There are certain numbers that will automatically jump off the page when looking at a player’s statistics. A career minor league mark of 18.4 strikeouts per nine innings is definitely one, especially when that number has increased to an astonishing 19.4 strikeouts per nine this season. Add in a fastball that has hit 103 MPH, and it would seem as though this player would be a truly impressive prospect. Yet, one has to wonder what, exactly, the San Francisco Giants have in minor league pitcher Raymond Black.
Black’s baseball journey has had quite a few roadblocks along the way. He needed Tommy John surgery in his senior year of high school, then, after being selected in the seventh round of the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft by the Giants, missed two years after having surgery to repair a torn labrum. In between, he tore his right meniscus during an offseason workout in college, and broke his right hand just weeks later when he and a college teammate were attacked while going to get dinner.
When Black was finally able to get on the mound professionally for the 2014 season, he had a solid season. Pitching primarily with the Augusta Greenjackets, and making a brief late season appearance with the San Jose Giants, Black posted a 2-3 record with a 3.57 ERA and a 0.934 WHiP. Where he truly stood out was with his strikeouts, as Black struck out an incredible 71 batters in 35.1 innings while allowing only 16 walks.
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Those numbers from 2014 made it look as though the San Francisco Giants could have an elite arm in the bullpen in the next couple of seasons. However, Black has been unable to keep that same control this season. While his 2.77 ERA is solid, Black has walked 16 batters in 13 innings. Of course, his ability to generate strikeouts, as Black has struck out 28 batters in that same time frame, has helped limit the damage caused by his 1.692 WHiP.
Black certainly has the type of velocity that can tantalize a front office. Add in a mid 80’s slider and the vestiges of a cutter, and Black could be a truly elite bullpen arm. However, there are two giant questions marks – can he remain healthy, and can he harness that raw ability? If he can, then the Giants would have quite the weapon in their relief corps.
If Raymond Black can reign in his fastball and remain healthy, he could be quite the story of perseverance. If not, the San Francisco Giants would just have someone who was a minor league legend, but was unable to truly tap into his potential.