Joey Bart. Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Introducing Giants minors updates, a new feature that aims to keep you up to date on all the Little Giants happenings.
For most Giants fans, Saturday was a rough night.
But for the camp who are rooting for the Giants to face reality and plan for the future, it was a night to remember.
Up and down the Giants system, big-name prospects put up impressive numbers, a promising glimpse into the future for a fan base that probably does not like the present.
Triple-A Sacramento: 3, Fresno 2 (Nationals). The River Cats are now 48-44.
Star: Conner Menez. The lefty, who has put himself firmly on the Giants’ radar when injury and/or the trade deadline strikes, is getting better. He shot through Double-A before struggling in Sacramento. Saturday night, he tossed 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball, striking out seven and allowing seven hits. Perhaps most notably, he walked zero, and control has been his issue.
Menez has allowed just that one earned run in his past 11 1/3 innings.
Double-A Richmond 1, Harrisburg 3 (Nationals). The Flying Squirrels are now 32-57.
Star: In a rough season for Richmond, how about Carlos Navas? The 26-year-old righty reliever threw two scoreless innings and struck out three. He’s bounced between Richmond and Sacramento this season, and while he’s struggled in the PCL, he has surrendered one earned run in his past 14 2/3 innings in Richmond.
High-A San Jose 17, Lancaster (Rockies) 5. The Giants are now 40-53.
Star: Joey Bart. Sean Hjelle pitched well, but Bart kept the momentum going from his Futures Game appearance.
The Giants’ top prospect had been struggling, 3-for-27 in his past seven games, until he broke out. His final line: 4-for-6 with a homer, double and two RBIs. Bart also had his seventh passed ball, which is a bit concerning, but all reports on his defense are promising.
Class-A Augusta 6, Asheville 4 (Rockies). The GreenJackets are now 48-43.
Star: Seth Corry. The team’s 25th-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, is finding his control. The 20-year-old, a third-round pick in 2017, gave up two runs in 5 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking just one. His ERA now sits at 2.26, but more importantly he has walked just two in his past 16 2/3 innings. The wildness has been an issue since he’s been drafted, and this year he’s walking 5.23 per nine innings.
Short-Season Salem-Keizer 1, Eugene 12. The Volcanoes are now 19-10.
Star: Uh, that’s a rough one. How about Sean Roby, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI? The third baseman/DH, a 12th-round pick last year, has hit well wherever the Giants have placed him, this year slashing .348/.431/.446 in 27 Northwest League games.
AZL Orange 4, AZL Rangers, 3 (11 Innings). The Giants are now 17-4.
Star: Hunter Bishop. Heard of him? The Giants’ top draft pick last month hit his first professional homer in his fifth game. It was the center fielder’s only hit, going 1-for-5 with three strikeouts.
AZL Giants Black 6, AZL Athletics 2. The Giants are now 7-14.
Star: Logan Wyatt. The first baseman from Louisville, the Giants’ second-round pick last month, is off to a fast start. The 21-year-old went 3-for-4 Saturday, and after opening his professional career by going 0-for-4, he’s now 7-for-13 with a double and six runs scored in four games since.