2022 San Francisco Giants Top 10 Prospects Chat

Image credit: Joey Bart (Ezra Shaw/Getty)

Following today’s updated Giants ranking, Josh Norris will answer your questions below at 3 pm ET.

You can submit your questions ahead of time here.

 

 

Roger from Washington DC asks: What were reports like on Casey Schmitt’s first season? He looks great defensively and made lots of contact but the numbers in Low A for a college kid were a little low.

Answer: In the beginning of the season, he unquestionably hit the skids. Things got better as the season went along though and he started living up to his reputation somewhat. He’s a slam dunk third baseman who will need the power to come a little bit as he moves up the ladder.

Roger from Washington DC asks: What does Gregory Santos need to do to get his results to match his stuff?

Answer: Santos needs to improve his command and control, pretty much as simple as that.

Brad from NJ asks: People seem to be “down” on Bart, I assume due to his poor debut, but in context he never should have been up in 2020 and that had to hurt his development/confidence. Does a .240-.250 25HR seem like a reasonable expectation for him? Will the NL Adopting the DH get him more AB and maybe push him into 30HR territory?

Answer: I think Bart is a classic case of prospect fatigue (which can be exacerbated by the weirdness of 2020). The DH will probably help him somewhat but it’s not like he needs that to happen to get his bat in the lineup. He’ll be a power over hit guy, but I’d question 30 HR a year considering he’s only hit 39 career HRs in the minors.

Brad from NJ asks: I am surprised at the lack of hype around Will Bednar, he pitched the clinching championship game throwing 7 no hit innings over Vanderbilt and Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter. Bednar has a great pitcher’s build 6’2″ 230 lbs, throws strikes, has great stuff, but mid rotation ceiling. He is working on a change for a 4-pitch mix. That seems to be low in consideration of all these other things.

Answer: I’m not sure there’s a real lack of hype. He was really good and has a chance to be a mid-rotation type of guy and ranked in the Top 10.

Evan from New York asks: Am I wrong to be irrationally excited about the potential for Luis Matos? Even though he’s ranked third, he feels like the top of player who could end up as the #1 overall prospect in baseball. What would you say his ceiling is, and how far behind Luciano is he already?

Answer: I think the potential is there for an everyday center field who can make all-star games. He probably isn’t in the realm of a guy who could be No. 1 overall, but that’s not a knock. He’s a very good prospect but not necessarily a super duper elite one.

Karl of Delaware from Georgetown, Delaware asks: There is the suggestion that Heliot Ramos might move to a corner position in the future – does he have 3rd base skills or is it more likely 1st base might be his future?

Answer: When we say corner position, we’re talking about right field or left field.

Karl of Delaware from Georgetown, Delaware asks: That 6′ 11″ pitcher with the bright plaid socks – Sean Hjelle – did his prospects take a dip after 2021 or is he still near a top 10 guy?

Answer: He’s not near the Top 10. Kinda seems like a back-end guy who gets a lot of ground balls. His future will depend on how well he develops his changeup.

Steve from California asks: Hunter Bishop seems like a glaring omission from the top 10. Is this due primarily to his injury-riddled 2021 season, or are there other concerns?

Answer: I don’t know how he’s a glaring omission. He’s barely played because of injuries and Covid and when he has played he’s not really produced. There were questions as an amateur about the ultimate hit tool, too, and those are coming up as a pro too.

Kyle Weatherly from Timmonsville, South Carolina asks: I realize Kyle Harrison is very young, but do you think he can lower that walk rate enough to be an effective SP in the MLB someday? 4.74 walks per 9 IP is really high.

Answer: I sure do. I think he’s going to be a very, very good big leaguer, and the Giants think his ceiling is quite high.

Bob from CA asks: Seth Corry had a miserable year and rightfully fell out of the top 10. What can the Giants do to get him back on track?

Answer: If I had that answer, I’d be a very rich man. They’ve tried a lot of things, but it’s just not clicking. I wish I could give you a better answer than that, but it is what it is.

Shawn Costello from Pennsylvania asks: Who would you say is a possible sleeper prospect to look out for in 2022 for the Giants?

Answer: I like LHP Nick Swiney in this mold. He had some rough times with the concussion this year but he showed really well when he did get on the mound. The analytical numbers were really good too, and he could have a breakout year in Eugene in 2022.

Greg from Yorba Linda asks: What are the chances that Pomares starts the year at AA ball? Also, How do you rate the Giants middle infielders not named Luciano? Can any of them play 3B?

Answer: With just 26 games at High-A, I’d say he goes back there. Casey Schmitt is not a middle infielder, but he’s the clear-cut best defensive third baseman in the organization.

Greg from Yorba Linda asks: Which starters have the potential to be a top of rotation starter? Do you have a sleeper candidate that is the lower minors?

Answer: In this system, probably Kyle Harrison. Sleeper in the minors would be Manuel Mercedes. Really interesting stuff this year in the complex leagues.

Greg from Yorba Linda asks: Hunter Bishop and Nick Swinney – are they still above average prospects? Where do you see them starting the year, high A or AA? Did they come close to breaking into the top 10?

Answer: I’ve mentioned them both earlier in this chat, but I’d say that neither was close to the Top 10 and I’d guess both wind up in Eugene this year.

Buster Posey from The Couch asks: I was surprised to see a ‘High’ rating on Joey Bart’s volatility, the same as Luis Matos and others. At this point, he’s ready to go as the Opening Day starter. What variance in outcomes do you see at this point?

Answer: The high refers to the risk of reaching the top of his ceiling. So he has a high risk above being an above-average regular in the big leagues.

Doug from Toronto asks: Do the Giants view Diego Rincones as a big league regular? Had a good season in 2021 and looks to be at least an average MLB hitter?

Answer: I do not believe they do. There are serious questions about his approach that would preclude him from being a an average big league hitter, and his defense isn’t great either.

Paul Dougherty from Downtown San Francisco asks: It seems that the Giants don’t have many “star level players”, but a bunch of 50 or 55 projected players which shows a deep system. 10 players at 50 or better is great. Two questions – One – is it one of the deepest systems in MLB, and Two – What are thoughts on Will Wilson and Hunter Bishop? Will they be able to help the major league squad and could Wilson make the jump to MLB this year and help the team repeat?

Answer: It’s pretty good on the offensive side and getting better on the pitching side with the additions of Bednar/Mikulski/Silva. Will Wilson is a pretty vanilla type of player who doesn’t have one loud carrying tool and doesn’t have a particularly terrible tool either. He probably fits best at second base instead of shortstop, too. Hunter Bishop is still a big incomplete because of his lack of reps and injury history.

Lamonte Wade Jr. from Bay Area asks: Your 2025 projections include me in LF. Is this a belief in my potential, or will Pomares be our 4th OFer?

Answer: That’s more of a belief in Wade Jr. than a knock on Pomares. 

AJ from San Francisco asks: I was really excited about Seth Corry after 2019. He seemed to take a significant step back last season, particularly with his control. What is his projection? Can Giants fans still be optimistic about him being a quality SP?

Answer: I do not think they can. His strike-throwing is really, really, really bad. He walked 8.38 per nine innings this year in Eugene and then 9.3 per nine in the AFL. He was left unprotected for the Rule 5 draft. It’s just really hard to see him contributing in the major leagues.

Charlie from Reno, NV asks: If Luis Matos continues his current trajectory and develops more pop, can he enter the “elite” prospect conversation this next summer?

Answer: If he hits this year at Eugene, then he could very well move into the elite prospect category. Even moreso than he is already.