Path Clears For Christian Arroyo 

Best Player: Shortstop Christian Arroyo didn’t put up the flashiest numbers this season, hitting .274/.316/.373 for Double-A Richmond. But the Giants displayed their confidence in the gifted 21-year old when they traded established third baseman Matt Duffy to the Rays in the deal that netted lefthander Matt Moore.

Executive vice president Brian Sabean didn’t scout Moore the week before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. He was in Richmond to evaluate Arroyo, a 2013 first-rounder out of Hernando (Brooksville, Fla.) HS, whose shortstop skills should translate easily to third. Predictably, Arroyo struggled in Richmond’s pitcher-friendly environment and hit nearly 100 points higher on the road.

The acquisition of Eduardo Nunez, who has one more year of arbitration before free agency, gives Arroyo time to develop and arrive in the big leagues when he’s ready.

Best Pitcher: Though many viewed Phil Bickford as the highest ceiling arm in the system when he was traded to the Brewers for lefthanded reliever Will Smith, Bickford wasn’t ranked internally as one the Giants’ top three or four starting pitching prospects.

Righthander Tyler Beede was, and his methodical development after being drafted 14th overall in 2014 out of Vanderbilt now appears to be paying off. Beede, 23, showed what he’s capable of Aug. 29, when he threw a two-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts on just 94 pitches for Richmond. Not only that, but Beede was throwing 98 mph in the ninth inning. He spent his first two pro seasons learning how to cut and sink his fastball, and lost some gloss on his prospect status as a result while operating in the low 90s.

Giants coaches insisted all along they had a plan for Beede, who appears primed to be a member of the big league rotation in 2017.

Keep An Eye On: The Giants are forced to draft for power that can play at spaciuous AT&T Park. Outfielder Dylan Davis, who won the Cape Cod League home run derby in 2012 and led the league in slugging percentage, more than met the standard.

The 2014 third-rounder out of Oregon State is learning how to translate his power beyond batting practice. Davis, 23, hit .283/.356/.521 with 26 homers, 92 RBI and 27 doubles in 126 games between low Class A Augusta and high Class A San Jose.