Arroyo, 18 others headed to Minors camp

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Infielder Christian Arroyo, whose productive hitting legitimized his status as the Giants' top position-player prospect, was among 19 players sent to Minor League camp, effective Monday, in a massive round of roster cuts.
Arroyo, the Giants' No. 1 selection in the 2013 Draft, batted .538 (7-for-13) in 11 Cactus League games, including an eighth-inning single in the Giants' 8-1 victory Sunday over San Diego.
"He's been impressive," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "To have a swing like his coming out of A-ball -- the kid can hit."
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Ranked No. 82 on MLBPipeline.com's list of baseball's top 100 prospects, Arroyo likely will begin the season at Double-A Richmond, though he won't officially be assigned to a Minor League affiliate until late this month or early April.
"It's kind of like high school all over again," said the 20-year-old Arroyo, who graduated from high school the year he was drafted. "You're kind of showcasing your abilities."
Bochy wouldn't rule out the possibility of summoning Arroyo to San Francisco late in the season, depending on his progress.
"You never know. He's had that good of a spring," Bochy said. "He's mature beyond his years. He's a confident kid."
The Giants reassigned 11 players to Minor League camp: Arroyo and fellow infielders Ryder Jones and Rando Moreno; outfielder Junior Arias; right-handers Tyler Beede, Samuel Coonrod, Chase Johnson and Albert Suarez; and catchers Aramis Garcia, Ty Ross and Matt Winn.

Eight players were optioned out: right-handers Ray Black, Kyle Crick, Ian Gardeck, Joan Gregorio, Derek Law, Jake Smith and Chris Stratton; and left-hander Adalberto Mejia.
Bochy announced that Gardeck, who struck out 104 batters in 86 1/3 innings last year at Class A Advanced San Jose, will undergo Tommy John elbow surgery. The procedure has not been scheduled.
With the cuts, 43 players remain in Major League camp.
• Bochy said center fielder Denard Span, who has appeared in seven games as a designated hitter, will play defensively for the first time Wednesday against Seattle. Span lifted his batting average to .150 with a 1-for-3 afternoon that included a two-run double in the fourth inning.