Starting spots for Giants' Top 30 Prospects

With the 2019 Minor League Baseball season getting underway, here's a look at where the Giants' Top 30 prospects are starting the year. We also identify the prospect who just missed the Top 30 list, a player who didn't make the big league Opening Day roster but should make an impact this year, a prospect who is ready to break out in 2019 and the team's best defensive prospect.

1) Joey Bart (MLB No. 22), C -- San Jose Giants (A Adv)
2) Heliot Ramos (MLB No. 90), OF -- San Jose Giants (A Adv)
3) Marco Luciano, SS -- Extended spring training
4) Shaun Anderson, RHP -- Sacramento River Cats (AAA)
5) Logan Webb, RHP -- Richmond Flying Squirrels (AA)
6) Sean Hjelle, RHP -- Augusta GreenJackets (A)
7) Jake Wong, RHP -- Augusta GreenJackets (A)
8) Gregory Santos, RHP -- Augusta GreenJackets (A)
9) Luis Toribio, 3B -- Extended spring training
10) Alexander Canario, OF -- Extended spring training
11) Chris Shaw, OF -- Richmond Flying Squirrels (AA)
12) Jairo Pomares, OF -- Extended spring training
13) Heath Quinn, OF -- Richmond Flying Squirrels (AA)
14) Ray Black, RHP -- Sacramento River Cats (AAA)
15) Melvin Adon, RHP -- Richmond Flying Squirrels (AA)
16) Sandro Fabian, OF -- San Jose Giants (A Adv) -- IL
17) Abiatal Avelino, SS/2B -- Sacramento River Cats (AAA)
18) Blake Rivera, RHP -- Augusta GreenJackets (A)
19) Jacob Gonzalez, 3B -- Augusta GreenJackets (A)
20) Garrett Williams, LHP -- Richmond Flying Squirrels (AA)
21) Aramis Garcia, C -- Sacramento River Cats (AAA)
22) Sam Coonrod, RHP -- Sacramento River Cats (AAA)
23) Tyler Beede, RHP -- Sacramento River Cats (AAA)
24) Camilo Doval, RHP -- San Jose Giants (A Adv)
25) Seth Corry, LHP -- Augusta GreenJackets (A)
26) Jose Marte, RHP -- San Jose Giants (A Adv)
27) Ryan Howard, SS/2B -- Richmond Flying Squirrels (AA)
28) Jalen Miller, 2B -- Richmond Flying Squirrels (AA)
29) Travis Bergen, LHP -- San Francisco Giants (MLB)
30) Connor Joe, OF/1B/3B -- San Francisco Giants (MLB)
Complete list »

Just missed Top 30: Drew Ferguson
An Astros 19th-round pick in 2015 out of Belmont, Ferguson came to the Giants via the Rule 5 Draft in December after batting .304/.432/.443 with four homers in 65 Triple-A games in 2018. He's a cerebral player with a high baseball IQ, not to mention on-base ability, solid speed and the capability of playing anywhere in the outfield.

On the shelf
Outfielder Sandro Fabian is on San Jose's injured list with an undisclosed medical condition.

Impact prospect: Chris Shaw
While Shaw did struggle in his big league debut last year, his power potential is undeniable (24 homers in Triple-A in 2018). The Giants will utilize some combination of Connor Joe and Michael Reed in left field to start the year. Shaw’s offensive potential outstrips either one of them by plenty.

Breakout prospect: Heliot Ramos
Ramos has the highest ceiling of anyone in the Giants' system, but a lack of patience at the plate has resulted in some struggles early in his career. Ramos, 19, led the rookie-level Arizona League in slugging (.645) in his 2017 pro debut, but that number dipped to .396 over 124 games with Class A Augusta in '18. Ramos has well-above-average power, but he struck out 136 times in 124 games a season ago. If Ramos can make more contact, allowing him to tap into his power more, his future is bright.

Best defensive prospect: Joey Bart
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 Draft, Bart draws more attention with his bat, but his work behind the plate is impressive as well. He has improved markedly since high school, when scouts wondered if he could stay at catcher, enhancing his agility and receiving and improving the accuracy of his strong arm.