San Francisco Giants top 10 prospects for 2019

Sean Hjelle, RHP

Birthday: 5/7/1997 (21)
Acquired: Draft, 2nd round, 2018
Level(s): short-season A-ball Salem-Keizer
Statistics: 12 GS, 21 1/3 IP, 5.06 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 4.3% BB, 23.4% K

The San Francisco Giants drafted the giant Sean Hjelle out of Kentucky in the 2nd round in 2018. Hjelle is 6’11” tall, and if he makes the major leagues, the exact height would make him the tallest player to reach the major leagues.

Hjelle moved from the bullpen to starter as a sophomore, and by the end of that year, he was already the team’s Friday night starter. He uses a combination of above-average pitches to have success, not exactly having a plus pitch, but using a good combination of pitches to keep hitters off base.

Using his height to his advantage, Hjelle gets tremendous plane on his mid-90s fastball that has late wiggle to the arm side. He has a 12-6 curve that also gets excellent shape due to Hjelle’s unique height. He is working on his change, and it has flashed above-average.

Unlike many guys who are so tall, Hjelle repeats his arm slot and delivery well, which allows him to have above average control. He may not have elite stuff to be a frontline starter, but he should move quickly as a back-end starter.

The San Francisco Giants will likely move Hjelle quickly, probably moving him to high-A to open 2019, and he could end up in the upper minors by the end of the season. He could impact the Giants rotation by the end of 2020.