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First off, I just want to say congratulations to the 2016 World Series winning San Francisco Giants! After making some big moves in the offseason, the Giants look poised to make a run at the postseason and that means that (with this being an even year) the Giants are going to win the World Series. The signings of Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija help to improve an already solid rotation and with players like Buster Posey and Matt Duffy returning to the middle of that lineup, this Giants’ team really is no joke in 2016.
The Giants’ farm system does not have a lot of great talent at the top of its list, but there is consistent value to be found throughout this list. Outside of Christian Arroyo, no one is a Top 100 prospect (at least not according to MLB.com), but all of these guys will have some moderate fantasy value in dynasty leagues.
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San Francisco Giants Top 10 Dynasty Prospects
These are the top ten prospects for the San Francisco Giants in terms of fantasy production in the next few seasons.
1. Christian Arroyo (SS, A+)
Stats: 409 PA, .304/.344/.459, 9 HR, 5 SB, 4.6% BB rate, 17.8% K rate
ETA: 2017
The best prospect in the Giants’ system by far, Christian Arroyo is just a pure hitter. Scouts believe that Arroyo has one of the best swings in the minors and is consistently putting the ball in play. He does not have much power or speed, but he should be able to at least amass 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases per season to go along with a .300+ batting average. Unfortunately, many scouts foresee a position change in the future which would hurt his dynasty value as his bat does not play nearly as well at third base as it does as shortstop. Even with a potential position change, Arroyo is talented enough that he without doubt warrants owning in all dynasty leagues.
2. Lucius Fox (SS, NA)
Stats: NA
ETA: 2020
If you read Lucius Fox and immediately thought of the character in the Batman movies, it is okay, I thought the same thing the first time I read his name. But anyways, back to actually talking about Fox the baseball player. If Arroyo is not the franchise shortstop, it could very well be Fox. Fox does not have a lot of power, but he is very quick and has a very solid approach to the plate. Many scouts believe that he will be able to hit at least .270 in the majors and steal more than 30 bases per season, giving him plenty of value in keeper leagues. Dynasty owners will have to wait a long time to cash in on Fox as he is only 18-years-old and has yet to play at the professional level, but he is still worth owning in all leagues.
3. Phil Bickford (SP, R)
Stats: 22.1 IP, 2.01 ERA, 1.89 FIP, 12.90 K/9, 2.42 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9
ETA: 2018
Straight from the draft to rookie league, Phil Bickford absolutely dominated. Granted it was a small sample size of only 22.1 innings, but a 1.89 FIP with a 12.90 K/9 is nothing to scoff at. Bickford’s repertoire is electrifying as he possesses a mid-90s four seam fastball, a low-90s two-seam fastball with a heavy sinking action, a strong slider that should continue to improve, and an average changeup. The biggest concern with Bickford is that he may need to move to the bullpen, but the stuff is there for him to be a solid 2-3 starter for the Giants. He is definitely worth owning in dynasty leagues.
4. Tyler Beede (SP, AA)
Stats: 72.1 IP, 5.23 ERA, 4.21 FIP, 6.10 K/9, 4.35 BB/9, 0.50 HR/9
ETA: 2018
Tyler Beede struggles with something that many pitchers in the Giants’ system struggle with: command. There is no doubt that his repertoire is outstanding as he possesses a mid-90s fastball, a sharp power curveball, and a lethal changeup. If Beede could ever reign in his control, he has the stuff to be a top of the rotation arm for the Giants, but that will require a few more years in the minors. Because of his upside, Beede is worth owning in dynasty leagues, but he fits the profile of a high risk/high reward pitcher.
5. Aramis Garcia (C, A+)
Stats: (from A) 363 PA, .273/.350/.467, 15 HR, 0 SB, 9.6% BB rate, 21.2% K rate
ETA: 2018
Aramis Garcia is not the best catching prospect in the minors, but he has enough potential to be worth owning in dynasty leagues. He has enough power to be able to hit 15+ home runs every season in the majors with a batting average that could range from .260-.280. If he makes a position change, his value will take a significant hit, but he is defensively sound enough that he should be able to make it to the majors as a catcher. Garcia is worth owning in dynasty leagues as catchers with his type of bat are rare in the minors.
6. Chris Shaw (1B, A-)
Stats: 200 PA, .287/.360/.551, 12 HR, 0 SB, 9.5% BB rate, 20.5% K rate
ETA: 2018
With the potential to be a franchise first baseman, Chris Shaw is already making quick progress through the minors. After being taken with the 31st overall pick in 2015, Shaw made his professional debut at Low-A last season and could start 2016 at A ball or better. Shaw has plenty of power, as demonstrated by his 12 home runs in only 46 games. As a first baseman, it should not be too surprising that he has no speed whatsoever so stolen bases will not factor into his value as a player. Dynasty owners should expect Shaw to bat around .280 with 20+ home runs per season when he makes it to the majors. Shaw is worth owning in all dynasty leagues with the expectation that he will be in the majors before too long.
7. Mac Williamson (OF, MLB)
Stats: (from AAA) 227 PA, .249/.370/.439, 8 HR, 1 SB, 11.5% BB rate, 24.2% K rate
ETA: 2016
Mac Williamson has the potential to be a bigtime fantasy sleeper in keeper leagues if he can ever put everything together. Williamson has plenty of power, even if it has not produced gaudy home run totals, and has enough speed to at least swipe 10 bags per season. Right now, Williamson will spend more time in Triple-A refining his approach to the plate and continue to develop some more power, but he could have some value in deeper dynasty leagues.
8. Clayton Blackburn (SP, AAA)
Stats: 123.0 IP, 2.85 ERA, 3.55 FIP, 7.24 K/9, 2.34 BB/9, 0.44 HR/9
ETA: 2016
A control specialist, Clayton Blackburn is never going to overpower any hitter with his stuff, but he should reach his potential as a back of the rotation starter. Blackburn pitches to contact and is quite good in doing so, as he has yet to give up an ERA higher than 3.65 in a full season of Minor League work. In shallow keeper leagues, Blackburn is not necessarily a must-own, but he is worth owning in deeper leagues.
9. Sam Coonrad (SP, A)
Stats: 111.2 IP, 3.14 ERA, 2.97 FIP, 9.19 K/9, 2.74 BB/9, 0.24 HR/9
ETA: 2017
If Sam Coonrad can continue to improve on his secondary pitches, he could possibly remain as a starter. But right now (though he has a great fastball and decent slider), his repertoire is best suited for someone in a bullpen. He is a name to follow in the minors, but right now I could not advise owning him in dynasty leagues.
10. Andrew Suarez (SP, A+)
Stats: 15.0 IP, 1.80 ERA, 3.78 FIP, 9.60 K/9, 1.20 BB/9, 1.20 HR/9
ETA: 2018
Andrew Suarez is a solid pitcher, but unlike Blackburn who possesses underwhelming stuff and great command, Suarez possesses underwhelming stuff and slightly above-average command. Suarez could be a backend of the rotation starter, but he will likely have to go to the bullpen. He does not have much value in dynasty leagues.
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