2. Chris Shaw, 1B/OF
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 10/20/1993 (24)
2017 teams/levels played for: AA Richmond Flying Squirrels, AAA Sacramento River Cats
2017 Stats: .292/.346/.525, 514 PA, 24 HR, 38/132 BB/K
Info: The 31st overall selection in 2015 by the San Francisco Giants out of Boston College with plenty of promise but not as much exposure to top competition as many scouts would like, Shaw was seen as a player who could turn into a middle of the lineup sort of power threat.
He’s certainly developed his power stroke as advertised. One of the few with legit power in the Giants system, Shaw has been shuffled between the outfield and first base to get him acclimated to a position that could possibly get him fast-tracked to the major leagues and get his powerful left-handed swing into the lineup. He’s struggled defensively at first base, and actually has shown better in the outfield due to long limbs on his big frame and surprising athleticism, including above-average speed once underway, allowing him to handle left field fairly well.
Shaw definitely has the ability to crush baseballs, though he’s not shown the plate discipline or plate coverage in the upper minors to convince scouts that he will be able to be much more than a pure-power sort of hitter at he plate with likely a .250-.260/.310-.330/.450-.475 sort of hitter.
In a San Francisco Giants system and major league lineup desperate for power, a quality showing early in the 2018 season in AAA could quickly land Shaw in the big leagues with a full-time job.
1. Heliot Ramos, OF
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 9/7/1999 (18)
2017 teams/levels played for: Arizona Rookie League Giants
2017 Stats: .348/.404/.645, 151 PA, 6 HR, 10 SB, 10/48 BB/K
Info: When I talk with scouts about the draft ahead of June, I often like to ask who they’ve seen among the big fish and their impressions of those players, and then ask for a player who isn’t getting any discussion as a top 10-20 player that really should be. To that latter question in 2017, Ramos was one of the most common answers.
Ramos stands out significantly in the Giants system due to his blend of tools across the board
After spending much of their 2016 draft on college bats and upside college arms, the San Francisco Giants turned that on its ear when they took the high-ceiling Ramos 17th overall in the 2017 draft after he had showed some explosive displays on the showcase circuit he previous summer but had a bit of an inconsistent spring in Puerto Rico.
Ramos stands out significantly in the Giants system due to his blend of tools across the board, something not common in the system. He has plus raw power that he’s been able to tap into well in game already, plus bat speed, plus running speed, and a plus arm. He simply needs refinement to be a true five-tool star.
Defensively, Ramos isn’t out of place in center field due to his athleticism, but his reads need work and his routes are often below-average, but his plus speed is plus-plus when underway with long strides that eat up ground at top speed.
While Ramos does still struggle with some zone recognition, especially toward the top of the zone and low and away on breaking stuff, he showed an ability to recognize pitches well beyond what many thought his ability would be, showing the chance to move quickly with an advanced hit tool as well as advanced power and speed.
The San Francisco Giants would be wise to take the time to develop Ramos and let his performance dictate his advancement, but he certainly has earned a full season start in 2018.
Next: Newcomer to watch