 3 SO, 1 SB (4), 1 E (3), 1 HBP
  • RP Luis Moreno: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO
  • RP Cameron Cotter: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO

ACL: ACL Mariners 3, ACL Giants Black 2 (7 Innings)

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Top ACL Giants Black Performances:

  • Catcher Rayner Santana had the team’s only extra-base hit, going 1-for-3 with a double, his second of the summer in the ACL.  Santana is 9-for-47 (.191), with six walks to 19 strikeouts in 18 games.
  • Third baseman Elian Rayo was 1-for-1 on the day, walking twice for a perfect on-base day.  After 35 games, he’s 26-for-104 (.25) with 18 walks to 40 strikeouts.  His OBP is .375.

Other Notable Lines:

  • SP Luis Bermudez: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 2 WP
  • RP Trent Harris: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO (2023 UDFA debut)
  • RP Tommy Kane: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO (2023 19th rd. pick debut)

ACL: ACL Giants Orange 9, ACL Athletics 8

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Top ACL Giants Orange Performances:

  • Starting pitcher Chen-Hsun Lee made his pro debut, with a scoreless inning, not giving up any baserunner nor striking anyone out.  The 21-year old Lee was an international free agent signing from Taiwan in early 2023.
  • Right fielder Garrett Frechette had the team’s only home run, going 1-for-5.  That gives him two home runs in 27 games in the ACL this season.  His batting line is .244/.347/.366.
  • Second baseman Jean Carlos Sio was 2-for-5.  After 34 games, he has three doubles, two triples, and three home runs over the summer, with a .290/.390/.419 batting line.

Other Notable Lines:

  • DH Derwin Laya: 1-5, 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 SO, 1 2B (4)
  • RP Cody Tucker: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO (2023 UDFA debut)

DSL: DSL Phillies Red 4, DSL Giants Black 3 (7 Innings)

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Top DSL Giants Black Performances:

  • Right fielder Moises De La Rosa was 1-for-2 in a short game, with one double.  Over 32 games, De La Rosa is hitting .325/.446/.474 with seven doubles, two triples, and two home runs.
  • Starting pitcher Jose Bello gave up three runs in 5.0 innings, striking out six while allowing five hits, one walk, and one HBP.

Other Notable Lines:

  • PH-RF Diego Villegas: 1-2, 1 R, 1 2B (5)
  • DH Angel Guzman: 1-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 2B (8)
  • RP Melvin Javier: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 1 HR

DSL: DSL Phillies White 4, DSL Giants Orange 2

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Top DSL Giants Orange Performances:

  • 1B Brayan Ferrer was 1-for-3 with a double, plus a walk.  He has a batting line of .256/.360/.390, with nine doubles and a triple, with 12 walks versus 12 strikeouts.  
  • Starting pitcher Randry De Leon allowed three runs, two earned, in 5.0 inning on five hits and three strikeouts, with one home run given up.  That gives him a 10.32 ERA after eight games, with 25 strikeouts to 15 walks in 22.2 innings.

Other Notable Lines:

  • 3B Jhosward Camacho: 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 3 SO, 1 2B (3)
  • CF Lisbel Diaz: 1-4, 1 SO, 1 CS (1)
  • RP Jose Rojas: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 1 HBP