San Francisco Giants

TRACK RECORD: Toribio signed with the Giants for $300,000 and immediately impressed in each of his first two seasons at the Rookie levels. The Giants promoted him to short-season Salem-Keizer as an 18-year-old in 2019 when he helped the Volcanoes push toward the playoffs. The Giants brought him to the alternate training site in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: As a third baseman, there is going to be pressure for Toribio to show big power, but right now his profile leans toward hitting instead of mashing. The Giants believe he has raw juice--generated by above-average bat speed and average hand speed--but his passive approach and a flat bat path leaves it muted. They've suggested hunting fastballs might help him unlock his power, even if it comes at the expense of some batting average and on-base percentage. Toribio is a below-average defender at third base who gets into trouble when he tries to do too much. The Giants have toyed with the idea of moving him to second base, where his strong arm could be an asset in certain defensive shifts. Though the sample size was small, Toribio was eaten up by lefties in the Rookie-level Arizona League, and there are concerns about him hitting southpaws in the long term.

THE FUTURE: Understandably, Toribio struggled a bit at the alternate training site against older, more wily pitchers. He'll move to low Class A in 2021 and will try to steer his future toward staying at third base and showing more power.

TRACK RECORD: A back injury kept Beck out for his sophomore season at Stanford, but he rebounded well enough to return as a junior. Injury concerns remained, however, and he fell to the Braves in the fourth round. The Giants acquired Beck at the 2019 trade deadline in the deal that sent Mark Melancon to Atlanta, and the righthander's stuff immediately ticked up in his new organization. He spent 2020 working out on his own until reporting to instructional league in the fall.

SCOUTING REPORT: Beck has exactly the kind of pitch mix the Giants covet. He uses his 90-94 mph four-seam fastball at the top of the zone and tunnels it with a downer, mid-70s curveball that has a chance to be a plus pitch. Beck also throws a mid-80s changeup and a slider, but those are his third and fourth pitches and are well behind his fastball and curve. Unsurprisingly for a Stanford product, Beck earns high marks for how he approaches pitching from a mental standpoint. He repeats his delivery and throws strikes with average control.

THE FUTURE: After a 2019 season at high Class A, followed by a stint in the Arizona Fall League and more polish at instructional league, Beck should make his upper-level debut in 2020. He has the ceiling of a back-end starter.

TRACK RECORD: Hjelle moved from closer to starter between his freshman and sophomore seasons at Kentucky, and ended his draft year with a better than 4-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Giants drafted him 45th overall and he raced to Double-A in his first full season, but was not invited to the team's alternate training site in 2020 nor instructional league. Hjelle used the shutdown to complete his college degree.

SCOUTING REPORT: Hjelle's exceptional coordination and athleticism help him repeat his delivery despite his massive, 6-foot-11 frame. Away from coaches all year, Hjelle instead worked out at home in Richmond with fellow Giants farmhand Matt Winn. The angle created by Hjelle's height and overhand delivery means he doesn't necessarily have to elevate his low-90s fastball to be effective. Even so, the Giants wanted him to work on that this season in order to change hitters' eye levels and then create a tunnel for his 12-to-6 curveball to follow. Hjelle has a potentially average changeup as well.

THE FUTURE: The Giants estimate Hjelle threw as many as 110 simulated innings in 2020. He should start 2021 at one of the upper levels and has a ceiling as a back-end starter.

TRACK RECORD: Schmitt was a decorated two-way player at San Diego State and closed the final game of the Cape Cod League's championship series in 2019 while also hitting two home runs. He started his junior season nicely before things were shut down by the coronavirus pandemic, but the Giants were convinced enough to draft him 49th overall and sign him for $1,147,000.

SCOUTING REPORT: Though he proved himself in college as a pure hitter, Schmitt didn't show the kind of power that usually comes with a corner-infield position and hit just six home runs in 382 at-bats with the Aztecs. He has plenty of strength to impact the ball, but now must learn to add loft to his swing. To achieve that goal, Giants coaches worked with him to incentivize flyballs while at instructional league. Schmitt is a slam dunk to stick at the hot corner. He shows range in and out and side to side--though his footwork could stand to be improved--and a double-plus throwing arm.

THE FUTURE: Given his advanced nature, Schmitt has a chance to start 2021 at high Class A. With improved power, he could turn into an everyday third baseman who provides value on both sides of the ball.

TRACK RECORD: Wyatt was coveted at Louisville for his exceptional command of the strike zone and a frame that should easily produce the power required for first base. The Giants drafted him 51st overall and watched as he quickly advanced to low Class A after signing. Wyatt had to wait until instructional league to get back on the field in 2020 after the coronavirus pandemic canceled the minor league season.

SCOUTING REPORT: It's no secret that the Giants want to unlock Wyatt's power. To do so, in addition to extensive work with Giants coach Pat Burrell, they had Wyatt take part in daily faux home run derbies pitted against teammate Connor Cannon while facing the high-velocity pitching machine. The drill was designed to unleash Wyatt's selective aggression on pitches he can drive while still utilizing an all-fields approach. Defensively, Wyatt has soft hands and presents a big target but still needs to improve his footwork around the bag.

THE FUTURE: If Wyatt can sufficiently alter his approach, he could evolve into the prototypical masher at first base. He'll likely restart his path at high Class A.

TRACK RECORD: Swiney was a reliever for two seasons at North Carolina State before a planned move to the rotation in his junior season. He was limited to just four starts before the season shut down, but the Giants saw enough to draft him 67th overall and sign him for $1,197,500. Swiney's crowning moment in 2020 was a 15-strikeout game that marked the highest total for a Wolfpack pitcher since Carlos Rodon in 2014.

SCOUTING REPORT: Although Swiney's fastball has touched 94 mph, he was more in the 89-91 range at instructional league. He'll need to get stronger to tap into his top-end velocity more frequently and hold it throughout starts. Swiney backs up his fastball with a curveball and changeup. Evaluators are split on which pitch has the better future, but they believe that he accentuates his mix by tunnelling all three pitches off of one another. The Giants also worked with Swiney at instructional league to work from the bottom up in his delivery and extract more power from his lower half. He's had control issues in the past but was a plus strike-thrower as a junior.

THE FUTURE: Swiney should begin his first official pro season at one of the Class A levels. He has a ceiling of a back-end starter.

TRACK RECORD: The Twins drafted Wade in the ninth round in 2015 because of his fluid lefthanded swing and chance to stick in center field. He progressively climbed the minors and made his major league debut in 2019. He returned to Minnesota in 2020 and appeared in 16 games while playing all three outfield spots and first base. 

SCOUTING REPORT: Among Wade’s standout tools is his tremendous batting eye. His patient approach and ability to control the strike zone have yielded a strong walk rate in his brief major league time, helping make up for a lack of impact in his swing. The Twins have tried to open Wade's stance up so he has more room to turn on inside pitches. A solid-average runner, Wade is serviceable at all three outfield positions but is better in the corners. His best defensive position is first base. 

THE FUTURE: The Giants acquired Wade from the Twins for righthander Shaun Anderson. San Francisco optioned him to Triple-A to begin the season but could call on him in-season if a need arises in the outfield.

TRACK RECORD: The Giants signed Arteaga for $1 million out of Venezuela, the largest bonus they awarded in their 2019 international signing class. His father played professional basketball and clearly handed down some of his athleticism to his son. Arteaga's expected pro debut was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, but he got on the field in instructional league in the fall.

SCOUTING REPORT: Arteaga is one of the Giants' better bets to stick at shortstop, where he has smooth, quick hands and an arm strong enough to make all the throws. He also possesses excellent body control and defensive instincts. Arteaga's future is a little more clouded at the plate. The Giants like the whippy action his swing shows in batting practice. They believe he can blossom into a hitter who can produce a little bit of average and a little bit of power, but even they don't think he'll be an impact hitter.

THE FUTURE: Arteaga will make his pro debut in 2021, likely in the Rookie-level Arizona League.

TRACK RECORD: Velasquez, who signed with the Giants for $900,000 once the delayed international period opened on Jan. 15, 2021, grew quite a bit during the scouting process. When it began, he was 5-foot-10. On signing day, he’d jumped to 6-foot-1 and weighed in at 162 pounds.

SCOUTING REPORT: Even with the growth, Velasquez still projects to stay at shortstop. He’s wiry and athletic with soft hands and plenty of arm strength for either position on the left side of the infield. The switch-hitting infielder shows a contact-oriented swing and a line-drive approach from both sides of the plate, but has begun to drive the ball better as he’s gained size and strength. He’s an above-average runner. Velasquez trained with both his father and Ronny Cedeno in Venezuela.

THE FUTURE: Velasquez gives the Giants another young, talented Venezuelan shortstop at the lowest levels of their system, joining Aeverson Arteaga and Anthony Rodriguez, who both signed in the 2019 class but had their chance at an official pro debut wiped out by the pandemic.

TRACK RECORD: Rodriguez signed for $800,000 as part of the Giants' highly regarded 2019 international signing class, which also included fellow shortstop Aeverson Arteaga, lefthander Esmerlin Vinicio and catcher Adrian Sugastey. Rodriguez's expected pro debut was wiped out by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and he did not participate in instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Rodriguez's balanced skill set probably leans toward his offensive tools over his defense. At the plate, he shows an easy swing geared for line drives. Rodriguez has a projectable body, so those line drives could turn into home runs as he gets older and adds strength to his frame. While his bat is the most prominent part of his game, Rodriguez has a solid chance to stick at shortstop with his strong footwork and plus arm strength.

THE FUTURE: Rodriguez will get another chance at a professional debut in 2021. He's likely to start in the Rookie-level Arizona League.

TRACK RECORD: Pomares was one of the Giants' highest profile signings from 2018 along with top prospect Marco Luciano and rising star Luis Matos. He proved advanced enough in his first season as a pro to make it to the college-heavy short-season Northwest League. Pomares could not get his visa renewed for 2020, so the only in-person development he got was at instructional league in the Dominican Republic.

SCOUTING REPORT: Pomares earns strong marks for his calm, quiet approach, advanced knowledge of the strike zone and the way he drives the ball to all fields. He makes plenty of contact, but there are questions about how much power he'll produce. Right now, Pomares' power is only to the pull side, and even then it's only fringy. Pomares is unlikely to play center field, so he'll need to produce more juice if he is to carve out an everyday role as a corner outfielder.

THE FUTURE: Even with a year of lost development, Pomares still has youth on his side. He'll be just 20 years old for most of the 2021 season and should start at low Class A.

TRACK RECORD: Doval has moved a level a year since signing in 2015, when the Giants gave him $100,000 on the strength of a loose arm, a promising slider and a fastball just beginning to scrape 90 mph. The Giants brought Doval to the team's alternate training site because they believed he had a chance to make his big league debut. He didn't quite get there, and he got more polish at instructional league in the fall.

SCOUTING REPORT: Doval's fastball has taken several jumps as he's matured, and now the pitch peaks at 102 mph. His slider, a sweepy pitch delivered from a lower, winding arm slot, also flashes plus. Given that his future is in the bullpen, the Giants have encouraged him to divide his pitches at something closer to a 50-50 ratio. More consistent finger placement on the fastball has led to improved velocity and movement patterns. He's toyed with a changeup before, but he should be a two-pitch guy going forth.

THE FUTURE: Doval was placed on the 40-man roster after the season and will get his first taste of the upper levels in 2021. He could move quickly enough to make his big league debut toward season's end.

TRACK RECORD: Santos came to the Giants with righthander Shaun Anderson in 2017 as part of the deal that sent Eduardo Nunez to the Red Sox. He struggled with command and control over his first two seasons with his new organization, then missed most of 2019 with injuries to his shoulder and hamstring. Santos was one of the Giants' most impressive pitchers at instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Santos has a power fastball that averages 97 mph and touches 100. While his fastball's pure velocity is excellent, Santos' next goal will be to optimize the pitch by making it spin more efficiently. Outside evaluators noticed a bit of a downtick in his stuff when he pitched out of the stretch, which is something to monitor. His slider gives him a second potential plus pitch and he also throws a changeup, but he won't need the pitch much in the bullpen.

THE FUTURE: Despite no experience above low Class A, Santos was added to the 40-man roster based on the strength of his instructional league showing. He should start 2021 at high Class A and could move quickly as a one-inning power reliever.

TRACK RECORD: The Giants signed Castro in 2015 just three months after he'd converted from catching to pitching. He started his career in the Dominican Summer League in 2016 and missed most of the next two seasons after having Tommy John surgery. He returned in 2019 with short-season Salem-Keizer, where he showed excellent command while helping the Volcanoes reach the playoffs. Castro spent the 2020 coronavirus shutdown working out in Orlando with fellow Venezuelan players who were unable to return home due to travel restrictions. He got back on the mound during instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Castro throws a fastball that sits 93-94 mph and has begun touching 96-97 mph, a significant spike from what he showed in his first year back from surgery. He pairs his fastball with a downer curveball that took significant steps forward and now flashes plus, especially when tunneled off of his four-seamer. He has a changeup, which he throws with excellent conviction and arm speed, but it is a clear third pitch. Castro commands his arsenal well with a short, compact arm stroke.

THE FUTURE: The Giants placed Castro on the 40-man roster after he starred in instructional league. He will likely begin 2021 at high Class A and could move quickly as a reliever.

TRACK RECORD: Genoves signed with the Giants for $550,000 in 2015, the second highest bonus the club awarded that year behind the $6 million they gave since-traded shortstop Lucius Fox. Genoves made it to low Class A as a 19-year-old and earned a non-roster invitation to spring training in 2020. He returned to Arizona for instructional league in the fall.

SCOUTING REPORT: As an amateur, Genoves built his reputation on a strong defensive foundation that gave him a chance to be an above-average catcher. He has lived up to that billing throughout his career, and in 2019 allowed just eight passed balls while throwing out 41% of attempted basestealers. He's shown well with the bat throughout his career, too, and has average power out of a strong, righthanded frame. Genoves also earns high marks for his baseball IQ and ability to handle velocity.

THE FUTURE: Genoves has a future as a potential backup catcher who can handle a staff, control the running game and occasionally send a ball out of the park. He'll move to high Class A in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: An 18th-round selection by the Royals in 2018 after a year at Central Arizona JC, Dabovich instead transferred to Arizona State. He spent his first season in Tempe shuttling between the rotation and the bullpen but took over closer duties in the shortened 2020 season. The Giants drafted him in the fourth round and included him on their instructional league roster in the fall.

SCOUTING REPORT: Dabovich's money pitch is a 93-96 mph fastball that has touched 98. He had a full four-pitch arsenal from his starting days, but the Giants prefer he focus on his upper-70s curveball because of the way it forms a tunnel with his four-seamer. Dabovich also shifted his arm slot from a high three-quarters to true overhand, which should make it easier for him to drive his curveball down through the zone.

THE FUTURE: Dabovich could move quickly through the system. He has the repertoire to be a middle reliever.

TRACK RECORD: Sugastey signed for $525,000 as part of the Giants' lauded 2019 international signing class. He represented Panama at tournaments across the world as an amateur, including Japan, Colombia and Nicaragua, and made his organizational debut in instructional league in the fall.

SCOUTING REPORT: Sugastey's raw package of tools teases a player who could impact the game on both sides of the ball. He's a strong player who already produces exit velocities up to 112 mph, although the Giants want to take some of the choppiness out of his swing in order to unlock more consistent contact. He's made big strides behind the plate and shows a potentially plus arm and solid receiving skills. Sugastey also shows the intangibles for the position, including an ability to work with pitchers and the leadership required behind the plate. Though promising, he is still very young and has a lot of rawness to his game that needs to be smoothed over.

THE FUTURE: Sugastey should begin his pro career in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2021. He has a chance to add to the Giants' wealth of strong catching prospects.

TRACK RECORD: Santana was part of the Giants' heralded 2018 international class that also included Marco Luciano, Luis Matos and Jairo Pomares. He made his pro debut with a strong showing in the Dominican Summer League in 2019 and got back on the field in 2020 during instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Santana's performance is going to be strongly driven by his bat, and he looks like he's going to have a power-over-hit profile. There are some swing-and-miss issues to his game, which the Giants have worked to correct. He's going to have to work to stay behind the plate as well. He's already a big-bodied player, and if he gets much bigger he'll likely have to move to first base. The move could be a bit of a blessing, though, if a less demanding defensive position allows him to focus more on his offense and unlocking his power. Santana is a catcher for now and has the hands and arm strength to stay there, but he's going to need to focus on remaining as mobile as possible.

THE FUTURE: Santana will be 18 years old for most of the 2021 season. He'll begin in the Rookie-level Arizona League.

TRACK RECORD: Rivera is a two-time Giants draftee. They took him in 2017 after his freshman season at Wallace State (Ala.) JC and again a year later in the fourth round. So far, he's proved to be worth the wait. Rivera skipped the short-season Northwest League in 2019, instead jumping from the Arizona League straight to low Class A. His only action in 2020 came during instructional league due to the coronavirus pandemic.

SCOUTING REPORT: Rivera showcases some of the best pure stuff in the Giants' system. He fronts his pitch mix with a mid-90s fastball that has reached 98 with heavy cut life. If he commands the pitch better, it could move from potentially plus to double-plus. Rivera pairs his fastball with a nasty slider with above-average potential. He also has a changeup, but it's a clear third pitch at this point. Rivera's stuff is explosive, but his velocity tends to drop off quickly and his control is firmly below-average. As such, evaluators overwhelmingly view him as a future reliever.

THE FUTURE: Rivera is likely to start 2021 at high Class A. He has a chance to move quickly if the Giants put him in the bullpen.

TRACK RECORD: Marte has moved slowly through the system, advancing only as far as high Class A after six seasons as a pro'though most of the 2020 season was a wash because of the coronavirus pandemic. He got back into the swing of things at instructional league in the fall but was left unprotected on the 40-man roster in advance of the Rule 5 draft.

SCOUTING REPORT: Much like Blake Rivera, Marte has some of the best stuff in the organization and is likely a reliever barring significant improvements in his well below-average command and control. His fastball sits in the mid 90s and can touch 98. He complements his fastball with a low-90s slider and a third-pitch changeup. The goal is to get him to the point where he can finish hitters more consistently once he gets them in two-strike counts. He struggled to do that in instructional league, which Giants officials believe is more of a mental problem than an indicator of problems with his stuff.

THE FUTURE: Marte should be ready for Double-A in 2021. He has a chance to be a middle reliever if his control improves.