Sean McGowan

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #22 prospect in 2002
  On the surface, McGowan had a solid 2001 season. He hit more home runs than he had the previous year, wasn't overmatched by Triple-A pitching despite just 69 previous at-bats above Class A, and he played some left field in addition to first base. But McGowan fell hard in the eyes of the organization, which seems to have lost patience waiting for him to develop home run power befitting his large frame. His swing is compact but he hasn't learned to pull the ball with authority, and he continues to have problems with good inside fastballs. In Triple-A, he hit just .251 with five home runs away from Fresno's cozy Beiden Field, and he continued to strike out four times as often as he walked. The Giants also had high hopes that McGowan's athletic ability would allow a smooth move to the outfield, but instead he didn't take to the experiment, prompting a pair of demotions to Double-A. McGowan could put the pieces back together, but he must put in more work defensively at first base and hit for more power to supplant J.T. Snow in San Francisco.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #6 prospect in 2001
  McGowan's big frame and athletic ability attracted the interest of football programs such as Boston College, Miami, Notre Dame, Penn State and Syracuse. He wound up at Boston College for baseball, where he led the Big East Conference in batting and home runs as a junior. He led the Giants organization in average, hits and RBIs last year. He combines the power of a man his size with a smooth, compact swing uncommon for a big power hitter. He has shown the ability to hit the ball to all fields, even hitting cripple pitches to center field. The organization thinks he'll hit for more power as he learns to pull the ball. McGowan has athletic ability but hasn't put in the work to be a good defensive first baseman. The Giants would like to see him be a little more selective at the plate, drawing a few more walks and turning on pitches to put his tremendous power to use. With big league veteran J.T. Snow getting older, the Giants have a pair of possible successors in McGowan and Damon Minor. McGowan, who will get a full season at Double-A in 2000, has the advantage of being three years younger than Minor.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked California League #16 prospect in 2000
  At 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, McGowan is a power-hitting prospect. The main reason he hit just 12 homers was that he played his home games at Municipal Stadium, the Cal League's most expansive park. "You don't project home run hitters to the major leagues based on their minor league home run totals," Comstock said. "It's guys like Sean, guys who hit a steady stream of line drives and doubles, who turn into the home run hitters." McGowan finished second in the batting and RBI races. He makes exceedingly good contact for a potential slugger. His biggest need is to improve his defense at first base, where his footwork is awkward and his range deplorable.

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  At 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, McGowan is a power-hitting prospect. The main reason he hit just 12 homers was that he played his home games at Municipal Stadium, the Cal League's most expansive park. "You don't project home run hitters to the major leagues based on their minor league home run totals," Comstock said. "It's guys like Sean, guys who hit a steady stream of line drives and doubles, who turn into the home run hitters." McGowan finished second in the batting and RBI races. He makes exceedingly good contact for a potential slugger. His biggest need is to improve his defense at first base, where his footwork is awkward and his range deplorable.