The Giants ranked 22nd among the 30 teams.
Here's what they say:
The Giants are a team in between two eras in their farm system. Last season they brought up their three top prospects in Kurt Ainsworth, Jesse Foppert and Jerome Williams. Now that those players are in the majors (Ainsworth with Baltimore and Foppert on the shelf), in addition to trades to acquire Sidney Ponson and A.J. Pierzynski, the team has most of their prospects in the low minors. The organization has struggled to produce hitters, and that remains true with their top ten list.
1. Matthew Cain, SP: Cain is one of the more unknown great pitching prospects in baseball. The first round pick in 2002 dominated low-A at the age of 18 before getting injured. Cain has a mid-90s fastball and punishing curveball. Thus far he has shown the ability of a very good strikeout pitcher, and his control is about average as well. There is plenty of time for Cains status to rise or fall, but he looks like a good number two starter at this point. ETA: 2006
2. David Aardsma, RP: Many people like to talk about Ryan Wagner and Chad Cordero as the top relief prospects taken in last years draft, but Aardsma is easily right up there with them. He can touch the upper-90s with an odd throwing motion and likes to mix in a breaking pitch or two every now and then. The Rice closer has above average control and should join the Giants by mid-season if his stay in Double-A goes well. ETA: 2004
3. Merkin Valdez, SP: Valdez was acquired by the Giants prior to last season in the Russ Ortiz trade. At the time he was not seen as a great prospect, but that has changed since then. Valdez throws in the mid-90s with an excellent breaking pitch, and his K/BB numbers last season during his time in the Sally League were outstanding. He continues to move up as a 22-year-old and could be a future ace along with Matthew Cain. ETA: 2006
4. Josh Habel, SP: Habel does not make any prospect lists, but the starter that went to the same college as Kurt Warner has the ability to be a good back-of-the-rotation starter or lefty specialist. He is compared to Tom Glavine like many small lefties, as he does not throw hard but has good control and an excellent changeup. He dominated last season in the Sally League, but moving up to levels where hitters are smarter could pose a challenge. ETA: 2005
5. Dan Ortmeier, OF: A third round pick in 2002, Ortmeier has the ability to be a solid starting outfielder in the majors. His plate discipline can use improvement, but Ortmeier can run well, as well as hit for average and power. He did just that in High-A last season batting .304-8-56 in 408 at-bats. He has a big year ahead in Double-A and could eventually be Barry Bondss replacement. ETA: 2005
6. Glenn Woolard, SP: Woolard is a 23-year-old that had decent success last year in the Sally League. Like many of the other San Francisco pitchers in the low minors, his K/BB numbers were solid as was his ERA. Woolard does not throw very hard, but he does have major league quality stuff. Look for him to eventually be a middle reliever. ETA: 2005
7. Brian Stirm, SP: Keeping with the theme of pitchers with average stuff and good results, we come to Stirm. The big right-hander posted a solid ERA and K/BB numbers last season in the Sally League. He looks to get more work next season in Double-A at the age of 22. ETA: 2005
8. Brad Vericker, OF: Vericker cannot really play defense, but he can rake. He hit .284-15-47 in less than 300 at-bats last season and also showed a high walk rate in Single-A. It is hard to project players with such limited experience, but if Vericker is able to build upon his success he could have a bright future. ETA: 2006
9. Todd Linden, OF: The Giants have been waiting on Linden to reach the majors, but they have repeatedly received rain checks from the former LSU hitter. The 23-year-old did not have an easy year in Triple-A last season due to his lack of plate discipline. He still could be a 20-20 man in the majors eventually, but it is far more likely that he will develop into a fourth outfielder. If he plays well in Spring Training, that role on the bench could start this year. ETA: 2004
10. Lance Niekro, 3B: Joes son does not have a knuckleball, but his hitting abilities are just as odd as his fathers pitching abilities. Niekro is a pure contact hitter with no power. He continues to hit .300 in the minors, but since he does not even draw 30 walks per year, it is of little help to his team. There should be teams wanting him after he breaks onto the major league scene due to his ability to hit for average, but those teams will be shooting themselves in the foot most of the time. He is clearly a career pinch-hitter. ETA: 2004
Other Players Worth Noting:
Craig Whitaker, SP: Whitaker was a supplemental first round pick in 2003. He has excellent stuff, but he is not on the top ten list since he had a very abbreviated debut in 2003.
Francisco Liriano, SP: Liriano is a very good left-handed pitching prospect, but he was traded to Minnesota.
Boof Bonser, SP: Bonser was once thought of as a top prospect, but he has dropped off in recent years. Still, he would have made the top ten if he had not been traded to Minnesota.
Here's what they say:
The Giants are a team in between two eras in their farm system. Last season they brought up their three top prospects in Kurt Ainsworth, Jesse Foppert and Jerome Williams. Now that those players are in the majors (Ainsworth with Baltimore and Foppert on the shelf), in addition to trades to acquire Sidney Ponson and A.J. Pierzynski, the team has most of their prospects in the low minors. The organization has struggled to produce hitters, and that remains true with their top ten list.
1. Matthew Cain, SP: Cain is one of the more unknown great pitching prospects in baseball. The first round pick in 2002 dominated low-A at the age of 18 before getting injured. Cain has a mid-90s fastball and punishing curveball. Thus far he has shown the ability of a very good strikeout pitcher, and his control is about average as well. There is plenty of time for Cains status to rise or fall, but he looks like a good number two starter at this point. ETA: 2006
2. David Aardsma, RP: Many people like to talk about Ryan Wagner and Chad Cordero as the top relief prospects taken in last years draft, but Aardsma is easily right up there with them. He can touch the upper-90s with an odd throwing motion and likes to mix in a breaking pitch or two every now and then. The Rice closer has above average control and should join the Giants by mid-season if his stay in Double-A goes well. ETA: 2004
3. Merkin Valdez, SP: Valdez was acquired by the Giants prior to last season in the Russ Ortiz trade. At the time he was not seen as a great prospect, but that has changed since then. Valdez throws in the mid-90s with an excellent breaking pitch, and his K/BB numbers last season during his time in the Sally League were outstanding. He continues to move up as a 22-year-old and could be a future ace along with Matthew Cain. ETA: 2006
4. Josh Habel, SP: Habel does not make any prospect lists, but the starter that went to the same college as Kurt Warner has the ability to be a good back-of-the-rotation starter or lefty specialist. He is compared to Tom Glavine like many small lefties, as he does not throw hard but has good control and an excellent changeup. He dominated last season in the Sally League, but moving up to levels where hitters are smarter could pose a challenge. ETA: 2005
5. Dan Ortmeier, OF: A third round pick in 2002, Ortmeier has the ability to be a solid starting outfielder in the majors. His plate discipline can use improvement, but Ortmeier can run well, as well as hit for average and power. He did just that in High-A last season batting .304-8-56 in 408 at-bats. He has a big year ahead in Double-A and could eventually be Barry Bondss replacement. ETA: 2005
6. Glenn Woolard, SP: Woolard is a 23-year-old that had decent success last year in the Sally League. Like many of the other San Francisco pitchers in the low minors, his K/BB numbers were solid as was his ERA. Woolard does not throw very hard, but he does have major league quality stuff. Look for him to eventually be a middle reliever. ETA: 2005
7. Brian Stirm, SP: Keeping with the theme of pitchers with average stuff and good results, we come to Stirm. The big right-hander posted a solid ERA and K/BB numbers last season in the Sally League. He looks to get more work next season in Double-A at the age of 22. ETA: 2005
8. Brad Vericker, OF: Vericker cannot really play defense, but he can rake. He hit .284-15-47 in less than 300 at-bats last season and also showed a high walk rate in Single-A. It is hard to project players with such limited experience, but if Vericker is able to build upon his success he could have a bright future. ETA: 2006
9. Todd Linden, OF: The Giants have been waiting on Linden to reach the majors, but they have repeatedly received rain checks from the former LSU hitter. The 23-year-old did not have an easy year in Triple-A last season due to his lack of plate discipline. He still could be a 20-20 man in the majors eventually, but it is far more likely that he will develop into a fourth outfielder. If he plays well in Spring Training, that role on the bench could start this year. ETA: 2004
10. Lance Niekro, 3B: Joes son does not have a knuckleball, but his hitting abilities are just as odd as his fathers pitching abilities. Niekro is a pure contact hitter with no power. He continues to hit .300 in the minors, but since he does not even draw 30 walks per year, it is of little help to his team. There should be teams wanting him after he breaks onto the major league scene due to his ability to hit for average, but those teams will be shooting themselves in the foot most of the time. He is clearly a career pinch-hitter. ETA: 2004
Other Players Worth Noting:
Craig Whitaker, SP: Whitaker was a supplemental first round pick in 2003. He has excellent stuff, but he is not on the top ten list since he had a very abbreviated debut in 2003.
Francisco Liriano, SP: Liriano is a very good left-handed pitching prospect, but he was traded to Minnesota.
Boof Bonser, SP: Bonser was once thought of as a top prospect, but he has dropped off in recent years. Still, he would have made the top ten if he had not been traded to Minnesota.
