Tony Torcato

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #13 prospect in 2003
  Torcato had been a staple in the organization's top 10 since he was drafted in 1998. Expectations for him aren't quite as high now, though he still looks like he can be a productive big leaguer and will get a shot at making the Giants this spring. Torcato has been a solid hitter every step of the way, though he never has shown much power. During the 2002 season he made a concerted effort to try to pull the ball in certain situations. He hit 13 homers, nearly double his previous career high, and San Francisco hopes he'll eventually develop 20-homer power. Like Deivis Santos, he makes good contact but offsets that by not working many walks. He's no more than adequate as a left fielder, and his arm is nothing special. Drafted as a third baseman, he moved off the hot corner after a series of shoulder injuries. Torcato needs to build up his strength to get through the rigors of a full season.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #4 prospect in 2002
  Giants trainers have called Torcato a freak for his ability to come back from injury. He has had three operations on his right shoulder, the latest last March 8 after he got hurt in spring training. His problems prompted his move from third base to the outfield. With a gifted natural stroke that produces consistent line drives, Torcato is easily the best hitter in the system. The Giants project more than just gap power once he stays healthy enough to get in a groove. He still has good arm strength despite his shoulder woes, and he takes good routes in the outfield, a sign of his excellent baseball instincts. The Giants hope the move off third base will minimize further entries on his medical chart. He'll hit for more power once he learns the patience to work into hitter's counts. Torcato was the leading inhouse candidate if a corner spot had opened in San Francisco's outfield, but the club signed Barry Bonds to a long-term deal, signed Reggie Sanders and traded for Tsuyoshi Shinjo. The extra Triple-A time Torcato will get should benefit him.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #3 prospect in 2001
  In the same draft that included heralded third basemen Sean Burroughs (Padres) and Mark Teixeira (who didn't sign with the Red Sox and is at Georgia Tech), Torcato tends to get forgotten. Despite right shoulder surgery that forced him to play half of 1999 as a DH, Torcato's hitting exploits rival those of Burroughs. Torcato has the best swing in the organization, one that sprays line drives to all parts of the field. California League managers walked him intentionally eight times, tops in the league. The organization is confident that despite having had problems with both shoulders, Torcato will develop power as he gets stronger. He runs surprisingly well and has good instincts on the bases. His inexperience and injuries have left him flailing at the hot corner, though, where he struggles with his throws. He has changed his throwing stroke and rarely releases the ball from the same point twice. Staying healthy would help his defense. He will start the year at Double-A Shreveport, unless he has a big spring and plays his way to Triple-A Fresno. His progress on defense will determine whether he can overcome Pedro Feliz and Lance Niekro and stay at third, or have to take his potent bat to left field or first base.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #3 prospect in 1999
  Background: The Giants surprised many by using the first of seven premium picks last year to select Torcato. But his swing, which has been compared to Padres first-rounder Sean Burroughs, is already regarded as the best in the organization. There were major concerns about Torcato's surgically repaired right shoulder. Strengths: To say that the Giants are enamored with Torcato's offensive potential might not go far enough. Organization veterans call Torcato's swing "beautiful" and "gorgeous". They project him to be a middle-of-the-order run producer. Weaknesses: A high school shortstop, Torcato is still learning the fundamentals at third, especially in approaching ground balls and keeping his balance. He had no shoulder problems during the summer or fall and has plenty of arm strength as long as he remains healthy. The Future: Torcato is from the North Bay Area and is a life-long Giants fan, a perfect fit for an organization that has placed tremendous emphasis on its history and former players. He will probably start 1999 down the road at Class A San Jose.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Pacific Coast League #19 prospect in 2001
  Torcato didn't get seen by a lot of managers after spending the last quarter of the season in the PCL, but as one of the youngest players in the league this season he bears watching next year. He spent the first half of the season in the high Class A California League before earning a promotion to the Double-A Texas League and then the PCL. He got off to a slow start before an 11-game hitting streak that raised his average from .167 to .355. Torcato is another prospect who will get as far as his swing takes him. Like Burroughs he hasn't shown a lot of power yet, but that's expected to come. Torcato's 38 doubles this season are indicative of his stroke. He can hit the ball to all fields and has one of the best swings in the minors. Unlike Cust, Torcato has earned positive reviews for his work in the outfield. He had to move there after shoulder surgery ended his days at third base. He played both corners well and left field seems to be his long-term home.
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  Ranked California League #12 prospect in 2001
  A first-round pick in 1998, Torcato thought he had seen enough of the Cal League after playing 229 games there in 1999 and 2000. Yet offseason shoulder surgery sent him back to San Jose again for the start of this season, and he showed no ill effects at the plate. A pure line-drive hitter, Torcato is expected to develop power with experience. He has been a poor man's Sean Burroughs thus far, which isn't a bad thing. Originally a third baseman, he served as a DH for most of his time in the Cal League this year and has become a full-time left fielder.
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  Ranked California League #8 prospect in 2000
  The kid with the sweet swing made the breakthrough realization this season that his propensity for errors was negating his contributions at the plate. "I think he might've had 25 errors by May 10, but he then became a totally different infielder," Comstock said. "There were two things behind it. The first was a tremendous work ethic. He seriously got after it, taking a load of ground balls, of bunts, of backhanded chances, of throws to second base, of throws across the field to first. "What began happening is the second thing, that he took his very commanding presence at the plate to third base with him. He wanted balls hit at him and he was showing the confidence that he felt he could turn any play." The Giants always have been taken with Torcato's bravado. He improved offensively, finishing among the Cal League leaders in batting average, hits, doubles and extra-base hits at age 20. Even rehabbing major league pitchers couldn’t get a fastball by him, and Torcato’s got into such good shape that he became a basestealing threat.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #83 prospect in 2002
• Ranked Baseball America's #60 prospect in 2001

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  The kid with the sweet swing made the breakthrough realization this season that his propensity for errors was negating his contributions at the plate. "I think he might've had 25 errors by May 10, but he then became a totally different infielder," Comstock said. "There were two things behind it. The first was a tremendous work ethic. He seriously got after it, taking a load of ground balls, of bunts, of backhanded chances, of throws to second base, of throws across the field to first. "What began happening is the second thing, that he took his very commanding presence at the plate to third base with him. He wanted balls hit at him and he was showing the confidence that he felt he could turn any play." The Giants always have been taken with Torcato's bravado. He improved offensively, finishing among the Cal League leaders in batting average, hits, doubles and extra-base hits at age 20. Even rehabbing major league pitchers couldn’t get a fastball by him, and Torcato’s got into such good shape that he became a basestealing threat.