Triple-A has been underway for nearly three weeks, but the other levels have been underway just a little more than a week.  So it’s time to look at how the Giants’ Top 10 prospects are doing early in the season.

Top Prospect Watch

#1: Kyle Harrison

This Week (AAA): 2.70 ERA, 1.80 WHIP – 3.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 2 SO

Season (AAA): 7.50 ERA, 2.83 WHIP, .280 Avg – 3 G, 3 GS, 6.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 10 BB, 7 SO

Well, let’s be blunt: It’s been a very rough start to the season for the Giants’ top prospect.  Luckily, his third start was a bit better, though not perfect.  The strikeouts will need to come back, but at least he kept runs from crossing the plate.

#2: Marco Luciano 

No Games Played Yet

Luciano is still rehabbing in Arizona, and playing in extended spring training.  He should be back in official games soon, probably in Richmond.

#3: Casey Schmitt

This Week (AAA): .345/.382/.345 – 10-29, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 3 BB, 6 SO, 0-0 SB-SBA

Season (AAA): .318/.338/.394 – 21-66, 5 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 3 BB, 17 SO, 0-0 SB-SBA

While Schmitt’s batting average has been keeping high, it’s been an empty batting average, with no extra-base hits of late and few walks, though all three of his walks on the year have come in this last week.  But, he’s making good contact, so hopefully the power and walks will come.

#4: Grant McCray

This Week (High-A): .000/.160/.000 – 0-21, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 BB, 8 SO, 2-2 SB-SBA

Season (High-A): .161/.257/.290 – 5-31, 2 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 2 BB, 11 SO, 3-3 SB-SBA

Ouch.  After an encouraging first couple of games, McCray went the entire series in Spokane without a hit.  A couple of walks did lead to a couple of steals, but ultimately, McCray needs to put bat on ball.

#5: Carson Whisenhunt

This Week (Low-A): 3.38 ERA, 1.88 WHIP – 2.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 1 BB, 4 SO

Season (Low-A): 3.18 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, .292 Avg – 2 G, 2 GS, 5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 1 BB, 8 SO

Early in the season, pitchers like Whisenhunt are being kept with low pitch counts, and for the most part, his changeup is fooling the hitters at Low-A.  He needs to keep them from hitting his other pitches, however.

#6: Vaun Brown

No Games Played Yet

Like Luciano, Brown is still rehabbing and is playing in extended spring training games.  Hopefully, he’ll be back soon, and testing himself in Double-A.

#7: Luis Matos

This Week (AA): .190/.320/.238 – 4-21, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 4 BB, 0 SO, 1-2 SB-SBA

Season (AA): .258/.378/.387 – 8-31, 1 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 6 BB, 2 SO, 1-2 SB-SBA

Luis Matos did well in his first few games, but things have fallen off a bit in the most recent week.  What’s encouraging is that his batting eye remains good, with four walks and no strikeouts.  But ultimately, he needs to hit.

#8: Aeverson Arteaga

This Week (High-A): .211/.375/.474 – 4-19, 0 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 BB, 8 SO, 0-1 SB-SBA

Season (High-A): .172/.294/.345 – 5-29, 0 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 BB, 12 SO, 0-1 SB-SBA

It’s been a slow start in 2023 for the star shortstop, but that’s what he did in 2022 as well.  Arteaga took all of his walks on the year in the past week, but the strikeouts remain a big concern.

#9: Cole Waites

This Week (AAA): 16.20 ERA, 3.00 WHIP – 1.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 4 BB, 1 SO

Season (AAA): 7.71 ERA, 2.57 WHIP, .278 Avg – 5 G, 1 GS, 4.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 HR, 7 BB, 3 SO

Yeah…this line isn’t good.  Sacramento has had tough matchups, with road games in Reno and Salt Lake, and home games against Fernando Tatis, Jr., with El Paso.  This week though, it was the walks that cost him, much as it has most of the Sacramento pitching staff.  He needs to get his control back.

#10: Mason Black

This Week (AA): 2.25 ERA, 0.75 WHIP – 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 0 BB, 5 SO

Season (AA): 4.50 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, .226 Avg – 2 G, 2 GS, 8.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 0 BB, 11 SO

In his second start of the season, Black had a nice bounceback after struggling in his first start.  Black has one big stat to pay attention to: no walks against 11 strikeouts in 8.0 innings.  I doubt he’ll keep up that K:BB ratio all season, but hopefully it’ll stay strong.