San Francisco Giants: Top 10 Rookie-Eligible Prospects for 2018
10. Melvin Adon, RHP
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 6/9/1994 (23)
2017 teams/levels played for: low-A Augusta GreenJackets
2017 Stats: 23 G, 19 GS, 4.35 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 7.9% BB, 20.2% K
Info: One of the common threads in the San Francisco Giants Latin America approach is to find prospects where others aren’t looking. This includes signing players who are older than typical Latin signees. Adon fits that profile as he was 20 when he signed out of the Dominican Republic.
Adon has been known since his signing for his big-time fastball, touching 102 in short stints
Adon has been known since his signing for his big-time fastball, touching 102 in short stints and sitting 95-98 as a starter deep into starts, and his low 3/4 delivery gives him a unique look along with different movement than most hitters are used to seeing.
He features a power slider that sits around 90 MPH with exceptional bite and weight to the pitch. He has seen his change work up to an average pitch with good late low movement.
With command and control still below average, Adon has many scouts that think he will ultimately end up in the bullpen, but he has seen huge strides in his command and control such that they could be passable as a starter now with better sequencing.
The San Francisco Giants want to develop Adon as a starter as long as feasible, and they will do that in high-A in 2018.
9. Heath Quinn, OF
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 6/7/1995 (22)
2017 teams/levels played for: high-A San Jose Giants
2017 Stats: .228/.290/.371, 297 PA, 10 HR, 20/86 BB/K
Info: One of the most impressive pure power hitters in the 2016 draft, Quinn was drafted in the 3rd round by the San Francisco Giants that June.
Quinn struggled through injuries in 2017 that really sapped his season, hurting his chances at showing his true power. When healthy, Quinn has a traditional right field profile with plus raw power and a plus arm.
While he does have some holes in his swing, his strikeout rate in 2017 was not indicative of his true zone recognition as his swing was not right during the season due to his injuries. Even with the injuries, he was able to put up 10 home runs in roughly a half of a season.
The San Francisco Giants desperately need power at the major league level, and they need to develop any power they can in their system, so they will give Quinn the work he needs to potentially fill a RF spot for them long-term. He will likely open 2018 in AA.
Next: #7 and #8