San Francisco Giants Top-10 Fantasy Prospects

Our Basis

With fantasy prospect rankings, the key to knowing the usefulness of a specific player is how large and deep of a league you would need to be in for them to end up as a fantasy starter. We will be ranking 10 prospects in each system, but that doesn't mean that every one of them is useful if you play in a 12-team mixed dynasty league. With that said, we're aiming to provide useful information whether you play in a 10-team mixed, a 15-team AL-only, or a 24-team mixed.

Prospect rankings also come with the same caveat that must be rehashed every year. They represent a snapshot of how we view the players at the time of publication. There will inherently be more information published throughout the off-season, and so how we view a player may evolve significantly over time. We're going to get some of these right, we're going to get some of these wrong, and in general my reminder is to find information you trust, and use it to your advantage. If that comes from us, that's great and we're happy you're here. If it doesn't, we'll continue to work and hope that you'll keep checking in to see how we're doing.

The Tiers

The tiers are here though to provide some clarity when comparing players between different teams. It's by no means a perfect system, but the goal is to give you a general idea of which players we think are in a similar range in terms of value and ranking. Since the tiers are also expected to be relatively consistent across teams, there may be tiers that do not have prospects for certain teams.

Tier 1 - The Elite Prospects

These prospects are expected to be in the top-50 prospects overall, and have the potential to be among the top options at their position regardless of format or league size.

The Giants have no prospects in this tier.

Tier 2 - The Top-100 Candidates

These prospects are expected to be in the discussion for the top 100 prospects overall, and are expected to be starting options in all formats.

The Giants have no prospects in this tier.

Tier 3 - The Next Group of Starters

These prospects would likely slot into the 100-200 range on an overall ranking list, and would be starters in mid-depth formats, like 12 and 14 team leagues.

#1 - Tyler Beede (RHP)

Age on Opening Day: 23

ETA: 2017

There have been some rumblings that Beede is already a disappointment, and I don’t quite understand that. He hasn’t been dominant in the minors, to be sure, but he advanced to Double-A after just 67.1 IP in the low minors - it makes sense that there would be an adjustment period. And that happened in 2016, when he pitched to a 2.81 ERA, with 8.2 K/9 and a 49.2 GB% in 147.1 IP. The 23-year-old has four average or better offerings in his low-90s fastball, 12-to-6 curveball, cutter, and change-up, as well as fringe-average to average command. Beede may not have an ace profile, but he has all of the makings of a mid-rotation workhorse.

#2 - Christian Arroyo (2B/3B/SS)

Age on Opening Day: 21

ETA: 2017

Arroyo is difficult to rank, as almost all of his fantasy value hinges on his ability to find a defensive home. He played 48 games at SS, 48 games at 3B, and 19 games at 2B in 2016, and his ultimate destination remains up in the air. Few believe that he can stick at shortstop (and he’s currently blocked by Brandon Crawford), but landing at 2B or 3B wouldn’t be the end of the world. Offensively, Arroyo boasts a plus hit tool and average power, and has the look of a player that could hit .280 or better with double-digit home runs. Whether or not you’d want him on your fantasy team hinges on where those numbers come from.

#3 - Bryan Reynolds (OF)

Age on Opening Day: 22

ETA: 2019

The Giants garnered praise for landing Reynolds in the second-round of the 2016 draft, as he was regarded as a first-round talent by most. The 21-year-old Vanderbilt product is a well-rounded prospect, with average to above-average hit, power, and speed tools. He hit .313/.363/.484 with 6 HR and 3 SB in 237 PA between Low-A and Single-A after signing, and may open 2017 at High-A. There isn’t any one tool that jumps off of Reynolds’ scouting report, but he could hit .270 with double-digit home runs and stolen bases as an average regular.

#4 - Chris Shaw (1B)

Age on Opening Day: 23

ETA: 2018

Shaw was widely regarded as one of the best college hitters in the 2015 draft class, on the strength of his plus to plus-plus power and solid-average hit tool. He raked at Low-A after signing (.287/.360/.551 with 12 HR in 200 PA), and continued to do so at High-A in the first half of 2016 (.285/.357/.544 with 16 HR in 305 PA). He fell off once he reached Double-A, slashing just .208/.268/.327 in his first month at the level. Shaw bounced back nicely in August, however, to the tune of an .827 OPS. What you see right now is what you can expect in the Majors - a .270-ish batting average and 20-plus home runs. The greatest limiting factor is his position.

Tier 4 - Single League and Deep Format Plays

These prospects would likely slot into the 200-300 range on a ranking list, and would have the most value to mixed leagues with 16+ teams and single-league formats with 12+ teams.

#5 - Steven Duggar (OF)

Age on Opening Day: 23

ETA: 2017

Duggar has hit consistently well since being drafted in 2015, and is the proud owner of a .299 batting average as a professional. His hit tool is routinely graded as above-average, with a few tossing a plus on there, and he adds extra value with his patient, disciplined approach. He also has plus to plus-plus speed, which makes him a weapon in the outfield, and could make him a weapon on the basepaths. His base-running skills are unrefined at this point, however, and he has been successful on just 21 of 38 stolen base attempts. Power is not Duggar’s game, as his raw power is no more than average - so the 10 home runs he hit last year may well be his cap. With refinement on the bases, he could be a player that contributes a .280 or better average with 20-plus steals from the top of a lineup (meaning plenty of runs, to boot).

#6 - Andrew Suarez (LHP)

Age on Opening Day: 24

ETA: 2017

Suarez is a classic finesse lefty, with a fastball in the high-80s to low-90s, three average-ish offspeed pitches, and above-average to plus control. He locates all of his pitches quite well, and keeps the ball low in the zone, picking up plenty of grounders (49.88 GB%). He isn’t likely to rack up strikeouts at the Major League level, as he doesn’t have a true swing and miss pitch, but his ability to limit walks and burn worms should allow him to fit into the back of a rotation for years to come.

#7 - Ty Blach (LHP)

Age on Opening Day: 26

ETA: 2017

There isn’t too much to distinguish Blach from Suarez, aside from their age and the fact that Blach made his MLB debut in 2016. Blach’s change-up is a true plus pitch, but the rest of his offerings (including a low-90s fastball, slider, and curveball) are in the fringe-average to average range. He maintained a 50% groundball rate in the minors last year, and that will be the key to his success at the highest level. Blach’s ceiling is probably that of a fifth starter, but his floor is relatively high.

#8 - Joan Gregorio (RHP)

Age on Opening Day: 25

ETA: 2017

Gregorio might have the best one-two punch of any Giants pitcher this side of Tyler Beede, thanks to his low to mid-90s sinking fastball and power slider, both of which flash plus. The 6’7” right-hander picks up swings and misses on both offerings, due to their movement and the natural deception and plane of his delivery. Those two pitches alone could make him a terrific reliever - which seems to be his ultimate destination. That being said, Gregorio is still a starting pitcher, and the Giants are hoping that he can continue to develop his change-up and command enough so that he can slot into the middle of their rotation.

Tier 5 - We Ranked Ten Prospects. We Really Did.

These prospects generally will be useful in the deepest of formats. Think 24+ teams for mixed leagues, and single-league formats with more teams than the league it uses. In many cases, these will be part-time players or utility-types when they get to the Majors.

#9 - Sam Coonrod (RHP)

Age on Opening Day: 24

ETA: 2017

Despite his strong minor league numbers, Coonrod seems destined for the bullpen. He sits in the 92 to 94 MPH range with his sinking fastball, and his slider flashes above-average when he’s on. Unfortunately, the positive aspects of his profile end there, as his control and change-up both grade firmly below-average. The Giants will continue to develop him as a starting pitcher, but he will need to make great strides to profile as a back of the rotation starter; he could be a genuine asset as a reliever, though, with an outside shot of being an average closer.

#10 - Jordan Johnson (RHP)

Age on Opening Day: 23

ETA: 2018

Johnson is an inexperienced pitcher, relative to his age. He missed most of his first two collegiate seasons due to Tommy John Surgery, and he threw just 59.1 IP in his first professional season. Nevertheless, he is a great athlete with three pitches that flash above-average (low-90s fastball, change-up, curveball), and some have graded his change-up as a potential plus pitch. His numbers at High-A are ugly at first blush, but he had solid peripherals (8.3 K/9, 2.9 BB/9) in the hitter-friendly environs of the California League, and he managed to toss 120 IP. He has a higher ceiling than Coonrod, but there is a great deal of risk in his profile.