15

December

Top 10 2010 San Francisco Giants Prospects To Watch

**This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated**

SF Giants Logo 2010 San Francisco Giants Prospects To Watch

Buster Posey – C

Hit .325 18 HR in 115 Minor League Games
Played in 7 games for the MLB Giants in ’09

Buster Posey Rookie Card Checklist

I’ve seen Buster play in person twice. Once in 2008 and again in early 2009.  I’ve come away impressed both times, and feel like Posey will have a long career in the MLB. How great his career is, that is left up for debate. Some question his catching skills. Others wonder if his bat will ever provide enough power to hit 25 HR’s a season.

During the 2008 San Jose Giants playoff game I attended, I sat in front of Giants Minor League Pitcher Kevin Pucetas. He thought Posey’s swing needed “a lot of work”.  Between that game, and when I saw Posey again in early 2009, it looked like he had his swing dialed in. He hit some balls very hard. He also ran the bases well. Unless he adds a lot of upper body strength, I don’t see Posey being a 30 HR type of player. His line drive approach should play well in the San Francisco Giants ballpark. If Posey can remain a catcher, he will have huge value because he will be one of the top hitting C’s in the MLB. Moving positions would drop Posey’s value as a player, and thus hurt his card values.

2010 Outlook
: Posey will have a chance to crack the opening day lineup for the 2010 SF Giants. *1/20/10 UPDATE* The Giants re-signed Bengie Molina meaning Posey will most likely start the season in AAA Fresno.

RC Card Spin: If Posey is the starting Catcher for the SF Giants, he could get enough production for Rookie of the Year.

Buster Posey Bowman Chrome
Buster Posey Cards on Ebay:

  • 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects #BDPP128 Auto
  • 2008 Bowman Sterling Prospects #BP Autograph

Madison Bumgarner – SP

27-5 Career Minor League Record
Pitched well in 4 Big League Games

Madison Bumgarner Rookie Card Checklist

Madison Bumgarner is widely considered a top prospect in all of baseball (along with Posey).  I’ve seen Madison pitch once in person. The thing that worries me about this kid is the fact that his fastball speed has dropped since he started pro ball. When I saw him in April of 2008, for Single A San Jose, he was at about 92-93 MPH. When he was called up to the SF Giants in late 2009, he was at about 88-90.  Tired arm?  Or is this what his fastball is going to top out at?

It will be interesting to see where Madison plays to start the 2010 season. Will he be the 5th starter in San Francisco?  Or be send to AAA Fresno to continue building his skills?  If Bumgarner can get his fastball to 92-93 again, he should be a very good pitcher. I don’t see Tim Lincecum type success, but very solid numbers nonetheless.

2010 Outlook: At some point during the 2010 season Bumgarner should be in the SF Giants rotation.

RC Card Spin: Could be the Giants 5th Starter on Opening Day. If his fastball is popping the mits, his cards will pop on ebay.

Madison Bumgarner Rookie Cards
Madison Bumgarner Cards on Ebay:

  • 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Edition EEE #117 Auto #/794
  • 2007 Bowman Sterling Prospects Auto #MBB

Zack Wheeler – SP

#6 Pick of the SF Giants in ’09
Big tall kid who throws hard

2010 is a “see what you got” year for Wheeler. The Giants top draft choice in 2009 will make his debut in Low-A. The Giants have had good luck with pitching prospects over the last several years, there is no reason to think Wheeler won’t progress nicely during his first season.

2010 Outlook: Would be shocked to see him move past Low-A Augusta.

RC Card Spin: Look to see what products will have Wheeler in them. The card below is a 2009 Topps Allen & Ginter ‘spoof’ card done with some good photoshop. Wheeler will be in the minors for a few years.  Look for value over the next few years.

Zack Wheeler RC
Zack Wheeler Cards on Ebay


Thomas Neal – OF

Breakout 09 Minor League Season
.337 20 HR 90 RBI for Single A San Jose
37th Round Pick in 2005

Thomas Neal had a huge 2009 season. He continued that success by playing well in Arizona Fall League. I had a chance to participate in an online chat with SF Giants General Manager Brian Sabean, and here is what Sabean thinks of Neal’s chances for 2010:

Ryan Tedards: Your best guess as to what level Thomas Neal will start next season?

Sabean: Probably Double-A at the beginning of the year. Who knows at the end of the year where he’ll end up. He played very well in the Arizona Fall League against older and more experienced players.

2010 Outlook: Looks like Double-A is the start, who know, a possible September call up?

RC Card Spin: Neal doesn’t have many cards on the market. Look for more to pop up in 2010.  This is a guy to watch. If he keeps hitting, he could end up on the MLB team sooner rather then later.

UPDATE: Thomas Neal’s 2010 Bowman Rookie Card is on fire! 5/15/2010

Thomas Neal Autograph 8x10
Thomas Neal Cards on Ebay:

  • 2006 Salem-Keizer Volcanoes Grandstand #28
  • 2010 Bowman Thomas Neal Rookie Card

Brandon Crawford – SS

4th Round Pick from ’08
Hot and cold Minor League debut
Will get a shot with the MLB team at some point

Brandon Crawford started out with a bang in 2009. He hit the cover off the ball while playing for Single-A San Jose. He was promoted to Double-A shortly after the season started and Crawford struggled early before rebounding late to post modest numbers.

If I had my choice, I would have left Crawford in San Jose the entire season. He was really in a groove, and sometimes building a guys confidence early in his career can do wonders later on. It was nice to see Brandon play well during the Arizona Fall League. Here is a nice interview with Brandon courtesy of AZGiants.

2010 Outlook: I would start him back at Double-A, then move him up to AAA Fresno if he keeps hitting.

RC Card Spin: I get the feeling from the Giants that they are really high on Crawford. Even if he puts up modest numbers, he will get a look with the MLB at some point.  Edgar Renteria is in the last year of his contract, which could open the door for Brandon Crawford in 2011.  I would feel out the market for his cards and then pick one up when the price is good.

Brandon Crawford Autograph 8x10
Brandon Crawford Cards on Ebay:

  • 2008 Playoff Contenders #61 AUTO /339
  • 2008 Prime Cuts #105 AUTO /249

Rafael Rodriguez – RF

Just 17 Years old
Raw, tall kid
Had a productive Minor League Debut in ’09

Rafael Rodriguez signed a multi-million dollar bonus with the Giants in 2008.  He is a 6-foot-5, 200-pound kid who swung the bat well in his Minor League debut. Rodriguez is years away from being on the MLB team. He is a guy to watch to see if he can become something special.

2010 Outlook: Big season for Raffy. My guess is that he starts and/or ends up with Low-A Augusta.

RC Card Spin: Some of his stuff is sure to hit the market in 2010. He is a guy who you should be able to wait on. Rodriguez hit 0 HR’s last year in his short stint in the Minors. So it will take some time for him to develop power. Look to pick up some of his cards when people are looking at other prospects.

His 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Edition is his best card. If the price is right, I would pick one up.

2008 Elite Extra Edition Rafael Rodriguez

  • 2008 Elite Extra Edition Rafael Rodriguez
  • Rafael Rodriguez stuff on ebay

Roger Kieschnick – OF

23 HR and 110 RBI in ’09 for Single A San Jose
3rd Round Pick in 2008
Should get a look as soon as 2010

I am not as impressed with Kieschnick as I am Thomas Neal. Maybe I am wrong with that assumption. Kieschnick put up great numbers playing with Neal in Single-A San Jose. He is another guy who if he keeps hitting, he could end up in San Francisco soon.

2010 Outlook
: Similar to Neal. Will start in Double-A.

RC Card Spin: Kieschnick is a guy who is under looked. Might be worth picking up a RC, because he could be a September call up.

2008 Donruss Elite Roger Kieschnick RC

  • 2008 Playoff Contenders #119 AUTO /289
  • 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Edition #173 AUTO /569

Ehire Adrianza – SS

Great defense at a young age
.258 2 HR 46 RBI in 2009
Signed in 2002

2010 Outlook: Double-A maybe?

RC Card Spin: Adrianza is a guy who doesn’t hit for a lot of power. Don’t spend big bucks on the kid.

2009 Bowman Ehire Adrianza

  • 2009 Bowman Chrome Prospects Refractors #BCP16
  • 2009 Bowman Prospects #BP16

Dan Runzler – RP

Big, hard throwing LHP.
Giants 9th Round Pick in 2007
1.04 ERA in 11 games for SF in 2009

2010 Oulook: Should be in the opening day bullpen for the SF Giants.

RC Card Spin: Runzler is a relief pitcher who might have a chance to be a closer. Relief pitchers are not highly valued by collectors.

Giants Dan Runzler

Dan Runzler Cards on Ebay


Francisco Peguero – OF

Batted .340 for Low-A Augusta
.304 Career Minor League BA in 300 Games

2010 Outlook: Single-A San Jose looks like where he will start.

The San Jose Giants team website had an interview with Director of Player Development Fred Stanley and here is his take on Peguero:

I had the pleasure of watching guys like Robin Yount and George Brett play. And the reason I’m bringing those guys up is that here are Hall of Fame guys who when they hit a groundball, either right back to the pitcher, to the shortstop or a bullet right at somebody, they ran down the base line hard every single time. They gave you an honest effort every time. Francisco Peguero plays with the same kind of intensity. No matter where he hits it, no matter what happens, he is 100 percent out there going. I think fans appreciate that effort. And he does the same thing in the outfield. He’s running, he’s diving. He’s got an excellent arm and is a very accurate thrower. Hopefully that rubs off on some of our other players. He’s got a love for the game and that’s what it comes down to. He loves to get out there and compete.

RC Card Spin
: He isn’t on the radar screen. Now would be a good time to pick up a RC.


About the author 

SportsCardRadio

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

More Articles

Email: SportsCardShow@gmail.com

>