San Francisco Giants: Minor League Major Performers: End of the Line

We’ve reached the end of the line in the regular season for each minor league level, and the San Francisco Giants had some notable performances.

The minor league regular season is over, so let’s run down the best weekly performers in the San Francisco Giants’ system for the final time in 2018.

AAA Sacramento – Brock Stassi

New Sacramento first baseman Brock Stassi continued to make a great impression on his hometown club. He had nine hits in 27 at-bats, good for a .333 average, hitting four doubles and driving in four runs. He only played 21 games with the River Cats after signing in late July, but put together a .391/.536/.547 slash-line, complete with 10 doubles, 11 RBI, and more walks (19) than strikeouts (14). He reached base safely in every game he played with Sacramento.

AAA Honorable Mentions: SS Abiatal Avelino went 2-5 with an RBI, two runs scored, and two stolen bases in his organizational debut on Saturday following the Andrew McCutchen trade…C Ronnie Freeman hit .360 (9-25) with a pair of doubles and RBI… 3B Ryder Jones finished his year by going 7-22 (.318) with a double, triple, home run, seven RBI, and four runs…RHP Jordan Johnson saved his best for last, allowing three runs in 12.2 innings in his final two starts of the year…RHP Tyler Herb did the same, giving up two runs in 12.1 innings while striking out 14 in his last two starts.

AA Richmond – Garrett Williams

2018 was a trying year for Garrett Williams after a superb effort in 2017. He was able to finish on a high note on Thursday, tossing four strong innings before rain washed the game out. He allowed four hits that led to a run, and struck out six batters. Most importantly for the southpaw, he didn’t issue a walk, the first time he’d done that in a start since April 9th. He ends the season with a 6.06 ERA, 1.922 WHIP, and 6.7 BB/9, but will be able to work through some things in the Arizona Fall League in October.

AA Honorable Mentions: IF C.J. Hinojosa hit .296 (8-27) on the week with two doubles and a home run. His two-run home run in the fifth inning on Wednesday proved to be the game-winner. He’s also heading to the AFL…RF Luigi Rodriguez went 7-for-20 (.350) with a couple doubles and a home run…RHP Dan Slania finished an excellent year out of the bullpen with a couple scoreless outings, striking out seven batters in 4.2 innings.

A+ San Jose – Jacob Heyward and Johneshwy Fargas

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The co-winners in San Jose, both outfielders, had major weeks to close out their Cal League campaigns. Heyward began his week with a two-home run game on Monday, his first career multi-homer game, then added another blast on Tuesday. He also hit three doubles, drove in eight runs, and scored five times. Heyward was brought up to Sacramento over the weekend after the Giants brought up a few outfielders, and picked up two hits, including a double, scored a run, and drew a walk in his first AAA start on Monday.

Fargas had one of the biggest nights of the season on Saturday. He had three hits, falling a single short of the cycle, and ended the ballgame with one of the best moments of San Jose’s year. With the bases loaded, two outs in the ninth, and the Giants trailing by three, Fargas launched a walk-off grand slam down the left field line, sending everyone home happy.

A+ Honorable Mentions: RHP Sam Coonrod continued his dominant comeback following Tommy John surgery last season. In four innings across three appearances, he struck out nine batters and allowed only one baserunner on a walk. Coonrod missed less than a year following his surgery, and doesn’t appear to be suffering any ill-effects…LHP Joey Marciano threw 6.2 shutout innings out of the bullpen, striking out five…IF Wander Franco (the eldest) hit .344 (11-32) with a double and two RBI.

A Augusta – Norwith Gudino

Right-hander Norwith Gudino bounced around a bit in the system this season, but he finished the year with a couple dominant starts in Augusta over the final week. On Wednesday, he hurled seven innings of one-run ball, striking out eight while allowing three hits and no walks. In the season finale on Monday, He tossed six more innings of two-run ball, matching his career-high with 10 strikeouts. The 22-year-old made six starts with Augusta and pitched to a 3.45 ERA and 0.989 WHIP.

A Honorable Mentions: RHP Juan De Paula also made his organizational debut after the McCutchen deal, and threw five stellar innings in his first career start above short-season ball. He struck out nine and gave up two hits and a walk that led to one run. He was given a proper welcome to the Giants’ organization, as he was the losing pitcher in a 1-0 game…RHP Aaron Phillips struck out 11 batters in five shutout innings on Friday, finishing the season with 120 strikeouts, tied for 10th-most in the Sally League.

A- Salem-Keizer – Wander Franco

The middle of the three Wander Franco brothers finished his first year in the Giants’ organization with another excellent week in Salem-Keizer. He hit .444 with 12 hits in 27 at-bats, with six of those hits going for extra bases. He had two doubles and a home run on Sunday, then added the year with another double, scoring twice on Monday.

A- Honorable Mentions: OF Aaron Bond finished with a late-season power surge, hitting four home runs in the final week. He finished second in the Northwest League with 14 home runs…C Joey Bart hit three of his own blasts, and finished right behind Bond with 13 home runs…3B David Villar closed out a great pro debut with a .346 average (9-26), picking up four doubles and a couple home runs. Villar matched Bart’s 13 home runs on the season.