Much has been said about the demise of the San Francisco Giants' farm system. But in a lot of ways, the Giants are in a better spot now than they've been in quite some time. Kyle Harrison is one of the very best pitching prospects in baseball, and he could take the mound in San Francisco at some point early this season. Casey Schmitt reached Triple-A at the end of 2022 and he should also be an option if fellow youngster David Villar isn't able to produce in the majors (but there's promise for him as well). Marco Luciano had some health setbacks in 2022, but still ranks as one of the better prospects in baseball as he creeps closer to the major leagues.
How much weight should we really put into rankings, though? Looking back through old Top-100 prospects lists, it's clear that several of the top prospects in baseball prove to be busts. It's also clear that many players who ultimately become very good major league players are never considered top prospects! Take Logan Webb or Camilo Doval as examples. Neither ever appeared on BP's Top-101 lists, but both have become excellent major league players for the SF Giants.
There's been a lot of talk about the Giants getting "younger and more athletic". Much of that is going to come from within, and much of it could start in 2023. It's not at all hard to imagine a homegrown tandem at the top of the Giants' rotation with Webb and Harrison. David Villar or Casey Schmitt may have taken over third base for the Giants for good by the end of the year. In the bullpen, Camilo Doval projects as a top-tier closer. Cole Waites, R.J. Dabovich, Thomas Szapucki, and others could emerge as strong bullpen options. Joey Bart will continue to get opportunities behind the plate. While many are down on the Giants' farm system, it's actually in a pretty good spot heading into 2023.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
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