Happy Tuesday – we’ve got another Minor Monday for you, r/SFGiants’s weekly round up of the players who may be on your TV one day.
Last week, the Giants minor league affiliates combined for a winning percentage of .333, so I would like to believe it can’t get a whole lot worse, but we should probably check the numbers just in case.
The four affiliates have now played 71 games and combine for a record of 29 – 42, a .408 winning percentage. Progress!
| TEAM | RECORD | RUNS SCORED | RUNS ALLOWED | STANDINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento River Cats | 7 – 12 | 79 | 94 | 4th of 4 |
| Richmond Flying Squirrels | 7 – 12 | 64 | 84 | 6th of 6 |
| San Jose Giants | 7 – 8 | 73 | 83 | 5th of 6 |
| Augusta GreenJackets | 8 – 10 | 78 | 81 | 4th of 7 |
Quick Hits
- Chris Shaw 1B (Baseball America’s #5 Giants prospect) unleashes his power
When we last checked in with Shaw, he was riding a six game hitting streak. That ended at nine games, but more fun is the 2016 debut of his power. Crushing a home run in each of the last two games, eight of his 18 hits are now for extra bases.
Watch his first of the year here!
- Mac Williamson (11) plays like an angry man since leaving SF
After just three at-bats, Williamson was shipped (or Uber’d?) back to Sacramento and he either loves it or hates it. In four games he’s had seven hits and two home runs. His most impressive day, Sunday, included a seven RBI, three hit performance.
- Andrew Susac hits baseballs, does not catch them
Starting 2016 in AAA following a late start in spring training and then suffering an injury, the theoretical back-up to Buster Posey is back in action for the first time since April 11th. His swing seems on track with four hits in three games, but the news here is that it’s all been as a DH. Keep an eye out for when he starts catching – Susac won’t displace Trevor Brown on the San Francisco roster before he does.
- Dylan Davis (OF, 2014, 3rd Round) hates Georgia
In 2015, Davis was putting together a decent year in Augusta before he got the call up to San Jose where he promptly took a step back, recording 107 unremarkable at-bats. Back in Augusta to start the year, Davis is playing like a slumping Barry Bonds, slashing .311 / .403 / 1.042 and eying a ticket back to the sunshine state.
- 4/20 San Jose Giants lose 17-3, giving up seven home runs
Presented because too much good news might upset a Giants fan. Speaking of which …
Missing In Action
Lucius Fox (4) and his ability to hit
When I was 18 years old, the most pressure I felt was when I forgot I had a paper on Shakespeare due the next day. Meanwhile, Fox has to hit baseballs thrown by people sometimes three to four years older than him. We’re hoping this is much ado about nothing, but Fox has just six hits in 39 at-bats.
Kyle Crick (27) and his control
Oh, hi there, Mr. Crick – just checking in.
Another rough start this week, he now has 12 walks in 15.1 innings.
“Bad” Minor Leaguer of the Week
Jordan Johnson was drafted in the 23rd round in the 2014 draft. The 22 year old in San Jose has put together this line so far:
Featured Game
4/23 Sacramento beats Tacoma Rainiers, 8-4
This game had a little bit of everything.
Ty Blach (20) started the game and Chris Heston finished it. Heston, interestingly used out of the bullpen, struck out four and only walked one in four innings. The two pitchers combined to put 12 runners on base, but effectively limited the damage.
How Heston is used in Sacramento might clue us in as to his future role in San Francisco.
On the other side, we had four familiar heroes. The aforementioned Susac and Williamson combined for five hits in eight at-bats. Susac had the better day of the two — 2 R, 3 H, 3 RBI, 2B, HR.
Jarret Parker (9), who will be discussed below, contributed a three run homer, his second of the season which you can watch.
Do you remember Ryan Lollis? No? The 29 year old had 12 at-bats in San Francisco last year and, while not particularly prospect-relevant, he drove in a run on three hits on Saturday.
Top Prospects: 6 – 10
Last week we checked-in with the first five of Baseball America’s top prospects in the Giants organization and we’re rounding it out today.
- Sam Coonrod, RHP, 23 years old, 5th Round 2014 Draft, San Jose Giants
Before I give you a dose of good news, remember that it’s April and he’s only thrown 13 innings, (mostly thanks to poor weather). But check out his mystical ability to not allow runs in three starts:
13 hits in 13 innings, so the lack of earned runs is probably a bit fluky, but what’s not are the three true outcomes. 13 : 3 strikeout to walk ratio without giving up a home run.
I believe his next start is tomorrow – play it again, Sam.
- Aramis Garcia, C, 23 years old, 2nd Round 2014 Draft, San Jose Giants
Beginning his second year in San Jose, Garcia is off to a fine start. Again, the Little Giants haven’t played that many games this year due to weather, but we should be especially pleased with his walks.
Aramis Garcia is the most exciting catcher in the system. We will have to wait and see if he is turned into a lucrative trade chip.
- Clayton Blackburn, RHP, 23 years old, 16th Round 2011 Draft, Sacramento River Cats
Blackburn has steadily worked his way through the system since 2011 and, this year, he is poised to make a big league impact. He put together a great full year in Sacramento last year and at this point it seems that there’s very little for Blackburn to prove in the minors.
So far, he’s done nothing to hurt his stock.
- Jarret Parker, OF, 27 years old, 2nd Round 2010 Draft, Sacramento River Cats
A candidate for the big league roster right now, perhaps the only reason he wasn’t in San Francisco on Opening Day is that the Giants decided to carry 13 pitchers. Early year struggles allowed Mac Williamson to jump ahead of him on the depth chart, but he might have regained his stroke recently.
We will almost certainly see Parker in San Francisco at some point this year.
- Adalberto Mejia, LHP, 22 years old, 2011 international signing, Richmond Flying Squirrels
The highest ranked left handed pitcher in the Giants system, Mejia is the #2 starter behind Tyler Beede (2) in Richmond’s loaded rotation. So far in 2016, Mejia is doing almost nothing wrong aside from surrendering two home runs.
Although still just three starts into the season, Mejia is striking out batters at the highest rate of his career.
That’s a wrap!
Does anyone think ‘G Minor’ would be an amusing title for this column?
No one? Okay. I’m taking suggestions since apparently posting this on Monday is just not in the cards.
Postgame Thread 
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