2021-22 International Reviews: San Francisco Giants

Top Of The Class

The Bahamas has been a baseball country on the rise in recent years. The Giants signed the top prospect for this year from the Bahamas, landing shortstop Ryan Reckley for $2.2 million. Reckley is an athletic shortstop with the tools to stick at the position and a chance to hit toward the top of a lineup. He’s a switch-hitter with a quick, compact swing who keeps his hands inside the ball well. It’s a swing and approach geared toward line drives with gap power, with an offensive profile geared more toward contact than power. His plus speed is another weapon, as is his plus arm from shortstop. He will still make typical mistakes from a young shortstop, but he has quick, crisp actions at the position. Reckley spent spring training in Arizona and will stay there for extended spring before making his pro debut either in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League or the Dominican Summer League.

The Giants also signed Juan Perez, one of the best defensive catchers in the class in Venezuela. He’s a smart, instinctive defender, moving around well behind the plate and looking comfortable handling high-octane stuff, something he has already shown with the way he has handled upper-level minors pitchers this spring in Arizona. He has strong catch-and-throw skills for his age with a plus arm, showing the attributes to develop into an above-average defender. Defense is what sticks out the most with Perez, but he has shown a solid swing from the right side, using right-center field well with a chance to develop average power as he gets to his physical prime. 

Names To Know

Dennys Riera, SS, Venezuela: Listed at perhaps a generous 5-foot-9, 165 pounds, Riera is a shorter player whose game skills are advanced for his age, especially in the batter’s box. He’s a high-contact righthanded hitter with strong game performance in Venezuela, with occasional sneaky pop for his size. He has a plus arm, too, with a chance to play shortstop, though he could end up elsewhere in the infield. 

Alessandro Duran, C, Venezuela: Duran is a switch-hitting catcher who has shown good bat-to-ball skills for a catcher his age, with a hit-over-power approach to his offensive game. His arm is fringe-average and will need to get stronger, but he should stick behind the plate because of his receiving skills. 

Erick Arosemena, OF, Panama: Arosemena was one of the premier athletes this year in Panama. He’s 6 feet, 170 pounds with quick-twitch actions, plus speed in center field and the ability to whip the barrel through the zone with impressive bat speed from the right side of the plate. He’s still learning to translate those raw tools into game skills, but it’s a promising foundation of athleticism and ability to play a premium position. 

Moises de la Rosa, OF, Dominican Republic: There’s still some crudeness to de la Rosa’s game, but his tools give him exciting potential if things eventually click. His supplementary tools are all potentially average or better between his speed and arm strength in center field as well as his bat speed and ability to drive the ball with impact during batting practice. 

Sleeper Watch

This year will be the pro debut for Jean Carlos Sio, a lower-profile signing out of Cuba. He’s an athletic player with plus speed who could play shortstop, center field or possibly move around to other spots like third base, with a compact swing as well.