San Francisco Giants Stock Report: Big Climbers and Big Fallers
Stock Falling: Jarrett Parker
After earning a starting job last Spring Training, Parker entered this camp just looking to keep a spot on the 25-man roster. He’s not off to a good start. Parker has always been a guy who will swing and miss more than normal, but he’s struck out 14 times in 24 plate appearances so far this spring.
When he actually puts the ball in play, he’s done pretty well. Parker’s hit for the cycle with his four hits, coming up with a single, a double, a triple, and a home run. The power will always be intriguing, but Parker hasn’t really been able to take any steps forward since his debut a few years ago. He’s still the same guy: a guy who will run into some home runs when he’s able to put bat to ball.
The problem is, and this is a big problem, he strikes out too much. Strikeouts have become more normalized in the current game, but a 30.5 percent strikeout rate (Parker’s rate from 2017) is still about 10 percent higher than league average. Unlike other guys with that kind of strikeout issue, Parker has never has never shown the ability to make hard, consistent contact when he doesn’t swing and miss.
With guys like Duggar breaking out, and others like Williamson still owning options, Parker’s time with the Giants may be running out. The 40-man roster is currently full, and if Duggar does break camp with the big league club, the Giants will have to make room for him. Parker is out of options, and if he doesn’t turn things around this spring, he might soon be wearing another uniform.
Fernandez never really had a great chance to make the opening day roster. He had never pitched above Single-A, and had never posted the huge strikeout numbers that usually accompany a triple-digit-plus fastball. But still, the Giants were intent on giving him a chance.
When a guy throws up to 103 with his fastball, he warrants a look. The Giants don’t have many pure power arms in the bullpen, and they tried to add one when they picked Fernandez in the Rule 5 Draft. The 22-year-old hurler has been an unmitigated disaster in two appearances so far.
He’s faced nine batters so far, and has gotten just one of those nine out (it was a strikeout, though, so yay?). He’s then allowed five hits (one home run) and three walks, leading to eight runs, all earned. He hasn’t shown any feel for pitching, and is trying to blow everyone away with his huge fastball but it just isn’t working.
Next: Three Standouts from Game 12
Unless something drastic happens between now and the start of the season, Fernandez will have to be offered back to the Colorado Rockies, his organization before the draft. The Giants could work out a trade to keep him, but it certainly seems there’s no way he’ll be a big leaguer this season or in the near future.