Veteran baseball writer Keith Law released the latest list of Giants prospects on The Athletic last week, one that includes five players in the top 100.
Of the top five, two have changed from last year’s list, and a few have moved around. Here’s how it looks:
1. Marco Luciano, SS (Top 100 ranking: No. 15) – No. 1 in 2021 (No. 31)
2. Luis Matos, OF (Top 100 ranking: No. 55) – No. 7 in 2021 (unranked)
3. Heliot Ramos, OF (Top 100 ranking: No. 70) – No. 3 in 2021 (No. 58)
4. Joey Bart, C (Top 100 ranking: No. 79) No. 2 in 2021 (No. 41)
5. Kyle Harrison, LHP (Top 100 ranking: 82) – No. 13 in 2021 (unranked)
The biggest surprise is Luis Matos, an outfielder who was unranked in the top 100 last year but has lept up to No. 2 in the system. Matos has proven himself to be an excellent contact hitter at just 20 years old, and was the youngest player in the minor leagues with a strikeout rate in the bottom 25. He also has above-average power and running speed, and is a possibility as a future centerfielder.
Matos is joined by Kyle Harrison as the other player who made a significant leap in the last year. The left-hander tied for eighth among all minor-league pitchers with 157 strikeouts in 2021, and did so while throwing less than 100 innings. Law says Harrison has No. 1 starter upside and currently boasts a fastball that touches 98 mph. If he’s able to develop his other pitches (slider, curveball, changeup) he could be a nice one-two punch with Logan Webb in the future.
Luciano remains the crown jewel of the system, moving his way up into the top 15, and in the top 10 on some other prospect lists. Though currently a shortstop, Law believes Luciano will eventually fill out to the point that he will profile more as a power hitting corner outfielder. Still only 20, Luciano hit 18 homers in 70 games at the Low A level and slashed .278/.373/.556.
Ramos also rose a bit in the overall rankings, and was bumped up to the Triple A level last season, with uneven results. Still Ramos is believed to project as at least an above-average everyday right fielder that has an above-average bat and arm.
Finally there’s Joey Bart, who was once thought of as the best player in the Giants’ farm system, but whose stock has fallen since he was called up in 2020. Bart struggled at AAA in 2021, calling into question whether he will ever have the star potential the Giants once thought. Still, he’s projected to be an above-average starting catcher that hits for power and low average. Understanding how to manage a staff will determine his upside at the big league level.
To see the complete list, check out Law’s piece.