Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The biggest effect the Rule 5 draft has on teams results from the players lost ahead of draft day. In adding four prospects to their 40-man roster, the Giants had to part with Chris Shaw, Aramis Garcia and Jordan Humphreys, each of whom signed elsewhere.
During Thursday’s draft, though, they won’t be concerned about losing outfield prospect Alexander Canario or righties Camilo Doval, Gregory Santos or Kervin Castro.
They could not protect everyone, and beginning 9 a.m. Thursday, they will see firsthand whom other teams covet. Last year no Giants prospects were selected in the major league phase of the draft, though the system is generally seen as stronger now than a year ago.
A prospect is eligible after a certain amount of time spent in the minors without being added to a 40-man roster and becomes fully part of the drafting team upon completing a season on its active roster. Because a drafted player can’t be demoted to the minors, catchers and relievers are usually commodities; a backup catcher with defensive strengths and a developing bat can last a season in the majors, as can high-octane arms who need the right coaching to refine control and command.
Last year’s Giants pick, Dany Jimenez, had the raw stuff but was not developed enough, the Giants returning him to the Blue Jays after two major league appearances. This year, the Giants again need righty relief and have cleared out roster space that allows them to take a flier with the No. 14 selection. Who might be lost and gained?
Could be lost
Tyler Cyr, RHP: It was a mild surprise the Giants didn’t protect the 27-year-old reliever from Fremont after he spent 2020 in the pool in Sacramento. Cyr was the odd righty left out after a solid 2019 in which he posted a 1.97 ERA across Double- and Triple-A with 59 strikeouts in 50 1/3 innings. He doesn’t have the ceiling other prospects have but is more polished than many Rule 5 types.
Ricardo Genoves, C: The 21-year-old hasn’t played above Class-A Augusta and his bat is surely not ready. But might another club see a powerful, big-league body tooled out who already has had a look in Giants major league spring training?
Patrick Ruotolo, RHP: Regarded for having a high spinrate and pitching with deception, the 27-year-old has plenty to his game that the Giants like, including 197 strikeouts in 135 2/3 minor league innings. But injuries have limited him to 44 1/3 innings in 2018 then 19 innings in ’19.
Raffi Vizcaino, RHP: Another ML spring training 2020 invite who didn’t last, Vizcaino because of control that hampers so many developing prospects. The 25-year-old pitched 46 2/3 quality innings in relief for Richmond in 2019 but walked 27.
Jalen Miller, 2B: A longer shot, but Miller, who’ll be 24 next week, could be a flexible righty bat who can move all around the infield and came up as an outfielder. The 2015 third-rounder has some pop but hasn’t shown enough offense, reaching as high as Richmond.
Could be picked
Paul Campbell, RHP, Rays: Campbell is regarded as a spin-rate darling with both his fastball and curveball. He has primarily started in Tampa’s deep system, but perhaps the Giants see if his stuff plays up in shorter work.
Zach Pop, RHP, Orioles: Part of the trade that brought Manny Machado to the Dodgers, Pop had Tommy John surgery in 2019 that has kept him off the field. But he’s a hard-throwing righty who’s been working his way back and carries a 1.34 lifetime minor league ERA with 80 strikeouts in 80 1/3 innings.
Jordan Sheffield, RHP, Dodgers: A former first-round pick of Farhan Zaidi’s Dodgers in 2016 out of Vanderbilt, Sheffield stalled in the system until he transition to relief in 2018. The following season, he was excellent in High- and Double-A, striking out 74 in 55 innings while walking 43 (too many).
Alex Speas, RHP, Rangers: A second-round pick in 2016, the 22-year-old has pitched just 71 2/3 professional innings since and none above Class-A because of 2018 Tommy John surgery. Yet he reportedly touched 102 mph in workouts this summer and could be a high-upside, virtually no-downside flier for someone.
Trevor Stephan, RHP, Yankees: A third-round pick in 2017, Stephan moved quickly, getting to Double-A in 2018 after dominating A-ball as a starter. But the 25-year-old, who carries a mid-90s fastball with deception and a plus slider, struggled in ’19 with control and through a back injury. He would have an easier time sticking as a reliever rather than starter.
Jerrick Suiter, RHP, Cubs: The Giants crave flexibility. How about a righty who was converted from being a first baseman/outfielder? He reportedly throws upper 90s, though may be too raw for drafting.