These 5 are officially Giants top prospects
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This story was excerpted from Maria Guardado's Giants Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
MLB Pipeline unveiled its new list of Top 30 Giants prospects on Tuesday night, rolling out an updated version to account for 2022 Draft picks, Trade Deadline acquisitions and midseason performances from across the farm system.
The ranking, which was compiled by MLB.com’s Jim Callis, featured no changes at the top three spots, with shortstop Marco Luciano, left-hander Kyle Harrison and outfielder Luis Matos continuing to headline the group. Still, there were some notable risers and fallers, along with a promising crop of newcomers.
Here’s a look at the top five newest additions to the Giants’ Top 30:
No. 7, Carson Whisenhunt, LHP (2022 Draft pick)
A second-round Draft pick, Whisenhunt was activated by the Arizona Complex League Giants on Monday, so it shouldn’t be long until he makes his professional debut. The 21-year-old southpaw was forced to sit out his junior season at East Carolina University after receiving a year-long suspension from the NCAA for testing positive for a banned substance, but he showed he hadn’t lost his stuff during a promising stint at the Cape Cod League this summer.
Whisenhunt features an elite changeup with a 91-95 mph fastball and an average curveball, making him a potential mid-rotation starter with a high floor.
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No. 8, Reggie Crawford, LHP/1B (2022 Draft pick)
A two-way standout from the University of Connecticut who hit 13 homers as a first baseman and logged 7 2/3 innings on the mound last year, Crawford is expected to get a chance to continue to do double duty with the Giants, who took the 21-year-old in the first round last month. Crawford is viewed as one of the biggest wild cards in the Draft, as he has a limited track record after missing his junior season due to Tommy John surgery. Still, he flashed premium stuff before getting hurt, wielding a plus slider and a high-octane fastball that touched triple digits last summer.
Crawford isn’t expected to return to the mound until next spring, so he made his professional debut as a designated hitter on Monday night, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout for the ACL Giants Black squad.
No. 10, Vaun Brown, OF
Brown, who was unranked at the beginning of the year, has enjoyed one of the biggest jumps of any Giants prospect after putting together a breakout season at the plate. Brown, the only position player selected by the Giants in the first 10 rounds of the 2021 Draft, is hitting .344 with a 1.057 OPS, 23 home runs and 41 stolen bases in 96 games between High-A Eugene and Single-A San Jose this year. At 24, Brown is a bit of a late bloomer and comes with questions about how his offensive approach will play against more advanced competition, so he’ll have to continue to prove himself every step of the way.
No. 11, Mason Black, RHP
Black, a 2021 third-round Draft pick, has emerged as another success story for the Giants this year, logging a 2.99 ERA with 106 strikeouts over 90 1/3 innings in 20 starts between High-A Eugene and Single-A San Jose. His fastball sits at 94-97 mph with armside run and good carry, and he also throws a plus slider and a fringy changeup. There’s some reliever risk here, but he’s shown enough progress with his delivery and command to remain on the starter track for now.
No. 21, Tristan Peters, OF (Acquired from the Brewers in exchange for Trevor Rosenthal)
A left-handed hitter, Peters earned a promotion to Double-A after batting .306 with an .871 OPS and seven homers over 90 games at High-A Wisconsin this year. That same day, he was traded to the Giants, bringing him to Double-A Richmond, where he's gone 8-for-38 (.211) with two doubles and two RBIs over his first nine games. The 22-year-old Canadian has plus speed, though he’s primarily played the corner outfield in his pro career.