Here's where the Giants' Top 30 prospects are starting the season
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With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where the Giants' Top 30 prospects are projected to start:
1. Kyle Harrison (MLB No. 22), LHP -- San Francisco (MLB)
2. Marco Luciano (MLB No. 38), SS -- Sacramento (Triple-A)
3. Carson Whisenhunt (MLB No. 79), LHP -- Sacramento (Triple-A)
4. Bryce Eldridge (MLB No. 91), OF -- San Jose (Single-A)
5. Walker Martin, SS -- Extended spring training
6. Rayner Arias, OF -- Extended spring training
7. Hayden Birdsong, RHP -- Richmond (Double-A)
8. Mason Black, RHP -- Sacramento (Triple-A)
9. Reggie Crawford, LHP -- Extended spring training
10. Maui Ahuna, SS -- San Jose (Single-A)
11. Joe Whitman, LHP -- San Jose (Single-A)
12. Landen Roupp, RHP -- San Francisco (MLB)
13. Trevor McDonald, RHP -- Richmond (Double-A) -- Injured (groin)
14. Grant McCray, OF -- Richmond (Double-A)
15. Aeverson Arteaga, SS -- Eugene (High-A) -- Injured (thoracic outlet surgery)
16. Vaun Brown, OF -- Richmond (Double-A)
17. Wade Meckler, OF -- Sacramento (Triple-A)
18. Carson Seymour, RHP -- Sacramento (Triple-A)
19. Diego Velasquez, SS -- Eugene (High-A)
20. Tyler Fitzgerald, INF -- San Francisco (MLB)
21. Victor Bericoto, OF -- Richmond (Double-A)
22. Jhonny Level, SS -- Dominican Republic complex
23. R.J. Dabovich, RHP -- Sacramento (Triple-A)
24. Kai-Wei Teng, RHP -- Sacramento (Triple-A)
25. Adrián Sugastey, C -- Richmond (Double-A)
26. Onil Perez, C -- Eugene (High-A)
27. Cole Foster, SS -- San Jose (Single-A)
28. Jairo Pomares, OF -- Eugene (High-A) -- Injured (back)
29. Erik Miller, LHP -- San Francisco (MLB)
30. Randy Rodríguez, RHP -- Sacramento (Triple-A)
Team to watch
Triple-A Sacramento is the obvious choice with Top 100 prospects Marco Luciano and Carson Whisenhunt, plus polished right-hander Mason Black and outfielder Wade Meckler, who hit .371 in his first full Minor League season. But keep an eye on Single-A San Jose, where outfielder Bryce Eldridge could be joined by shortstop Walker Martin and outfielder Rayner Arias later in the season.
Teams on MLB.TV and MiLB.TV
Sacramento River Cats (Triple-A)
Richmond Flying Squirrels (Double-A)
Eugene Emeralds (High-A)
San Jose Giants (Single-A)
Players we could see in MLB in 2024
The Giants already called up right-hander Kai-Wei Teng to replace injured Luke Jackson in the bullpen. Luciano battled Nick Ahmed for the starting shortstop job all spring, while Black might have opened the season in San Francisco's rotation if Blake Snell hadn't signed in late March. Top 100 left-hander Carson Whisenhunt is another rotation option, while righties R.J. Dabovich and Randy Rodríguez are bullpen considerations. Meckler could return to the big leagues after getting there well ahead of schedule a year ago.
New faces
Martin has yet to make his pro debut after leading all national high school players with 20 homers in 29 games last spring and landing first-round money ($2,997,500) as a second-rounder in July. Neither has fourth-round shortstop Maui Ahuna, who has some Brandon Crawford parallels and excited the Giants with his offseason development. Venezuelan shortstop Jhonny Level, who'll break into pro ball in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, earned some Rafael Furcal comps before signing for $997,500 in January.
On the shelf
Left-hander Reggie Crawford has exceptional raw stuff but has pitched just 39 1/3 innings in game action over the past four years. He strained his lat during his offseason throwing program and is building back up in extended spring training. Right-hander Trevor McDonald (groin) and outfielder Jairo Pomares (back) also are working their ways back to full health. Shortstop Aeverson Arteaga will miss the first half of the season following offseason surgery to alleviate thoracic outlet syndrome.