A warm night at Municipal Stadium — perfect for comical baseball. (Jen Mac Ramos)

To say that the game began smoothly would be irony. Base hits and errors littered the field through the first three innings with the Giants on defense. Though only two of the runs were charged to San Jose starter Adalberto Mejia, they quickly trailed the Quakes and weren’t able to recover.

The Giants offense was non-existent through most of the game. The first hit of the game came on a Shawn Payne single in the 4th inning, then promptly was caught stealing. The offense mustered up four hits — two belonging to Ryan Cavan — and had one man on base because of a hit by pitch, but nothing came out of it.

The defense, to put it simply, was shoddy. It didn’t help that the ball was bouncing around in the infield, hitting the bases and causing infielders to take it on a bad hop. Myles Schroder had the most errors in the game, with two being charged to him: one on a pickoff attempt and another due to fielding. Angel Villalona had one error on a fielding attempt and Mac Williamson had a throwing error in the 1st inning.

The pitching might be in line with the defense. Mejia was very hittable — giving up seven hits in five innings of work, a drastic change from his last start against the Modesto Nuts where he only gave up one hit and took a perfect game into the 6th. All four errors in the game occurred with Mejia on the mound, which clearly didn’t help matters for San Jose.

Luis Rojas came in to relieve Mejia, but only lasted 0.1 innings. His command was off and out of the 28 pitches he threw, 12 were for strikes. The first two batters he faced ended up walking and then scoring when Noel Cuevas hit a single with one out.

Kelvin Marte, Cody Hall, and Josh Osich were able to keep Rancho Cucamonga’s bats quiet for the last three innings. That wasn’t enough for the Giants, who were then trailing 6-0.

Garrett Gould, Juan Noriega, and Craig Stem managed to dominate the San Jose offense. Gould only gave up three hits in six innings and struck out eight. Noriega had one inning of work, where he gave up one hit and hit Villalona. Stem took the mound for two innings and allowed no base runners. All three Quakes pitchers did not walk any Giants hitters.

Rancho Cucamonga has the 2-0 avantage in the series. At 1:00 p.m., they will go for the sweep against San Jose, and then the San Francisco Giants will be going for the sweep against the Los Angeles Dodgers at 5:00 p.m.

The San Jose Giants are off to a 13-5 start to the season! In this episode of Inside the San Jose Giants, Joe and Ben discuss San Jose’s early dominance on the mound and the overall roster depth that has propelled the club into first place. The two also look ahead to the upcoming home and home series with the Modesto Nuts that begins tonight at Municipal Stadium.

At Municipal Stadium
• Thursday, April 11, 7:00 PM
• Friday, April 12, 7:00 PM
• Saturday, April 13, 5:00 PM
• Sunday, April 14, 1:00 PM

Probable Starting Pitching Matchups
Thursday
Visalia – Keith Hessler (0-1, 7.20)
San Jose – Edwin Escobar (0-0, 0.00)

Friday
Visalia – Kyle Winkler (0-1, 9.64)
San Jose – Kyle Crick (0-0, 0.00)

Saturday
Visalia – Andrew Barbosa (1-0, 0.00)
San Jose – Ty Blach (1-0, 3.60)

Sunday
Visalia – Andrew Chafin (1-1, 3.60)
San Jose – Chris Marlowe (0-0, 1.93)

Broadcast Information
The games on Thursday and Friday will be televised live on Comcast Hometown Network, Channel 104 with Joe Ritzo and Joe Castellano handling the play-by-play and color commentary duties respectively. The entire series can also be heard live on sjgiants.com. Broadcasts begin 30 minutes prior to first pitch with The Giants Pregame Show. All 140 games this season will be aired on the club’s official website. Every broadcast is also streamed live on your mobile phone through the San Jose Giants App.

Giants Host Visalia In Home Opener Tonight
The San Jose Giants host the Visalia Rawhide in their home opener this evening at Municipal Stadium. Tonight marks the first of four straight games for the Giants against the Rawhide before the homestand continues with a three-game series versus the Stockton Ports beginning on Monday.

San Jose Posts 5-2 Record On Season-Opening Road Trip
The Giants posted a 5-2 record on their season-opening road trip that concluded yesterday. San Jose began the trip by taking three out of four games against the Visalia Rawhide last Thursday-Sunday. The Giants then won two out of three games from the Stockton Ports earning victories of 8-2 and 5-2 on Monday and Tuesday respectively before suffering a 4-3, 13-inning loss in the series finale last night. In yesterday’s contest, Stockton’s Ryan Delgado hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 13th inning off of San Jose back-up catcher Eliezer Zambrano to lift the Ports to the walk-off win. Stockton rallied in the bottom of the ninth scoring twice to force extra-innings before Delgado’s game-winning blast in the 13th. Ryan Cavan led the Giants offensively with two hits and an RBI while San Jose starting pitcher Clayton Blackburn tossed the first six innings with just one run and three hits allowed. Blackburn walked one and struck out six.

Dominant Pitching
The Giants pitching staff has posted a stellar 2.06 team ERA over the first seven games of the season. San Jose hurlers have also limited the opposition to a .197 batting average and allowed a total of just 14 runs in the last six games. Giants starting pitchers (Clayton Blackburn, Edwin Escobar, Kyle Crick, Ty Blach, Chris Marlowe and Adalberto Mejia) have combined to surrender just four earned runs in 33 2/3 innings (1.07 ERA). San Jose is first in the California League in team earned run average.

Cavan Extends Hitting Streak To Seven Games
Ryan Cavan extended his hitting streak to seven games with a 2-for-6 performance at the plate in yesterday’s contest at Stockton. Cavan is the only San Jose player to have hit safely in all seven games this season. He leads the team in batting average (.387), runs (7 – tied), hits (11), doubles (3 – tied) and RBI’s (6- tied). Last year, Cavan played for the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels and hit just .228 in 129 games, but won a Rawlings Gold Glove Award as the top fielding second baseman in Minor League Baseball. Cavan, who played for San Jose in 2011 (.270, 12 HR, 90 RBI), has moved to third base this season.

Top Prospects
Nine players on San Jose’s opening day roster are among the top 30 prospects in the organization according to Baseball America, including five out of the six pitchers in the Giants starting rotation. San Jose players among the top 30 prospects include: pitcher Kyle Crick (#1), pitcher Clayton Blackburn (#6), pitcher Adalberto Mejia (#10), pitcher Edwin Escobar (#14), outfielder Mac Williamson (#16), pitcher Chris Marlowe (#19), pitcher Josh Osich (#20), pitcher Cody Hall (#26) and outfielder Shawn Payne (#29).

Williamson’s Hot Start
Right fielder Mac Williamson is off to a strong start offensively for the Giants. In his first five games, Williamson has collected six hits in 18 at-bats (.333) with one double, one triple, two home runs and five RBI’s. He was a triple shy of the cycle in the opener last Thursday before connecting for his second home run of the season in Sunday’s game at Visalia. His .833 slugging percentage in currently fifth in the California League. Williamson was a third round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants last June out of Wake Forest University. In 29 games last summer with Salem-Keizer (Short-Season), he hit .342 with seven home runs and 25 RBI’s. He left last Monday’s game in Stockton early after making a diving catch in right field and hasn’t played since.

San Francisco Affiliation
This year marks San Jose’s 26th season as an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants – the longest partnership of any team in the California League. Since their inception in 1988, the San Jose Giants have won six league championships (1998, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010). 156 former San Jose Giants have reached the major leagues, including 111 with San Francisco.

Opponent Notes: Visalia Rawhide
The Visalia Rawhide, an affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, opened the season by dropping three out of four to the visiting Giants before earning a three-game sweep of the Bakersfield Blaze in a series that ended last night. Visalia owns a 3.00 team ERA through seven games and has recorded a league-best three shutouts. Catcher Raywilly Gomez (8-for-17, .471, 2 RBI) and third baseman Jake Lamb (5-for-15, .333, 2 HR, 4 RBI) have been the Rawhide’s top offensive performers. Left-hander Keith Hessler is slated to make the start on the mound tonight. Hessler allowed four runs in five innings against the Giants last Saturday.

Lines, lines, and even more lines. That was the main attraction when I went to 2011′s San Francisco Giants Fanfest. With more than 50,000 people there, the day was not that pleasant. You could barely move without bumping into people and the food lines were crazy long.

Fast forward to 2013. When the SJ Giants announced that they were hosting a fanfest on April 2, I was ELATED! I pestered my dad into taking me as I knew that there were not going to draw huge crowds like the ones in SF.

We drove to Muni Stadium at around 5:15 and got there when the gates were “supposed” to open at 5:30. Somehow, the gates were not letting people in after 5:30 so the crowd of 500 people were left waiting outside. I was kind of annoyed by this so I walked to the front to see what the problem was. I would not know why as even the staff did not know what was going on.

Finally after 30 minutes, the gates finally opened and people were lead inside. Me and my dad hurried inside only to find ourselves stuck in another line for autographs. We decided to first get some food with consisted of hamburgers and hotdogs. (Later, after I had gotten home, I found out that I maybe was food poisoned by that hamburger which was not fun). After another grueling 30 minutes wait, we were let into the autograph booth which consisted of all the players and coaches.

The tables looked like this.

After making my way through all the booths and chatting with player like the newly acquired pitcher Jeff Sopic and top prospects Mac Williamson and Clayton Blackburn, I had collected many autographs.

Then my bad luck struck. when I had gotten home,I looked at my autographs to find that most of the signatures had smeared. Only one signature had survived because it was signed with pen, not Sharpie. I will try to replace the bad ones in the future when I go to the games but sadly, my bad luck while attending fanfest continues.

Top prospect Kyle Cricks Autograph(this one was not badly smeared)

Mac Williamson’s Autograph

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At Banner Island Ballpark
Monday, April 8, 7:05 PM
Tuesday, April 9, 7:05 PM
Wednesday, April 10, 7:05 PM

Probable Starting Pitching Matchups
Monday
San Jose – Chris Marlowe (0-0, —)
Stockton – Andres Avila (0-0, —)

Tuesday
San Jose – Adalberto Mejia (0-0, —)
Stockton – Drew Granier (1-0, 3.60)

Wednesday
San Jose – Clayton Blackburn (1-0, 0.00)
Stockton – Blake Hassebrock (0-0, 3.86)

Broadcast Information
The entire series can be heard live on sjgiants.com with Joe Ritzo calling all of the action. Broadcasts begin 30 minutes prior to first pitch with The Giants Pregame Show. All 140 games this season will be aired on the club’s official website. Every broadcast is also streamed live on your mobile phone through the San Jose Giants App.

Giants Begin Three-Game Series At Stockton Tonight
The San Jose Giants continue their season-opening road trip this evening with the first of three straight games against the Stockton Ports at Banner Island Ballpark. San Jose began the season by winning three out of four games from the host Visalia Rawhide in a series that concluded yesterday. The Giants claimed an 8-7 decision on opening night last Thursday before the Rawhide earned a 1-0 shutout victory on Friday. San Jose bounced back with a 6-2 win on Saturday before a 5-3 victory on Sunday to take the series. In yesterday’s contest, Mac Williamson hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth before a go-ahead two-RBI triple an inning later to lead the offensive attack. Devin Harris added three hits, including a pair of doubles. Starting pitcher Ty Blach picked-up the win in his professional debut after tossing five innings with three runs (two earned) and five hits allowed. Three Giants relievers then combined for four scoreless innings and seven strikeouts to finish the game.

Dominant Pitching
The Giants pitching staff had an excellent opening series in Visalia. Over the four games, San Jose posted a 2.06 team ERA and held the Rawhide to a .179 batting average. Giants starting pitchers (Clayton Blackburn, Edwin Escobar, Kyle Crick and Ty Blach) combined to allow just two earned runs in 19 innings (0.95 ERA).

Williamson’s Hot Start
Right fielder Mac Williamson is off to a strong start offensively for the Giants. In the four games at Visalia, Williamson collected six hits in 17 at-bats (.353) with one double, one triple, two home runs and five RBI’s. He was a triple shy of the cycle in the opener last Thursday before connecting for his second home run of the season in yesterday’s game. Williamson was a third round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants last June out of Wake Forest University. In 29 games last summer with Salem-Keizer (Short-Season), he hit .342 with seven home runs and 25 RBI’s.

San Francisco Affiliation
This year marks San Jose’s 26th season as an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants – the longest partnership of any team in the California League. Since their inception in 1988, the San Jose Giants have won six league championships (1998, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010). 156 former San Jose Giants have reached the major leagues, including 111 with San Francisco.

Frequent Opponents
San Jose’s first 14 games this season are against only the Visalia Rawhide and the Stockton Ports. After the current series versus the Ports, the Giants will host Visalia on Thursday in their home opener. San Jose’s first homestand includes four games against the Rawhide and three more games versus Stockton. The Giants and Ports will play 27 games against each other this season (14 in San Jose, 13 in Stockton).

Top Prospects
Nine players on San Jose’s opening day roster are among the top 30 prospects in the organization according to Baseball America, including five out of the six pitchers in the Giants starting rotation. San Jose players among the top 30 prospects include: pitcher Kyle Crick (#1), pitcher Clayton Blackburn (#6), pitcher Adalberto Mejia (#10), pitcher Edwin Escobar (#14), outfielder Mac Williamson (#16), pitcher Chris Marlowe (#19), pitcher Josh Osich (#20), pitcher Cody Hall (#26) and outfielder Shawn Payne (#29).

Cavan’s Return
Ryan Cavan highlights a list of 14 returning players on the opening day roster for the Giants. Cavan spent the 2011 season in San Jose serving as the club’s primary second baseman and batted .270 with 12 home runs and 90 RBI’s while he also collected a team-best 38 doubles. Last year, Cavan played for the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels and hit just .228, but won a Rawlings Gold Glove award as the top fielding second baseman in Minor League Baseball. Cavan has transitioned to the third base position this year for the Giants (after having played only two games at third in his first four professional seasons). Through four games, Cavan is 7-for-16 (.438) with two doubles, a home run and four RBI’s. He’s the only San Jose player to have hit safely in all four games.

Opponent Notes: Stockton Ports
The Stockton Ports, an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, are the only unbeaten team remaining in the California League after opening their season with a four-game sweep of the visiting Bakersfield Blaze. In the four games, Stockton scored 29 runs and hit 12 homers. First baseman Max Muncy (6-for-12, 3 HR, 6 RBI) and outfielder Dusty Robinson (5-for-15, 2 HR, 5 RBI) have led the offensive charge.

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Fresno Grizzlies:

Last year’s record: 74-70, 3rd in South Division

Manager: Bob Mariano

Roster: Click here.

Players to watch: P Chris Heston, P Mike Kickham, P Heath Hembree, OF Gary Brown, OF Francisco Peguero, OF Roger Kieschnick

Notes: This is the most prospect-packed Fresno team in years. Recently, the team has been used as sort of a holding area for depth and rehab assignments, so to see four players in the organization’s top-10 prospects is somewhat unusual. The pitching rotation will feature 24-year-olds Chris Heston and Mike Kickham. Heston, a AA All-Star last year, posted a 2.24 ERA in 148.2 innings last year in Richmond. His best pitch is a low-90s sinker that he uses to generate a ton of ground balls. Kickham, a lefty, features a low- to mid-90s fastball and a wipeout slider, but has had some control problems in the past. The two are the Giants’ first line of defense if an injury should fell on of the starters in San Francisco.

The lineup is headed up by Gary Brown, who scuffled a little bit last year in Richmond on his way to a .731 OPS. One big thing to watch with him is his baserunning – he was caught stealing 19 times last year against only 33 steals. Another player to keep an eye on is 3B Juan Perez. He’s played outfield exclusively since 2009, but with a crowded outfield in Fresno he’ll be giving it a shot at 3B. The outfield will indeed be crowded, with Brown in center, Francisco Peguero in right, and Roger Kieschnick in left. Minor league free agent – and spring training standout – Cole Gillespie will also see time in the outfield in addition to DH.

The Grizzlies’ season kicks off tonight against the Tacoma Rainiers at 7:15 PM. Yusmiero Petit gets the start.

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Richmond Flying Squirrels:

Last year’s record: 70-71, fourth in the Western Division

Manager: Dave Machemer

Roster: Click here.

Players to watch: C Andrew Susac, 1B Ricky Oropesa, 2B Joe Panik, SS Ehire Adrianza, 3B Adam Duvall

Notes: The infield is pretty much the only reason for prospect-watchers to get excited about Richmond this year. Minor-league lifers populate the pitching staff and the outfield, but the infield features two of the Giants’ best hitting prospects in Panik and Susac and three more intriguing prospects in Oropesa, Adrianza, and Duvall. Joe Panik, the organization’s first round pick in 2011, begins his full-time transition to second base this year. Andrew Susac had a down year in San Jose last year, but a strong spring has renewed confidence in his future potential. Oropesa, the organization’s 3rd-round pick in 2011, also had a bit of a down year in San Jose last year, but his raw power makes him worth watching. Adrianza is a defensive wizard even surpassing Brandon Crawford, but needs to prove he can hack it on offense. He’s returning to Richmond after having spent last year there as well. Finally, Duvall hit 30 home runs in San Jose last year but only hit .258. He’ll need to prove two things this year: 1) that he can actually hit, and that last year wasn’t a California League mirage and 2) that he can adequately handle the defensive responsibilities at third base.

Richmond’s season kicks off tonight at 6:35 PM EDT. Craig Westcott gets the start against the New Britain Rock Cats.

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San Jose Giants:

Last season’s record: 75-65, finished 2nd in both the first half and the second half in the North Division

Manager: Andy Skeels

Roster: Click here.

Players to watch: P Clayton Blackburn, P Kyle Crick, P Adalberto Mejia, 1B Angel Villalona, OF Mac Williamson

Notes: San Jose’s starting rotation is probably the most prospect-laden position on any affiliate in the Giants organization. The rotation features four top-15 prospects in Crick, Blackburn, Mijia, and Edwin Escobar, and a pair of interesting sleepers in Christopher Marlowe and Ty Blach. Kyle Crick is the Giants’ only representative on Baseball America’s top-100 prospects list, coming in at #66. There’s not a lot to get excited about in the bullpen or the infield (other than perhaps returning former top prospect Angel Villalona), but the outfield features a couple interesting prospects in Mac Williamson and Shawn Payne. Williamson, the organization’s 3rd-round pick last year, hitting .322 and slugging .588 in 144 plate appearances after signing. He should continue to mash in hitting-friendly San Jose, but I’m interested to see if he can keep his strikeouts down, which was a big problem for him in college. Sleeper prospect Shawn Payne hit .309/.413/.430 in Augusta last year, while also stealing 53 bases against only 3 caught stealing. He offers an intriguing package of tools, and I’m excited to see if he can continue his OBP- and speed-fueled game in the California League.

San Jose’s season kicks off tonight at 7:00 PM PDT. Clayton Blackburn starts against the Visalia Rawhide.

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Augusta GreenJackets:

Last season: 65-74, finished sixth in first half, third in second half

Manager: Mike Goff

Roster: Click here.

Players to watch: P Chris Stratton, P Martin Agosta

Notes: While there may not be a whole lot of prominent prospects on the Augusta team this year, there are a few interesting sleepers to keep an eye on. Chris Stratton, the organization’s first round pick last year, will start the year in Augusta. It’s a bit of a surprise – he was widely expected to start the year in San Jose – but a short tune-up in Augusta isn’t a big deal, especially considering his season was cut short last year by a concussion suffered when he was hit in the head by a line drive during batting practice. Martin Agosta needs to prove he has the stuff to be a starter going forward, and I expect he’ll be spending more time in Augusta than Stratton. The rotation also features a couple of interesting sleepers in Kendry Flores and Joan Gregorio. Gregorio especially is a guy who could take a big leap forward and jump into the organization’s top prospects by this time next year. The lineup doesn’t feature any top prospects but does have a couple of interesting sleepers in second baseman Travious Relaford and outfielder Tyler Hollick.

Martin Agosta gets the Opening Day start for the Greenjackets tonight at 7:05 PM EDT against the Lexington Legends.

Andy Skeels is set to begin his fourth year as manager of the San Jose Giants

Joe Ritzo: So how anxious are you to break camp and get back to San Jose where you can begin playing games that count?

Andy Skeels: We’re looking forward to getting out of spring training. So far, it’s been a successful one. It’s always fun to see a lot of the new guys and players you haven’t seen a lot of. You want to see how everything is going to fit together. We’ve played pretty well this spring and are looking forward to kicking things off shortly.

Ritzo: With so many guys in camp and players moving around, is it difficult to prepare for the season and implement your plan?

Skeels: I think one of the strong suits of this organization is the way we prepare all of our players. Spring training is very much geared towards getting ready for opening day and doing all of the things that are necessary from a fundamentals standpoint, from our hitters programs and the way we set up our pitching. As far as the team getting together, gelling, understanding each other and getting comfortable with different personnel, that’s going to take a little bit of time. We should have a little time while we’re here, but that’s always subject to change even once the season starts. From a baseball standpoint, our players will be ready. As far as the team goes, we’ll see how that all fits together the first month of the season.

Ritzo: You’re working with an entirely new coaching staff this year with Mike Couchee (pitching coach) and Lipso Nava (hitting coach). How has that been so far? Is there an adjustment process for you as the manager?

Skeels: With Lipso, I had him as a coach for me in 2008 in Augusta. We already have a lot of familiarity with each other. He knows what I want and vice versa. He’s a great coach and works extremely hard. I’m fortunate to have him this year. He’s going to be a really nice addition. Mike Couchee, our pitching coach, we’re still getting to know each other. He’s got such a strong background and is a great pitching guy. He’s got an established reputation and brings a lot of experience and success with him, so it’s going to be fun getting to know him and working together as well.

Ritzo: Are you expecting the starting rotation to be a strength of this team? You look at what the starting pitchers did in Augusta last year and a lot of those guys should be moving up to your club. Is it something you’re excited about with this group?

Skeels: Yes, I’m looking forward to seeing these kids out there. Certainly that’s anticipated to be one of our strengths. Having a lot of starting pitching makes the manager sleep a little bit better at night. I’m looking forward to getting out there, teeing it up and see how these kids throw. We’re heard a lot of good things – they’re some of our best kids.

Ritzo: You’ve got Angel Villalona in your group right now playing first base. How’s he been looking this spring?

Skeels: He’s been looking very good. He’s been swinging the bat great during spring training. He’s doing all of the things we’ve asked him to do. His attitude and work ethic have been great and the talent is still there. We’re really looking forward to getting him out on the field against some competition and seeing where it all falls. He’s working his way back into playing shape and all of the things that go with that. So far, so good.

Ritzo: Mac Williamson, last year’s third round draft pick, is playing right field for you right now. He’s been generating a lot of buzz this spring. What have you been seeing out of him?

Skeels: Mac swings a big bat. He’s got bat speed. He’s got power. He’s just a good hitter. In my limited look in spring training, I’ve been really impressed and I’m looking forward to seeing if he makes it to San Jose. I’d love to have him in the outfield. He’d be a really nice addition, especially sitting in the middle of the lineup for us. This kid is going to be a really good hitter and somebody who can provide some thump.

The Giants “High-A” team played at the Cubs minor league facility in Mesa on Monday afternoon

It’s crunch-time here at minor league camp as today marked the beginning of the final week of spring exhibition games. By the weekend, the San Jose Giants roster should be set before the 2013 club breaks camp on Monday morning. Then of course, next Tuesday, April 2 is your first opportunity to meet the new team with FanFest at Municipal Stadium set to begin at 5:30 PM.

This afternoon, I ventured over to Mesa with the Giants “High-A” and “Low-A” clubs as each played an exhibition game against Cubs minor leaguers. As you may have guessed, I spent far more time watching the “High-A” team, as after all, these are the players that are most likely to break camp on the San Jose roster in a week.

Some observations from the “High-A” game, which was a 7-5 Cubs victory:

* The Giants starting lineup:
1. Kelby Tomlinson, SS
2. Shawn Payne, LF
3. Angel Villalona, 1B
4. Mac Williamson, RF
5. Mitch Delfino, 3B
6. Devin Harris, DH
7. Brett Krill, CF
8. Jeff Arnold, C
9. Bobby Haney, 2B
P – Edwin Escobar

* The Giants finished the contest with 11 hits. Angel Villalona (2-for-4, two singles) and Jeff Arnold (2-for-3, single, double) each produced multi-hit games to lead the way. Arnold had two brief stints with San Jose last season, but spent the bulk of the year playing in Augusta. Reportedly, top prospect Andrew Susac is currently playing for the “Double-A” group allowing Arnold to garner most of the action behind the dish with the SJ team this spring. Whether Susac breaks camp with the Richmond club or returns to San Jose, where he would likely join Arnold, remains as a big question during this final week of spring training.

* Villalona had a tough day in the field committing two errors in the first two innings – a fielding miscue in the bottom of the first which led to a pair of unearned runs and then a throwing error on a toss to the pitcher covering the bag. Offensively though, it was a solid afternoon for the slugger as he knocked out two hits and also showed his tremendous power with a deep drive down the left field line that hooked foul. One of the questions throughout the spring was who is going to begin the season as San Jose’s first baseman and it appears Villalona, who last played in the United States 3 1/2 years ago, is the most likely candidate.

Top prospect Mac Williamson started in right field and hit fourth for the Giants “High-A” team

* In addition to Arnold and Villalona, other familiar faces in the lineup included Shawn Payne, Devin Harris and Bobby Haney. Payne was Augusta’s leading hitter in 2012 (.309 AVG) before a promotion to San Jose during the final week of the season. With a career batting average over .300 and excellent speed, Payne would seem to be a logical candidate to bat near the top of the lineup. Harris clubbed 12 homers between San Jose and Augusta last season. The right fielder (although he was the DH today), struggled during his stint in the California League (.185 AVG), but may receive another shot this year. Meanwhile, Haney hit .310 with the Giants last season, mainly as a reserve infielder. A return to San Jose seems likely with perhaps an opportunity now for more regular playing time.

* Kelby Tomlinson, who led Augusta in games played last season, hit leadoff and started at shortstop. Tomlinson was 0-for-3 with a walk, but worked the count in every plate appearance. The former 12th round draft pick hit just .224 last year, but did steal 36 bases and is a solid defender. Cal product Mitch Delfino started at third base and was 0-for-4 with an RBI groundout. Brett Krill ripped a double to the fence left as part of a 1-for-4 effort. Krill was almost exclusively a corner outfielder last season in Augusta, so it was significant to see him playing center all game today.

* Leonardo Rojas (catcher), Carlos Willoughby (second base) and Ydwin Villegas (shortstop) were all late-inning replacements in the field.

* Edwin Escobar started on the mound today and had a solid effort. The left-hander, who is already on San Francisco’s 40-man roster, worked the first four innings yielding six hits and one earned run (three runs total). Escobar struck out two and walked none. A few Cubs hitters put together some nice swings against Escobar, but the Giants starter threw a lot of strikes, which is always good to see in the spring as he begins to increase his pitch count and prepare for the season. Escobar, along with Clayton Blackburn, Kyle Crick and Adalberto Mejia formed a dominant, but very young, starting rotation in Augusta last season. The expectation is that the quartet will all move up to San Jose this year, but we’ll have to wait a few more days for the official announcement of the roster to see if it indeed comes to fruition.

* Steven Neff (1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 SO) and Cameron McVey (1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 SO) worked scoreless fifth and sixth innings respectively out of the Giants bullpen today. Neff is another left-hander who figures to be moving to San Jose this year after spending all of last season in Augusta. McVey pitched for the AZL-Giants and is probably more of a longshot to make the club. Kevin Couture (1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) pitched the seventh inning, but struggled. Couture had a nice year (2.74 ERA) with the GreenJackets in 2012 working as both a reliever and spot-starter. Ian Gardeck (1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 SO) and Tyler Mizenko (1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) pitched the eighth and ninth innings respectively. Gardeck looked to be throwing very hard and settled down after allowing a couple of hits initially. He pitched out of the Salem-Keizer bullpen last season. Mizenko (1.99 ERA, 13 SV) was a dominant closer for the Volcanoes last summer.

It’s important to mention that none of these players are guaranteed to open the season in San Jose. These are merely the players who suited up for the “High-A” club this afternoon. While many (if not all) of the hitters in the starting lineup today seem like good bets for the Giants opening day roster, there are still so many pitchers in camp making it hard to project how the San Jose staff (in particular the bullpen) will look when the official roster is announced.

The neighboring field in Mesa today featured the “Low-A” club. A couple of notable names playing there to pass along include 2012 second rounder Martin Agosta, who got the start on the mound today. Jesus Galindo, who is one of the fastest players in the organization, was also playing in center field. I’ve written in my SJ season preview series that Agosta and Galindo figured to be strong candidates to open this year with the Giants, but that seems unlikely now. While there can still be lots of player movement in minor league camp during this final week, it’s uncommon for players to move up a level at this point. A trickle-down effect will likely occur later in the week with players moving down levels throughout the organization as the minor league rosters are solidified.

Angel Villalona at the plate in the third inning

The “High-A” team is scheduled to play five more exhibition games this spring through Saturday.

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Top prospects could anchor the two corner outfield spots for San Jose this season

In all likelihood, many of the top outfield performers from last year’s San Jose club will find themselves in the upper levels of the system at the start of this season. Ryan Lollis was batting close to .300 last July when he earned a surprising promotion all the way to Fresno, where he then produced at an even better rate. Former second round draft pick Jarrett Parker had his share of ups and downs the last two seasons in the California League with a total of 28 home runs and 48 stolen bases, but a pedestrian .250 combined batting average. Parker also struck out a whopping 175 times last year, but possesses some of the best tools of any position player in the organization and should get his first crack at Double-A this spring. Alex Burg enjoyed many nice moments the last two seasons with San Jose combining for a .272 batting average and 24 home runs as he also looks to move up to Richmond. With his ability to play multiple positions (first, third, outfield and catcher), Burg could fill a role with the Flying Squirrels this year.

Meanwhile, possible outfield returnees for the San Jose Giants in 2013 include Chris Lofton, Jarrad Page and Devin Harris. Lofton, a former ninth round draft pick, garnered most of the starts in center field early last season before shifting to left and a more secondary role on the team later in the year. The speedster finished the campaign with a .245 batting average, five home runs, 30 RBI’s and 22 stolen bases. Lofton’s return to San Jose seems likely, where he could once again see action in center and left while adding speed to the lineup.

Page is a former NFL safety who signed with San Francisco as a minor league free agent last July after his release from the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 30 games with San Jose late last season, Page batted just .182 with a pair of triples, one home run and nine RBI’s. Page also runs well and certainly looks good in a uniform, but is incredibly raw on the baseball field. Given his struggles in the California League last year (hit a combined .156 between Rancho Cucamonga and San Jose), he’s probably headed to a Class A affiliate to start the season.

Harris struggled mightily in the first half of last season with the Giants batting just .185 over 53 games while seeing action exclusively in right field. The slugger was sent down to Augusta at the All-Star break and in fact, led the power-challenged GreenJackets in home runs, despite only playing in 50 games. Harris finished the year with a .245 batting average in an Augusta uniform while also contributing eight home runs and 39 RBI’s. Harris has excellent power potential, but has often had difficulty making consistent contact throughout his career. He’ll compete for a spot in San Jose’s outfield this spring.

If any of Lofton, Page or Harris return to the Giants this season, they’ll likely assume more secondary roles on the team. That’s in large part due to the top outfield prospects that could be headed to San Jose.

Shawn Payne was promoted to San Jose during the final weekend of the season last year

Payne isn’t known as a big power hitter (although he did smack a home run on the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning in Game 1 of the playoffs last year for the Giants), but can make a lot of things happen on the basepaths with his great speed and ability to steal bases. Payne led the entire San Francisco organization with 53 steals last year while he was caught only three times. Over his two-year professional career, Payne is an outstanding and remarkably efficient 74-for-83 in stolen base attempts.

In five games with San Jose last September (two regular season + three playoff contests), Payne was 5-for-21 with two doubles, a home run and three RBI’s. He could hit first, second or third in the Giants’ lineup this season while anchoring the left field position. Payne wasn’t a high draft pick (35th round in 2011 out of Georgia Southern University), so he’ll have to show a lot at every level to continue his ascension, but last year’s performance in the South Atlantic League has certainly put him on the map. Entering 2013, Baseball America has rated Payne the #29 overall prospect (and seventh-highest outfielder) in the San Francisco organization.

Payne played next to Jesus Galindo in the outfield for most of last season and the duo could be reunited in the California League this year. Galindo burst onto the scene in 2011 at Short-Season Salem-Keizer where he stole an incredible 47 bases in just 62 games while also batting at a .276 clip. Galindo was recognized as one of the top position player prospects in the Northwest League at the conclusion of the year and was primed for a big 2012 in Augusta. Unfortunately, an injury prevented Galindo from making his season debut until late-May and it wasn’t really until July that he was able to get on track with the GreenJackets.

As Augusta’s everyday center fielder the last three months of the season, Galindo hit .252 overall with eight doubles, three triples, no home runs and 23 RBI’s. He, once again, made his biggest impact on the bases swiping 40 bags in just 66 games last year.

Galindo has hardly any power and is more of a slap hitter at this stage in his career, but if he proves he can handle Cal League pitching and get on base, with his speed and fearless nature on the bathpaths, he’s a logical candidate to bat leadoff for the Giants. Galindo, who is a switch-hitter, made nice strides as last season progressed batting .306 in July and .283 in August for the GreenJackets and will look to carry that success into the start of 2013. Galindo profiles as an above-average defender in center field.

While Harris emerged as Augusta’s primary right fielder in the second half of last season, he could be hard-pressed to hold off top prospect Mac Williamson at that position in San Jose this year. Williamson was San Francisco’s third round pick last year and was, in fact, the only position player that the organization selected among the first eight rounds overall. An imposing presence in the batters box at 6’5”, 240 lbs., Williamson led the ACC in home runs last spring as he connected for 17 round-trippers in 53 games at Wake Forest.

Williamson, who bats right-handed, continued to show his power stroke in the professional ranks over the summer combining for nine home runs in just 33 games between the AZL-Giants (Rookie) and Salem-Keizer. He made his biggest mark with the Volcanoes late in the year emerging as their top hitter down the stretch. Over 29 games in a Salem-Keizer uniform, Williamson hit an eye-catching .342 with eight doubles, seven homers and 25 RBI’s. Williamson quickly solidified himself in the fourth and fifth spot in the batting order and could provide a much-needed power boost to the San Jose lineup this season if the organization feels he’s ready for a promotion to the California League. It hasn’t been uncommon in recent years for the Giants to push their top college draft picks to San Jose for their first full professional season (Joe Panik, Andrew Susac and Ricky Oropesa as examples from the 2012 club) and given Williamson’s success with Salem-Keizer last summer, he would be a logical candidate for that promotion.

Baseball America has rated Williamson the #16 overall prospect (fifth-highest outfielder) in the San Francisco organization. BA notes that Williamson “has power to all fields and is a max-effort player who impressed coaches with his work ethic and desire.” Williamson has plus arm strength from his right field position although BA notes that he’s “not an instinctive outfielder” and has to improve that aspect of his game. If he can make the adjustment to Cal League pitching in his first full season, Williamson could be a major contributor for San Jose this year.

Finally, Brett Krill is another likely outfielder to make the jump from Augusta to San Jose this season. Krill hit .304 in his rookie pro season two years ago with Salem-Keizer, but got off to a slow start with the GreenJackets in 2012. He was batting only .201 on June 1, but managed to turn his season around in a big way. While seeing action primarily at the corner outfield spots, Krill hit .309 in June, a sizzling .385 in July and then .330 in August. A solid contributor that generally hit anywhere from fifth to eighth in the lineup, Krill finished the campaign with a .288 batting average, a team-high 26 doubles, five home runs and 53 RBI’s.

Krill, like Williamson, has good size at 6’4” and 220 lbs. He was a 25th round draft pick three years ago out of UCLA where he played a leading role on their 2010 team that reached the College World Series. Given his torrid hitting during the second half of last year, look for Krill to earn a promotion to San Jose, where he could see action in left, right and DH.

2013 San Jose Giants Outfield Candidates
(2012 regular season statistics are listed)

* Jesus Galindo, CF
Augusta: .252, 0 HR, 23 RBI, 40 SB

* Devin Harris, RF
San Jose: .185, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 0 SB
Augusta: .245, 8 HR, 39 RBI, 2 SB

* Brett Krill, RF/LF
Augusta: .288, 5 HR, 53 RBI, 8 SB

* Chris Lofton, CF/LF
San Jose: .245, 5 HR, 30 RBI, 22 SB

* Jarrad Page, RF
San Jose: .182, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 5 SB

* Shawn Payne, LF
Augusta: .309, 6 HR, 57 RBI, 53 SB

* Mac Williamson, RF
Salem-Keizer: .342, 7 HR, 25 RBI, 0 SB

2013 San Jose Giants previews will continue next week with a look at the catching position.

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Taking a look at the top five rounds of the last two San Francisco Giants drafts and examining which players could end up in San Jose this season:

2012 DRAFT
- 1st round: Chris Stratton, RHP, Mississippi State
- 2nd round: Martin Agosta, RHP, St. Mary’s
- 3rd round: Mac Williamson, OF, Wake Forest
- 4th round: Steven Okert, LHP, Oklahoma
- 5th round: Ty Blach, LHP, Creighton

The Giants went pitching-heavy with their top picks in last June’s draft. In fact, they took pitchers with their sixth, seventh and eighth round selections as well. Among the top 5, Stratton and Williamson figure to be the most likely to start this season with San Jose. Stratton was the SEC Pitcher of the Year last spring at Mississippi State (11-2, 2.38 ERA, 127 SO in 109 2/3 IP) before working 16 1/3 innings for the Short-Season Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (2.76 ERA). The 22-year old right-hander is considered one of the top pitching prospects in the organization thanks to a polished four-pitch mix that includes a low-to-mid 90′s fastball and two above-average breaking balls.

Williamson burst onto the scene last summer with Salem-Keizer after his third round selection in the draft. The right fielder hit .342 in 29 games to go with seven home runs, 25 RBI’s and a .596 slugging percentage. Williamson, who will turn 23 in July, is a logical candidate to ascend to the California League if he impresses during spring training. He has a big frame at 6’3″, 240 lbs. and is one of the top power hitting prospects in the system.

Among the others from the 2012 class, Okert has the most professional experience. The left-hander was a key member of the Volcanoes bullpen last summer after signing his professional contract posting a 2.36 ERA over 26 2/3 innings. Okert has good size and a nice arm (high 80′s to low 90′s fastball) as he held left-handed hitters to a .143 average last season and didn’t allow a single home run the entire season. The 21-year old should compete for a spot in the San Jose bullpen this spring where he could fill a role as a late-inning situational lefty.

Agosta had a standout year with St. Mary’s over in the East Bay earning the right-handed starting pitcher a second round draft selection. Due to a heavy workload in college, he was limited to 10 2/3 innings with the Arizona Rookie League club and thus enters 2013 with little professional experience. Agosta has a smallish frame, but a good fastball primarily in the low 90′s with an above-average slider, curve and change-up. Like Stratton, he’s another polished arm from the college ranks who could move quickly through the organization. Agosta boasted a 2.18 ERA over 103 1/3 innings last season at St. Mary’s. He should begin the year in the starting rotation for either Augusta or San Jose.

Finally, Blach is probably the least likely of this group to open the season in San Jose despite also posting stellar numbers in college. A left-handed starting pitcher, Blach fashioned a 2.69 ERA in 120 1/3 innings last spring at Creighton. With his very high inning total, Blach was shut down by the Giants over the summer after signing his contract and will make his pro debut in 2013. A spot on the Augusta pitching staff is his most likely destination this spring.

Every year, San Jose’s opening day roster features a handful of players from the previous draft. Last April, Joe Panik (1st round), Andrew Susac (2nd round), Ricky Oropesa (3rd round), Josh Osich (6th round), Jack Snodgrass (27th round) and Phil McCormick (31st round) were on the team after their selections in the 2011 draft. It remains to be seen which players from the 2012 draft class will begin this season in San Jose, but the top picks are usually a good place to start when making projections.

2011 DRAFT
- 1st round: Joe Panik, SS, St. John’s
- 1st round (supplemental): Kyle Crick, RHP, Sherman HS (Texas)
- 2nd round: Andrew Susac, C, Oregon State
- 3rd round: Ricky Oropesa, 1B, USC
- 4th round: Bryce Bandilla, LHP, Arizona
- 5th round: Chris Marlowe, RHP, Oklahoma State

San Jose Giants fans are already very familiar with Panik, Susac and Oropesa as the trio were all key contributors on the team last season. Panik certainly is headed for the upper levels of the system after hitting .297 and earning San Jose’s Co-MVP award in 2012. Oropesa will probably get a shot in Double-A Richmond this year after clubbing 16 home runs to go with 98 RBI’s and a .263 batting average for the Giants. Susac didn’t enjoy nearly as much success batting .244 with nine homers and is a strong candidate to return to San Jose in the spring.

Among the other top 2011 selections, supplemental first round pick Kyle Crick could make a significant impact with the Giants this year. Crick spent his entire first full professional season with Augusta last year and dominated in the starting rotation. The 19-year old right-hander (he turned 20 last November) logged a 2.51 ERA in 22 starts with 128 strikeouts in just 111 1/3 innings. Crick also allowed just 75 hits and one home run while holding the opposition to a paltry .193 batting average. Crick’s fastball is an electric pitch as he’ll throw it in the 92-to-98 MPH range. With the continued development of his secondary pitches, he could emerge as the next great power arm to advance through the Giants farm system. Crick is regarded by many as the top pitching prospect in the organization and he would unquestionably be one of the headliners of San Jose’s staff in 2013.

Bandilla and Marlowe are also strong candidates to make the jump to the California League after pitching all of last year with Augusta. Bandilla was used mainly as a starting pitcher, but multiple injuries limited the southpaw to just 11 appearances and 44 1/3 innings for the entire year. When healthy, Bandilla was impressive posting a 3.05 ERA and averaging over a strikeout per inning. With an excellent low-to-mid 90′s fastball from the left side, Bandilla could move quickly through the system, especially if he transitions to the bullpen (which was his primary role in college). It remains to be seen whether this talented left-hander will work as a starter or a reliever in 2013.

Marlowe also possesses a big fastball in the low-to-mid 90′s range to go with a plus-curve offering and while he sometimes struggled as a starter for the GreenJackets early in the year, the right-hander seemed to find his role while pitching out of the bullpen in the second half. He finished the campaign with a 4.20 ERA and struck out 86 batters in 83 2/3 innings.

Bandilla and Marlowe possessed some of the highest high walk rates last season on the Augusta staff, but there’s no question that they each have tremendous pure stuff (as you would expect from high draft picks). Both hurlers could be valuable members of the San Jose pitching staff this season.

I had the opportunity to interview San Francisco Giants Director of Player Development Fred Stanley earlier today. A full transcript of the interview is on the way. Stanley covered multiple topics, including the World Series, his thoughts on several top prospects, an early outlook on the 2013 San Jose Giants and more.

A few tidbits from Stanley on a possible 2013 SJ Giants roster:

* Based on his comments, the strength of next year’s San Jose should be the starting rotation. 2012 Augusta standouts Clayton Blackburn (8-4, 2.54), Kyle Crick (7-6, 2.51), Edwin Escobar (7-8, 2.96) and Adalberto Mejia (10-7, 3.97) were all mentioned as possibilities for the Giants rotation. Blackburn and Escobar ranked second and third respectively in the South Atlantic League in ERA (Crick didn’t have enough innings to qualify, but ranked fifth in strikeouts).

* The top three draft picks from this year, pitchers Chris Stratton (first round) and Martin Agosta (second round) along with outfielder Mac Williamson (third round) should push for spots on the San Jose roster during spring training. Stanley was especially high on Williamson saying that “he had a great (fall) instructional league” and is a “big, strong kid who will hit some home runs.”

Catcher Andrew Susac could return to the San Jose Giants in 2013

* Stanley indicated that it’s “for sure” that outfielders Shawn Payne and Brett Krill will begin the 2013 season playing for the Giants. Payne had a terrific 2012 in Augusta when he hit .309 with six homers, 57 RBI’s and 53 stolen bases. He played in five games (last two of the regular season + all three playoff games) late in the year with San Jose. Krill (.288, 5 HR, 53 RBI) hit .352 after the All-Star break with the GreenJackets this season. The organization is also looking for Jesus Galindo (.252 AVG, 40 SB’s in 66 games with Augusta) to move up and play center field for the SJ Giants next year.

Stanley referenced a few other players as possibilities for next year’s Giants roster in addition to sharing his thoughts on 2012 San Jose standouts Joe Panik, Adam Duvall, Ricky Oropesa and Josh Osich during the interview. More to come…

Time for some projections of next season’s Giants roster. The majority of players on the 2013 opening day roster will have spent this year in Augusta (Class A). Additionally, a few players from the 2012 San Jose squad will undoubtedly return for another tour in the California League.

However, every year there are always a small handful of players that skip straight over Augusta and arrive in San Jose directly from the Short-Season level. Who might those players be in 2013? Here are four prospects that were in Salem-Keizer at the end of last season that could jump all the way to the Giants in April:

Mitch Delfino, 3B
San Francisco’s 20th round draft pick last June out of Cal, Delfino could make the jump to San Jose next season. He hit .269 with the Volcanoes this year as their primary starter at third base while ranking second on the team in doubles with 12. Delfino was a standout performer at the collegiate level earning All-Pac 12 honorable mention honors as a junior last spring. He led the Golden Bears with a .355 batting average to go with five home runs and 38 RBI’s in 52 games. Is from Northern California (Cloverdale). Plays solid defense at the hot corner, has been praised for his work ethic and isn’t blocked by a top third base prospect that was in Augusta this year.

Tyler Mizenko, RHP
Had a dominant 2012 season as the Salem-Keizer closer and could fill a similar role out of San Jose’s bullpen next year. Was tied for first in the Northwest League with 13 saves to go with a stellar 1.99 ERA in 24 appearances. Showed excellent control as well with just five walks compared to 29 strikeouts over 31 2/3 innings. Features a low 90′s sinker/slider combination that induces a ton of groundball outs. Had one of the highest groundout-to-flyout ratios on the Volcanoes staff and didn’t allow a home run all season. Was drafted in the 28th round in 2011, but didn’t make his professional debut until this year.

Chris Stratton, RHP
One of the top prospects in the organization after his selection in the first round of this year’s draft (20th overall pick). Saw limited action with Salem-Keizer over the summer after a heavy workload at Mississippi State last spring. Fashioned a 2.76 ERA for the Volcanoes with 16 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings. Possesses a low-to-mid 90′s fastball with an outstanding slider. Ability to throw a change-up and curve give Stratton four effective pitches. Given his polished repertoire and poise on the mound, he could move quickly through the organization. Was a First Team All-American as a junior at MSU last spring after posting an 11-2 record with a 2.38 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 109 2/3 innings. Stratton may join Augusta standouts Clayton Blackburn, Kyle Crick and Edwin Escobar to form a prospect-rich San Jose starting rotation next April.

Mac Williamson, OF
Made a splash on the professional scene last summer when he led Salem-Keizer with a .342 batting average. Has tremendous raw power producing eight doubles, seven home runs and 25 RBI’s in just 29 games with the Volcanoes. Williamson was San Francisco’s third round draft pick (and highest position player selected) last June. He led the Atlantic Coast Conference in home runs last spring (17) at Wake Forest and hit 36 round-trippers in 159 games during his entire collegiate career. Has some of the best offensive potential of any player in the farm system. Williamson could anchor right field and a spot in the middle of the San Jose lineup next season.

For more info on the possible composition of next year’s San Jose roster, check out these two articles:

Deep Starting Rotation Awaits SJ Giants Next Year

Giants 2013 Lineup Should Feature Upgrade In Speed

The composition of San Jose’s lineup next year could be dramatically different to what Giants fans saw throughout the 2012 season. This year’s position player group featured some of the top power hitters in the organization, but also lacked team speed while registering high strikeout totals. In 2013, the San Jose Giants lineup will likely be built in the exact opposite way.

When projecting next season’s San Jose team, it first requires a look back at the 2012 Augusta GreenJackets. San Francisco’s Class A affiliate in the South Atlantic League started the year slow, but gained steam throughout the second half as they attempted to reach the postseason. And while their playoff dreams ended late in the year (69-70 overall record, 37-33 in the second half), there were still several notable individual standouts.

Offensively, the GreenJackets finished last in the league with a paltry 52 home runs while no single player had more than eight. By comparison, the trio of Adam Duvall (30), Ricky Oropesa (16) and Jarrett Parker (15) combined for 61 homers in 2012. But while the long ball wasn’t a major part of the Augusta offense last year, the same cannot be said about the stolen base.

The GreenJackets swiped a league-best 199 bases in 2012 – more than double San Jose’s final total (93). A pair of outfielders may lead that charge for the Giants next season in left fielder Shawn Payne and center fielder Jesus Galindo.

San Jose fans are already familiar with Payne after he was promoted during the final weekend of the regular season and was immediately inserted into the leadoff spot in the lineup. Augusta’s top all-around player this year, Payne hit a team-best .309 with the GreenJackets while also contributing 19 doubles, six triples, six home runs and 57 RBI’s. Meanwhile on the basepaths, he was a terror. Payne’s 53 steals were second in the entire South Atlantic League, but perhaps more impressive was that he was caught on only three occasions.

A 35th round draft pick in 2011, Payne went 3-for-9 in two regular season games with the Giants before starting Game 1 of the playoffs with a home run.

Galindo endured a difficult first half before catching fire late in the season with Augusta. The speedy leadoff man didn’t make his 2012 debut until late-May due to an injury and then hit just .214 in the first half (26 games) as he attempted to return to form. Galindo though turned things around after the All-Star break as he hit .306 in July before batting at a .283 clip in August.

Wreaking havoc on the bases is clearly Galindo’s strength offensively and that was evident while in Augusta this year as he stole a remarkable 40 bags in just 66 games. In 2011, Galindo led the Short-Season Northwest League in steals when he swiped a whopping 47 bases in just 62 games. Galindo has yet to hit for any power as a professional (two home runs in four years), but is considered an above-average defender in center field and could fit in nicely as San Jose’s leadoff hitter next season.

While Galindo and Payne could form a potent 1-2 basestealing punch at the top of the Giants lineup in 2013, they may not be the only speedsters on the club. Kelby Tomlinson anchored the shortstop position in Augusta last season and stole 36 bases despite just a .224 batting average. With Joe Panik ticketed for a spot in the upper levels of the San Francisco farm system next spring, the shortstop position will be vacated in San Jose. Whether Tomlinson has shown enough offensively to earn a promotion remains to be seen, but he could add another major stolen base threat to the Giants lineup.

In fact this season in Augusta, Galindo, Tomlinson and Payne often hit 1-2-3 in the lineup to make things supremely difficult on opposing pitchers and catchers. At the end of the year, they were three of the top eight basestealers in the South Atlantic League (Payne 2nd, Galindo 4th, Tomlinson 8th).

Outfielder Brett Krill is another player jockeying for a promotion to San Jose next year. A 25th round draft pick of the Giants in 2010, Krill hit .304 with Salem-Keizer last season before spending all of this year with Augusta. Expected to be a major part of the GreenJackets lineup, Krill got off to a dreadful start with a .209 first half batting average. However he became one of the top performers in the league after the All-Star break hitting at a .352 clip in the second half. Krill, who finished the year at .288 overall, hit only five home runs with the GreenJackets, but did pace the club with 26 doubles. On a San Jose team that may be lacking for many true home run threats, Krill’s development in the middle of the lineup could be critical to the team’s success. He saw action primarily in right field this season.

GreenJackets first baseman Ben Thomas (.243, 5 HR, 49 RBI) and second/third baseman Jose Cuevas (.212, 6 HR, 33 RBI, 18 SB) will be looking for their first tastes of the California League next spring. Whether they get that chance or have to return to Augusta due to less-than-stellar batting averages should be determined during spring training. Right fielder Devin Harris (.245, 8 HR, 39 RBI) could also return to San Jose next year. Harris hit just .185 in 53 games with the Giants before a midseason demotion. His eight home runs led the GreenJackets.

In addition to ranking last in the South Atlantic League in home runs, the GreenJackets were tied for 13th (out of 14 teams) with a .240 batting average. They did, however, log the fourth-fewest number of strikeouts in the league. Look for a San Jose lineup next season that can put the ball in play with much more regularity while hopefully improving individual power numbers as players go from Augusta to the more hitter-friendly environment that is the California League.

Several pieces of next year’s San Jose Giants lineup could also be filled from elsewhere. Players from last season’s Giants team could return headlined by catcher Andrew Susac. A second round draft pick in 2011, Susac had an up-and-down year offensively in his rookie professional campaign batting .244 with nine homers and 52 RBI’s. Still considered one of the top prospects in the system, Susac could provide a much-needed jolt to the middle of the lineup as a second-year Cal leaguer. Middle infielder Bobby Haney (.310, 0 HR, 22 RBI) could also take on a more prominent role on the team if he doesn’t receive a promotion to Double-A while outfielder Chris Lofton (.245, 5 HR, 30 RBI, 22 SB) is another candidate to return.

Finally, right fielder Mac Williamson figures to be a strong candidate to jump past Augusta and all the way to San Jose after a terrific debut pro season in Salem-Keizer. This year’s third round pick (and highest position player taken by San Francisco in the 2012 draft), Williamson hit a team-best .342 with seven homers and 25 RBI’s in 29 games. A top power-hitting prospect, Williamson could play a leading role in the middle of the Giants lineup next year if he shows during spring training that he’s ready for the promotion.

The trade deadline is done and now the finish line begins to loom even closer.  In the Northwest League two teams are in and six others are looking to fill the final two playoff spots.  For the Major League clubs the race for division leaders and for wild card spots are still tight enough where a lot of teams not only think they have a chance, they actually have a real chance.

Northwest League

Mike Zunino may not be with the AquaSox once the playoffs roll around but his impact may determine who faces the AquaSox in the first round.

With Yakima Bears claiming the east division first half title and the Everett AquaSox claiming the west division title, both teams know that they are going to be playing in the playoffs but neither team is going to take the rest of the season off.  Both of these two teams can have a huge impact on the race for the final east and west division playoff spots.

In the west division the Eugene Emeralds, who were 3.5 games out of first, and the Vancouver Canadians, who were 5.5 games out of first, look to make the necessary improvements and adjustments to get them the second half playoff spot.  Neither team stood out offensively in the first half.  If one of these teams can get hot with the bats they would be the favorite to take the second playoff spot.

Cameron Lamb may be the veteran presence that is needed to help the Volcanoes make a run for the playoffs.

Salem-Keizer Volcanoes need to make a dramatic change to recover from a first half where they were 15 games out of first.  Even though the second half starts every team’s record at 0-0, it is hard to just forget having a rough first half.  The additions of veteran Cameron Lamb and 3^rd round pick Mac Williamson, may be the needed leadership and boost to the offense to get the Volcanoes going.

In the east division, the Tri-City Dust Devils looked to be the favorite to the second half playoff spot, but struggling right out of the gate has opened the door for the Boise Hawks who is 6-2 to start the second half.  For the east division only Yakima ended the first half with a winning record and if any of the other three teams want to make an impact in the second half and even into the playoffs they need to reach the .500 mark.

My predictions are that the Eugene Emeralds will be able to ride their great pitching into a playoff spot but the Vancouver Canadians will be pushing them up to the final day of the season for the final west divisions spot.

For the east division I am going to pick the team that is getting hot at the right time, Boise Hawks.  Are they a lock in my mind? No.  But in a short season all a team needs to do is get hot for a couple of weeks to build a lead and hold on to it for a playoff spot.

Major League Level

The current division leaders are:

AL West: Texas Rangers

AL Central: Chicago White Sox

AL East: New York Yankees

AL Wild Card: LA Angels and Oakland A’s

NL West: San Francisco Giants

NL Central: Cincinnati Reds

NL East: Washington Nationals

NL Wild Card: Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves

For the most part I don’t think this list of teams will change too much but I do think that the Giants will end up falling behind the Los Angeles Dodgers and I really don’t think the Oakland A’s can hold on the rest of the season.  The Pirates and Nationals are both teams that could falter down the stretch but I’m thinking this might be the year that starts a changing of the guard in the National League.

Also don’t forget to check out my Free Ticket Give Away http://9inningknowitall.com/2012/07/31/free-ticket-give-away-deadline-august-5th/

Without having any knowledge of what actually goes on inside Boston’s draft room, it sure seems like the Red Sox general approach to drafting is simple: find the best guy, offer fair amounts of money, and let the chips fall where they may. Four years of college in Boston turned me off to the Red Sox – it was more the oversaturated coverage and delusional fan base (you guys are New England’s Yankees, not some scrappy underdog that all of America roots for, alright?) than a commentary on the job the front office was doing – but I still greatly admire the way they draft. Quibble with the names at the top of the draft if you’d like, but the plan there is undeniably awesome. Here’s what they came up with on the draft’s first day: a good college arm who has shown flashes of greatness, arguably the top prep bat who slipped because of defense and signability, a high school lefthander who might as well be twins with Tyler Skaggs in terms of long-term projection, and a key cog from the two-time defending national champions who also happens to be a plus defender at a critical position. That’s an easy to like quartet from a talent perspective alone, but what I admire most there is the way Boston knowingly diversified their investment. They hit four different demographics (high school bat, high school arm, college bat, college arm) with their first four picks. As Bart Simpson once said, “that ain’t not bad.”

Connecticut RHP Matt Barnes gets a little bit of a bad rap as a “safe” college choice with the ceiling of a mid-rotation arm. Being a safe prospect with mid-rotation upside isn’t typically a bad thing, but Barnes has the chance for four above-average pitches. I wouldn’t disagree with somebody who believed Barnes most likely positive outcome was a solid mid-rotation starting pitcher, but his ceiling is closer to a frontline big leaguer in the mold of Daniel Hudson.

Connecticut JR RHP Matt Barnes: 90-93 FB, 95-96 peak; has hit 97-98 in past; great movement on FB; great FB command; holds velocity well, still hitting 90-92 late; good 82-84 CU that gets better every time out; 72-76 CB that is now firmed up enough that  it is a potential plus 75-80 CB; 78-83 SL with plus upside, but doesn’t use it often; work needs to be on delivery and command of offspeed stuff; some debate on whether CB or SL is better breaking pitch, a good sign; uses CB more to get outs on balls in play, SL for swings and misses; 6-4, 200

Much of Cleveland HS (New Mexico) C Blake Swihart’s value is tied up in whether or not he’s equipped to handle full-time catching duties going forward. For what it’s worth, I’ve heard from those in the know that Boston is 100% committed to keeping him behind the plate and won’t even entertain a “Wil Myers” (their words) type move to right field. He might not be a natural behind the plate, but his elite athleticism and arm strength are exactly the kind of defensive tools a good coaching staff can build on. There’s not nearly as much doubt about his ability to hit because, well, he can really, really hit.

The hardest prospects to write about are the ones at the top of lists like this. What more can be said about Swihart that hasn’t already been said? The Texas commit has shown all five tools (hit, power, defense, arm, and speed) this spring, an extreme rarity for a catcher at any level. I realize speed is easily the least important tool you’d need to see in a catching prospect, but Swihart’s average running ability works as a proxy for his outstanding athleticism. In that way, Swihart is the prototype for the next generation of catchers. After an almost decade long flirtation with jumbo-sized backstops (e.g. Joe Mauer and Matt Wieters), baseball is going back towards an emphasis on athleticism and defense behind the dish.

A no-brainer to stick behind the plate (the aforementioned athleticism and reported 95 MPH-caliber arm from the mound will help), Swihart’s biggest tool is his bat. Plus opposite field power and consistent line drives are not the norm for a typical prep prospect, but Swihart’s hit and power tools both project as plus in the future.  I stand by my belief that Swihart will catch for a long time as a professional, but his great athleticism and plus bat might convince a team to fast track Swihart’s development by switching him to third base or right field. It should also be noted that Swihart has a little extra leverage because he’ll be draft-eligible again in 2013 after his sophomore season.

Forgive me if I’m a tad over the top in my praise of Edison HS (CA) LHP Henry Owens, but the guy embodies everything that I want in a pitching prospect. In a word, Henry Owens is projection. He has a good fastball, a curve that looks a little like a young Zito’s, and enough other fun secondaries (flashes of a plus change, a much improved cutter, a slider that gets swings and misses when on) to think he has the chance to be an above-average starting pitcher at the professional level.

LHP Henry Owens (Edison HS, California): 88-92 FB with more coming, 93-94 peak; crazy FB movement; plus FB command; plus control; potential plus 67-72 CB with big break, getting stronger each start; strong 77-79 CU with plus upside; shows 74-77 SL, but still a raw pitch; new cutter shows more promise; holds velocity well; Tyler Skaggs comp?; 6-5, 185 last summer, now up to 6-6, 200

I can get comp crazy when I’m at a loss for in-depth analysis, so can we all agree that South Carolina OF Jackie Bradley is the American version of Leonys Martin and move on? I’m far from sold on Bradley’s bat, but his defense in center should make him at least an average regular during his peak years.

[special defensive tools in CF, plus to plus-plus ability; interesting hit tool; above-average to plus speed, closer to plus; good athlete; above-average to plus arm; legit pro power potential with average upside; gap power for now; very quick bat; gifted across the board; mature approach; fully recovered from broken hamate bone; 20/20 upside; 5-10, 175; DOB 4/19/90]

As much as I hate to say it, I’m definitely getting a Greg Golson vibe from Grand Street HS (NY) OF Williams Jerez. Jerez looks rather dashing in uniform and possesses certain tools – most notably his eye-popping arm strength – that really stand out, but he’s so far away from being a good ballplayer that I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around what exactly it would take, not to mention how long it would take, for him to reach his ceiling. There’s a part of me that would love to see what his arm, size, and athleticism would look like when put on the mound, but that’s coming from a guy who swore Anthony Gose would be a fireballing relief prospect by now.

[plus athlete; good speed, but might not have instincts for CF; plus arm; extremely raw; average raw power; 6-4, 190]

Columbus HS (GA) C Jordan Weems seemed like an odd selection at the time, but different teams value different things, especially when it comes to catchers. I just think there is too much work to be done at the plate (though, admittedly, his swing looks fine and his whole fields approach is nice to see from a young hitter) to justify taking him over more advanced catching prospects. He’s already a solid defender with a legit plus arm, so there is something to work with here even if the bat never develops into what you’d want from a starter.

My favorite pitch in baseball is the changeup, so it should come as no surprise that I’m rooting extra hard for Cal State Fullerton RHP Noe Ramirez. I’ve already been obnoxious with the comps, so why not go the extra mile and mention a changeup-based comparison between Ramirez and Phil Humber? When Ramirez has command of his slider, he’s tough to hit.

Cal State Fullerton JR RHP Noe Ramirez: once straight 85-90 FB with occasional hard sink is now more consistently 88-92 (93 peak) with more consistent, more drastic sink; delivery is deceptive and adds miles to the FB; plus FB command; plus-plus 82-84 CU learned from Ricky Romero; paid it forward by helping Gerrit Cole with his CU grip; emerging 75-80 SL that has put on velocity and is now 82-85; SL is good but inconsistent; shaky command of offspeed pitches; 6-3, 180

Besides being an accomplished bowler, Overton HS (TN) SS Mookie Betts is also a pretty talented baseball player. He’s probably not a shortstop over the long haul, but his athleticism and sure hands should play at any number of spots on the diamond. His progress with the bat should be interesting to watch; there isn’t much power upside, but those who saw him in high school came away with his approach to hitting and patience at the plate.

I liked San Jacinto JC LHP Miguel Pena out of high school. I still liked him after his first year at San Jacinto. Now I’m not sure how I feel about him. He has the three pitches needed to start, but the lack of a big league out pitch hurts.

87-90 FB, peak 92; hard thrower with right hand as well; really good CU; plus control; lots of positive word of mouth has me sold, but admittedly little is still known about Pena relative to other names on list

Free State HS (KS) LHP Cody Kukuk has all the makings of a frontline big league pitcher. Whether or not he gets there is anybody’s guess, but there’s no questioning the upside his projectable frame, above-average fastball, and solid upper-70s slider give him a chance to do some major damage to big league bats.

LHP Cody Kukuk (Free State HS, Kansas): 88-91 FB, 93 peak; good 78 SL; CB; CU; good athlete; 6-4, 185

Playing football and baseball for Ole Miss trumped a big contract with the Red Sox, at least in the mind of Pascaquola HS (MS) OF Senquez Golson. As a big fan of the tradition and atmosphere of SEC sports (not to mention the “scenery,” if you catch my drift), I can’t really fault Golson for picking The Grove over bus rides to and from Lowell. It remains unclear if Golson will ever really emerge as an early round pick because, by all accounts, his heart belongs to the gridiron. That would be a shame because he’s a really good baseball prospect. I’m often slow to come around to raw but toolsy high school outfielders, but Golson’s five tool ability was too great to ignore. He’s obviously a sensational athlete with legitimate plus-plus speed who is able to translate at least some of that athleticism (mostly in the way he defends in center, but also in a hard to describe swing that just looks like something only a great athlete could pull off) to the diamond. His other tools – most notably above-average raw power and a stronger than expected arm – make him a potential middle of the order possibility down the line. If Jake Locker can get picked in the tenth round, then surely Golson, who figures to play more baseball than Locker at the college level, will get early round consideration in three years as well.  If, and that’s a Todd Coffey sized if right there, if Golson gets enough at bats at the college level, I genuinely think he’s a potential top ten overall pick as the first college bat off the board.

[great athlete; plus-plus speed; plus defensive upside in CF; strong arm; Jared Mitchell comp; quick bat; above-average raw power; 6-0, 180]

If Kent State 3B Travis Shaw can stick at the hot corner, he’s an interesting prospect. As a likely 1B/3B/DH long-term, however, expectations with the bat rise above what he might be capable of at the plate.

Lacking lateral quickness and agility, Shaw’s future at third base is a major question as he enters pro ball. If he can stay at third base — good pre-pitch positioning and quicker than you’d expect reactions give him his best shot — then his big power, great approach, and strong track record with wood would make him a fast riser on draft boards. Most of the industry leaders are already moving him off of third, however, so perhaps I’m being unrealistic in thinking he could someday grow into an average-ish fielder there. Probably goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: if he is a first baseman at the next level, his value takes a big hit.

Scouts that saw Wisconsin-Stevens Point OF Cody Koback this past spring came away talking about his potential as a lefty bashing righthanded backup outfielder with speed. Not having seen him myself, that assessment sounds about right to me. A best case scenario comp that I heard through the grapevine was fellow small school double digit round prospect Matt Joyce. It’s far from perfect – Joyce has more power and bats lefty, Koback hits righty and is more of a speedster – but comps rarely are. I still love ‘em…

We’ll start our look at players of note taken after the top ten rounds with some “bad” news: the talented unsigned players. When you draft as aggressively as Boston does, you do so knowing there is little to no chance every player you draft will sign a pro contract. The group of prospects signed by Boston is excellent. The group of prospects Boston wasn’t able to sign is also pretty damn impressive. The high school trio of Menchville HS (VA) RHP Deshorn Lake (Round 12), Byrnes HS (SC) RHP Daniel Gossett (Round 16), and Don Bosco Prep (NJ) LHP Jordan Gross (Round 40) all went unsigned but all should reemerge in three years as big-time draft prospects. Lake is very raw, but showed enough present stuff to go along with his well above-average athleticism to qualify as a very interesting follow at East Carolina. Gossett has quality ACC reliever stuff at the ready should he find himself in position to get innings early on in his stay at Clemson. Gross doesn’t have quite the stuff as Lake or Gossett, but offers plenty of projection as a lefthander capable of approaching 90 MPH with the makings of a pair of quality offspeed pitches (mid-70s change and a low-70s curve).

RHP Deshorn Lake (Menchville HS, Virginia): 88-91 FB, 93-94 peak; good 77-82 SL; 80-81 CU with upside, but needs reps; raw, but lots of projection; 6-2, 180 pounds

Maybe I’m nuts, but seeing Louisiana State RHP Matty Ott (Round 13) sign a pro contract really surprised me. Matty Ott just felt like a player who would play college baseball forever. His fastball is a bit short, but he gets enough consistent movement on it to make it an above-average pitch on balance. His slider can get big league hitters out, but seems to have regressed some since his spectacular freshman season. I’d still like to see him get a chance to start, but questions of health, lack of a third pitch, and Boston’s organizational starting pitching depth might keep that from happening.

Louisiana State JR RHP Matty Ott: 87-89 FB; does a lot with the FB, cutting it and sinking it very effectively; very inconsistent 78-81 SL; great command and deception; plus control; big problem is lack of an out pitch; 6-2, 200 pounds

SO RHP Matty Ott (2011) is exactly the kind of player that makes following the sport fun. He somehow pulls off always appearing both fiery and cool while on the mound, he gets big time results (69 K to 6 BB in 50.1 IP) through unconventional means (his funky low ¾ delivery is only a hair or two from dropping officially down to sidearm), and he is by all accounts a wonderful example of what a student-athlete ought to be. His hard, sinking high-80s fastball works really well in concert with a high-70s big league ready slider that makes life miserable for both lefties and righties alike. Ott’s prospect stock is in limbo because he doesn’t fit any kind of traditional baseball archetype. He hasn’t currently shown the stuff needed to start (although I’ll happily go on record in saying I think he’d blossom if given the opportunity to refine a third pitch), and he doesn’t have the knockout fastball that so many teams require out of their late inning aces. Maybe it is a personal blind spot of mine, but, archetypes be damned, I like players like Ott that get just get guys out. He has two big league pitches at present (fastball is a little short, but the movement bumps it up a grade) and has time to polish up a third offering. He won’t be a first rounder, heck he may not even be a candidate to go in the top 150 or so picks, but he could wind up his college career as a high floor, close to the majors kind of prospect. If you read this thing regularly you know I value upside and star potential very highly, but in a world that Brandon Lyon can get a $15 million contract, you’d better believe there is value in locking in a player like Ott for six cost-controlled big league years.

Kentucky RHP Braden Kapteyn (Round 15) has the stuff (good FB, hard SL, flashes an above-average CU) to start, but will likely remain a reliever in pro ball due to a funky delivery that he has difficult repeating. If you didn’t know any better, you’d say he looked like a position player trying to pitch. Oh, wait. If he ever makes it as a starting pitcher I hope it’ll be with a National League club because watching him swing the bat every fifth day would be a lot of fun. He hasn’t had the health issues of Joe Savery, but a similar career path (iffy run as starter, brief but promising return to hitting, return to pitching in a more comfortable relief role) is one possible outcome.

Kentucky JR RHP Braden Kapteyn: 89-94 FB; hard 88 SL; potential above-average CU; lots of moving parts in delivery; great hitter; 6-4, 215 pounds

My notes on Liberty RHP Blake Foslund (Round 17) say a lot without saying much. His fastball is big league quality, but the breaking stuff, command, and control are all not where they need to be. A year of success at Liberty could get him drafted on the first day next June. Arm strength like his don’t come around too often, so I’m betting on a huge junior season for the former prep star.

Liberty SO RHP Blake Forslund: 92-95 FB, 97-98 peak

JC of Southern Nevada RHP Sam Wolff (Round 47) should get the chance to start this upcoming season at New Mexico. If that’s the case, I like him to emerge as one of college baseball’s biggest “out of nowhere” success stories and become a top fifteen round pick next June. He started his college career at San Diego, but it wasn’t until junior college where his fastball, and subsequently his prospect stock, really picked up. I had him at maxing out at 91-92 out of high school, but Baseball America’s draft update had him peaking at 95 this past spring. He’s always been an unusually polished young pitcher with excellent command and an above-average breaking ball. Added growth to the fastball makes him a dangerous three-pitch prospect with the chance to do some very interesting things this fall for the Lobos.

Oxnard HS (CA) 2B Austin Davidson (Round 21) has the defensive tools to work himself into a good defender at either third base or second base. His bat profiles a lot better at second as he’s a player with a well-rounded skill set rather than an athlete with a plus tool or two. Guys without loud tools are smart to go to college where production is weighted more heavily than it is at the high school level. If a non-tools guy produces for three years in college, certain teams will take notice. Davidson will get noticed in three years.

Davidson’s down senior season will probably cost him some cash in the short-term, but his solid blend of tools will still get him noticed on draft day. I think he has the chops to be a good defender at third base, but his lack of power upside may keep him from ever holding down an everyday spot. It is tough to project a utility player on a high school prospect, but Davidson’s skill set — average arm, average speed, cerebral player — seems well suited for spot duty.

I don’t like Deven Marrero quite as much as I’m supposed to. I also didn’t like Christian Colon (prior to his draft year) as much as others. My small sample size (the first round shortstops of 2002 also come to mind) conclusion: college shortstops who are projected to stay at shortstop for defensive reasons tend to be overrated. That’s a good thing for Luella HS (GA) SS Julius Gaines (Round 32), a player I really happen to like as a defensive prospect. I don’t think he’ll ever be an early first rounder like Colon was and Marrero will likely be, but three years impressing scouts with his range and arm at Florida International could get him picked much earlier than anybody would currently guess.

There are about a dozen prep shortstops who can realistically lay claim to “potential big league shortstop,” a statement that is more about their defensive futures than any kind of upside at the plate. When projecting shortstops long-term, defense is king. If there is one thing we are sure Gaines can do, it’s defense. How the bat develops is a whole other story, but his range and hands at short are so good that his hit tool is almost an afterthought. Almost.

St. Xavier HS (KY) RHP Matt Spalding (Round 29) is a short righthander with a big fastball, hard slider, and violent delivery. If that sounds like a future reliever, then you’ve been paying careful attention.

RHP Matt Spalding (St. Xavier HS, Kentucky): 91-94 FB, 95-96 peak; 73-77 SL; violent delivery; 6-0, 190

Washington State 1B Taylor Ard (Round 25) has been a big favorite since his days at Mount Hood CC for his big raw power and surprising big man athleticism. He could jump into the top ten rounds with a big senior season, but the usual bat-first prospect caveats apply.

I feel as though my notes on Ard sum up his game pretty well: plus-plus raw power; average at best hit tool; good athlete; wrist injury kept him down in 2010; solid defender; strong track record hitting with wood; some question about ability to hit with funky swing, but just as likely an adjustment will help him tap into his raw power even more. Yeah, that sounds about right.

Maryland OF Matt Marquis (Round 41) in a nutshell: at Maryland he hit .207/.207/.310 in 29 at bats, but as a professional he hit .337/.429/.494 in 83 at bats. He’s a really gifted athlete who still shows all of the physical tools that made him such a highly sought after high school recruit, but something has held him back to this point. I’m seeing high boom/bust potential (starting caliber performances or stalling out in AA) in his future.

This past summer, a summer forever to be known to many prospect watchers as “The Summer of Trout,” I had a conversation with a friend well connected in the business who told me, and I know he won’t mind me quoting him here, “Matt Marquis was Mike Trout before Mike Trout was Mike Trout.” Pretty cool statement if you ask me. Marquis was a highly sought after high school prospect from New Jersey. He had speed, power to all fields, a strong arm, and an even stronger commitment to a great baseball school in Vanderbilt. A common comparison for each player, as funny as it seems with the benefit of hindsight, was Aaron Rowand. Getting the Trout vibe yet? Fast forward to today. Trout has completely blown up as a professional while Marquis has lagged behind. The second-year Maryland outfielder still offers up that tantalizing blend of above-average speed and raw power, but the production, from Nashville to College Park, has never matched the hype. Teams still hold out hope that he’ll put it all together as an above-average corner outfielder. Count me in as a believer.

I can’t wait to see if Wake Forest OF Mac Williamson (Round 46) can put it all together in his redshirt junior season. He’s a legit five-tool prospect who has made great strides in his approach to hitting since arriving at Wake Forest. From a pure tools standpoint, I’m not sure there are five better outfielders in all of college baseball. The biggest strike against him for me is the fact he’ll almost be 22 years old by the time next June’s draft rolls around.

Williamson, a potential catching conversion candidate at the pro level, has serious power upside and a plus arm, but his swing at everything approach could prevent him from ever getting the chance to put his crazy raw tools to use. He could very well be viewed as a potential late inning relief prospect because of the reported mid-90s heat to go along with a solid sinker/slider mix.

2. Winston-Salem will be home to two of the highest upside senior signs in 2011, OF Steven Brooks and LHP Mark Adzick. I actually am at a loss for why Steven Brooks doesn’t get more draft love — the Cubs took him in the 17th round last year, part of an overall trend of ACC outfielders (Holt, Grovatt, Rowland, and Schaus) falling way lower than expected — because he’s that rare mix of tools (plus speed, above-average raw power) and skill (great approach at plate, fantastic base runner, above-average range in CF). Adzick (upper-80s FB, very good low-70s CB, solid mid-70s CU) was seen as a potential top five round pick out of high school who fell because of a reported first round asking price. If he’s healthy and getting innings this spring, his stock could skyrocket.

3. The Demon Deacons also have two of the most intriguing 2011 two-way prospects, JR LHP/1B Austin Stadler and SO OF/RHP Mac Williamson. Stadler’s a pretty typical three pitch lefthander (upper-80s FB, CU, CB) who has a really strong track record of success (8.69 K/9 – 3.32 BB/9 – 3.79 FIP – 78.2 IP) pitching against high level competition. Williamson, a potential catching conversion candidate at the pro level, has serious power upside and a plus arm, but his swing at everything approach could prevent him from ever getting the chance to put his crazy raw tools to use. That’s one way to look at these prospects. Most teams, however, will probably wind up considering Stadler at first base due to his much improved glove, athleticism, approach at the plate, and untapped raw power. Williamson, on the other hand, could very well be viewed as a potential late inning relief prospect because of the reported mid-90s heat to go along with a solid sinker/slider mix.

Early 2011 Draft Guesses

Three bullet points and no mention of one of my favorite 2011 draft “sleepers,” SO RHP Daniel Marrs. Before injuring his labrum, Marrs was a prospect on the same level of current Phillies minor leaguer Jarred Cosart. His pre-injury power stuff (most notably a 92-94 FB peaking at 97 and a good splitter that worked as CU) could tempt a team into drafting him well before his present stuff (sinking upper-80s FB, rapidly improving cutter) would typically merit. Whether or not he ever recaptures that pre-surgery stuff remains to be seen, but Marrs is good enough to continue to expand his repertoire — the new cutter was a great fall ball surprise, I’m told — if that what it takes to succeed. After Marrs, I’d rank the Wake Forest pitching prospects, in order, JR RHP Michael Dimock (plus slider and strong performances to date), Stadler, Williamson, and Adzick.  A handful of Wake relievers could garner some interest, but, really, at this point we’re just throwing names against the wall and seeing what sticks. JR LHP Zach White has the classic “everything but the kitchen sink” arsenal of pitches, JR RHP Gabe Feldman has legitimately intriguing stuff (low-90s peak FB, good mid-70s CB, potential plus cutter) but iffy command and a limited track record keep him off the slam dunk draftable list for now, and SR LHP Eli Robins has good stuff, including a good slider, but poor control has held him back so far.

There is less to be excited offensively, as only the aforementioned Brooks is a lock to get redrafted in 2011. If you count him as a first baseman and not a pitcher, then Stadler would double the number of draftable Demon Deacon hitters. JR 3B/OF Carlos Lopez is my dark horse to go later in the draft to a team willing to bet on his interesting physical tools, including his very quick wrists.