Don’t forget to pick up your copy of the The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook here!
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1. Kyle Harrison, LHP
| FB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | 65 | 50/55 | 45/50 | 70 |
Background: Rarely will a team completely miss on their first round pick – particularly an early first round pick – and still look back on its draft class with fond memories. But the Giants can do just that. Owning the 13th overall pick in 2020, the front office decided to go with N.C. State backstop Patrick Bailey, a stout defender with some offensive upside at a premium position. Two years later and Bailey is coming off of a disappointing .225/.342/.420 showing. But, again, the draft class has a lot to offer – despite COVID limiting it to just five rounds. Enter: Kyle Harrison. Viewed as one of the top talents in the 2020 draft class, Harrison slid until the third round due to signability issues. The front office, though, moved some monies around and convinced the De La Salle High School product to join the organization for a hefty $2,497,500 deal – roughly late first round money. And he quickly established himself as not only the Giants’ top pitching prospect, but among the best young arms in all of the minor leagues. Harrison dominated Low-A West during his debut in 2021, averaging more than 14 strikeouts and 4.7 walks per nine innings. Last season he shredded the High-A competition for seven starts before the brass was convinced enough that he could handle the minors’ toughest challenge: Double-A. And he did. When the dust had settled the 6-foot-2, 200-pound lefty compiled a videogame-esque 186-to-49 strikeout-to-walk ratio in only 113.0 innings of work. He finished the year with an aggregate 2.71 and a 3.20 FIP.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, here’s the list of 20-year-old hurlers to post at least a 35% strikeout percentage in any Double-A league (min. 60 IP): Kyle Harrison. In fact, only three 20-year-olds have eclipsed the 30% K% threshold in Double-A since 2006 (min. 60 IP): Phil Hughes, Jaime Melendez, and – of course – Kyle Harrison. The Giants’ young lefty, by the way, was nearly four full percentage points higher than runner-up Melendez.
Harrison led all qualified minor league arms in strikeout rate (14.81 K/9), strikeout percentage (39.8%), strikeout-to-walk percentage (29.3%), and he finished second in total strikeouts (186) – trailing Arizona’s Brandon Pfaadt. Harrison fanned 32 fewer hitters despite throwing 54 innings less. Arguably the best fastball / slider combo in the minor leagues – among lefties and righties. Harrison’s fastball sits – comfortably – in the 95-mph range and will touch as high as 97 mph on occasion. The slider is borderline plus-plus with nightmare-inducing sweep and tilt. The young lefty has the utmost confidence in the breaking ball, throwing it any anytime in the count. He’ll also mix in an occasional above-average changeup, which he’ll likely need to rely on more at the big league level. Harrison has a low three-quarter arm slot with a loose, fast arm. He has elite, true ace potential if the command upticks to average. And I think that does happen in the coming years.
Ceiling: 6.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2023
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2. Marco Luciano, SS
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50/55 | 55/60 | 30 | 55 | 50 | 60 |
Background: When enough time passes – and we’re not quite there just yet – the 2018 International Free Agency crop could go down as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, in history. The class featured the likes of Diego Cartaya, who’s in the conversation for the top catching prospect in the game; Noelvi Marte, a top prospect who headlined the Reds’ return in the Luis Castillo deal last summer; Orelvis Martinez, a former consensus Top 100 prospect who reached – and admittedly struggled in – Double-A during his age-20 season; Francisco Alvarez, arguably the top prospect in the game after the graduation of Adley Rutschman; and – not to be overlooked – the Giants’ Marco Luciano. A native of San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic, Luciano inked a contract with the front office on a hefty $2.6 million contract. And it’s been a bargain since his first professional swing. Luciano ripped through the Arizona Rookie League during his debut (.322/.438/.616) and spent the last two weeks in the Northwest League – as a 17-year-old. After minor league ball returned from the pandemic-induced absence, the young shortstop mashed through Low-A (.278/.373/.556) and spent more than a month in High-A. He also acquitted himself well enough in the Arizona Fall League as well, hitting .253/.356/.373 in 21 games with the Scottsdale Scorpions. Luciano opened his third professional season up in the Northwest League, but was limited to just 57 games as a back injury forced him to miss two months of action. The 6-foot-2, 178-pound shortstop slugged .263/.339/.459 with 10 doubles and 10 homeruns in only 57 games with the Emeralds. His overall production, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average mark by 21%.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only three 20-year-old hitters posted a 115 to 125 wRC+ with a 21% to 24% strikeout rate and an 8.5% to 10.5% walk rate in any High-A league (min. 225 PA): Coby Mayo, Yu Chang, and Marco Luciano.
The overall production is good, but far from great. But there’s another story to be told. Mainly: pre-injury and post-injury. Prior to hitting the disabled list with a back injury – an issue that would knock him out of action for eight weeks – Luciano slugged .288/.360/.507 through his first 40 games. His production during that time period was 39% above the league average. However, after he returned, the Giants’ top prospect hit a paltry .200/.281/.350 over his final 22 contests with the Emeralds and Flying Squirrels. His production during that time period: 22% below the league average mark. In terms of big league ceiling, think .285/.360/.530. Luciano is due for a massive season – 2023 might be just that.
Ceiling: 5.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2023/2024
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3. Aeverson Arteaga, SS
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 40/45 | 45/50 | 50 | 50 | 60 | 55 |
Background: Headlining the club’s international free agency class – which also added players like Anthony Rodriguez, Esmerlin Vinicio, Manuel Mercedes, and Adrian Sugastey – San Francisco handed the wiry shortstop prospect $1 million during the 2019 signing period. A native of Chirgua, Venezuela, Arteaga made his affiliated debut with the organization’s Complex League affiliate two years ago, hitting a solid .294/.367/.503 with 12 doubles, one triple, nine homeruns, and eight stolen bases. His overall production in the rookie league, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the average threshold by 23%. Last season, the front office sent the infielder up to Low-A for his first extended look at full-season ball. In 122 games with San Jose, Arteaga batted .270/.345/.431 with 35 doubles, two triples, 14 homeruns, and 11 stolen bases (in 17 total attempts). His production topped the league average mark by just 1%.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only five 19-year-old hitters posted a 95 to 105 wRC+ with a strikeout rate between 26% and 29% in a season in Low-A (min. 400 PA): Josh Lowe, Delvi Cid, Kevin Ahrens, Zac Shepherd, and Aeverson Arteaga.
Here’s the thing about Arteaga: any value that comes from his bat is an added bonus, icing on his defensive wizardry-based cupcake. And, yes, the glove is so good that it may get him to the big leagues alone. Range, soft hands, arm – you name it on the defensive side of the ball, and he has it. But, surprisingly, Arteaga isn’t a one dimensional player. Bat speed and surprising thunder. Two years ago Arteaga struggled making consistent contact, whiffing in more than 30% of his plate appearances, but he was able to chew that down to a less concerning 27.4% in 2022. Utility / backup shortstop floor with a multiple Gold Glove winning ceiling.
Ceiling: 3.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024/2025
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4. Luis Matos, CF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 40/45 | 50/55 | 55 | 50 | 60 | 55 |
Background: Signed off the international free agency market for $725,000 in 2018. Matos, a native of Valera, Venezuela, entered the 2022 season coming off of back-to-back tremendous showings. The 5-foot-11, 160-pound center fielder made quick work of the foreign and stateside rookie leagues during his debut, mashing an aggregate .367/.438/.566 with 25 doubles, two triples, seven homeruns, and 21 stolen bases in only 60 games. Once minor league baseball returned to action following the lost 2020 COVID campaign, Matos had no problem with the Low-A West pitching as he slugged .313/.359/.495 with 35 doubles, one triple, 15 homeruns, and 21 stolen bases. His prospect status seemed to be reaching a crescendo as the calendar turned to 2022. Then things went kaput. Matos would appear in just 91 games with the Eugene Emeralds, hitting a lowly .211/.275/.344 with 14 doubles, one triple, 11 homeruns, and 11 stolen bases (in 14 total attempts). His overall production, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, was a whopping 27% below the league average threshold. Matos did spend the fall playing with the Scottsdale Scorpions, though the performance was similarly disappointing (.239/.278/.388).
Scouting Report: Matos’ 2020 campaign got off on the wrong foot, hitting a disappointingly poor .149/.260/.149 over his first 19 games. Then he promptly hit the disabled for four weeks. When he returned to action in mid-June his offensive woes continued as he batted .181/.247/.341 over his next 34 games. But beginning in late July through the end of the year, Matos slugged .270/.309/.433 over his final 41 games. Beyond a poor BABIP, .226, a lot of Matos’ peripheral stats were within close proximity to his career norms: average-ish walk rate and strong contact numbers. The power sagged a bit, but he spent half of his games pitcher-friendly confines of PK Park, home of the Eugene Emeralds. Matos did tweak his stance from the previous season: he hands are now much further from his torso. There’s legitimate five-tool potential here, and Matos is young enough to deserve a do-over. But if he flounders in 2023, then there may be no way back to reclaiming his potential status.
Ceiling: 3.0-win player
Risk: High
MLB ETA: 2024
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5. Grant McCray, CF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 45 | 55 | 60 | 55 | 55 | 50 |
Background: McCray’s old man, Rodney, spent three very brief stints with the White Sox and Mets in the early 90s, totaling just 15 plate appearances. But he did manage to play alongside some of the game’s better players, including: Carlton Fisk, Robin Ventura, Sammy Sosa, Frank Thomas, Tim Raines, and Eddie Murray, among others. The younger McCray is hoping for a longer stint in the big leagues, regardless of teammates. The second highest drafted player in Lakewood Ranch High School (behind Lastings Milledge, the 12th overall selection in 2003), San Francisco signed McCray to a deal worth just slightly less than $700,000 after picking him in the third round, 87th overall, four years ago. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound centerfielder turned in a solid, yet unremarkable debut in the rookie league that summer, hitting .270/.379/.335 with eight extra-base hits in 48 games. He lost significant development time due to injuries in his follow-up campaign in 2021, btting an aggregate .274/.342/.422 in 45 games between San Jose and the Complex League. Last season, though, Rodney’s son quickly made up for lost time. Back in Low-A with San Jose again, McCray hit an impressive .291/.383/.525 with 21 doubles, nine triples, 21 homeruns, and 35 stolen bases (in 45 attempts). His overall production with the club was 30% better than the league average, per Weighted Runs Created Plus. He spent the final two weeks in High-A, hitting a solid .269/.387/.423.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only two 21-year-old hitters met the following criteria in a season in Low-A (min. 350 PA): 125 to 135 wRC+, a strikeout rate north of 28% and a double-digit walk rate. Those two hitters: Vince Fernandez and Grant McCray.
McCray’s breakout must be viewed with some level of skepticism, for a variety of reasons, including:
- #1. It came in his fourth professional season.
- #2. He was in an age-appropriate level of competition.
- #3. He spent part of the previous season in A-ball – however short it was.
- #4. He swung and missed a lot. His 29.2% K-rate was the sixth highest in California League among all qualified hitters. And he didn’t show any improvement in his contact rates throughout the year, either.
Similar to Heliot Ramos in that they both have an interesting foundation, but the hit tool may prove to be too much to overcome. McCray, though, has the superior toolkit. Above-average defender in centerfield. Plus speed. Above-average power. Patient approach at the plate. Again, it’s going to come down to his ability to make consistent, quality contact. And he hasn’t proven that over the past two seasons. Open stance, a la Russell Branyan, with great rotation and bat speed. If he can hit .240 with power, speed, and a net positive defensive value, McCray could be a solid league average regular.
Ceiling: 2.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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6. Jairo Pomares, LF / RF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 45 | 60 | 30 | 50 | 45 | 50 |
Background: If the Giants’ 2018 international free agency class isn’t the club’s best in recent memory, then it’s certainly near the top of the list. At least, it has the potential to be near the top. San Francisco rolled out the red carpet and convinced Marco Luciano, their consensus top prospect; Luis Matos, their top outfield prospect; and Jairo Pomares, another top outfield prospect, to join the fold. Hailing from Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, Pomares earned a near-seven-figure deal from the organization. And he immediately began paying dividends. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound corner outfielder simply overmatched the Arizona Complex League competition (.368/.401/.542) and spent the final two weeks of his 2019 debut in the Northwest League. Once minor league ball returned from its COVID-imposed hiatus, he continued his Babe Ruth impression on Low-A West, mashing .372/.429/.694 in 51 games and he looked respectable in a month of action in High-A (.262/.269/.505). Last season, Pomares found himself back in High-A for an extended look – though, the results respectable, they were far from dominant. Appearing in 95 games with the Eugene Emeralds, hit batted .254/.330/.438 with 20 doubles and 14 homeruns. His production, according to Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average mark by 13%.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only four 21-year-old hitters posted a 108 to 118 wRC+ mark with a strikeout rate north of 31% in a High-A season (min. 350 PA): Billy Rowell, Brandon Howlett, Jose Ramos, and Jairo Pomares.
So, there are a few things to consider here – both of which will boost opinions on Pomares’ prospect stock:
- #1. Typically, what’s plagued lefty-swinging mashers with tremendous power and contact issues are platoon splits. A lot of times they’re inept at handling southpaws. Not only is that not an issue with Pomares, but he hasn’t shown concerning splits the past two seasons: he hit .264/.356/.460 and .275/.309/.510 against LHP in 2022 and 2021.
- #2. A slow start to the year absolutely wrecked his overall numbers last season. Pomares batted a lowly .224/.297/.430 during his first 44 games. The front office sent him back down to the Complex League in mid-June and he promptly went 8-for-15 with six extra-base hits (three doubles and three homeruns). After he returned to Eugene he mashed .279/.355/.447 with 18 extra-base hits over his final 50 games. His production during that stretch was 23% better than the league average.
Every time Pomares digs in, there’s one thing he intends to do. And it’s all based on ill intentions. He’s an absolute monster at the plate. Massive power – perhaps the best in the minor leagues – thanks to tremendous loft and plus bat speed. He’s not going to be a consistent star, but he can be a star at times. He’s going to be streaky. And the bat is a 45-grade, same as the defense. But the power is game changing.
Ceiling: 2.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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7. Will Bednar, RHP
| FB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 55 | 60 | 50 | 55 | 45 |
Background: The year 2021 proved to be a good for the Bednar family. David Bednar established himself as one of the game’s best relievers for the Pirates after failing in cups of coffee with the Padres the previous two seasons. And Will, the younger Bednar brother, burst onto the scene and declared himself one of college baseball’s finest arms. After making a quartet of appearances for Mississippi State in the COVID-shortened season, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound right-hander made 19 appearances in 2021, 16 of which came via the start, throwing 92.1 innings with 139 strikeouts against just 26 free passes. He finished the year with a solid 3.12 ERA and a nearly perfect 9-1 win-loss record. Of course, though, the crescendo of his remarkable season came in historic fashion – TWICE. Bednar combined with Bulldogs’ closer Landon Sims to set a new College World Series record, striking out 21 hitters in a win against the University of Texas. Less than two weeks later he nearly tossed a no-hitter in a blowout championship winning outing against highly touted Vanderbilt University. The win ended Mississippi State’s 126-year title drought. The Giants would select Bednar in the opening round two years ago, 14th overall, and signed him to a deal worth slightly more than $3.6 million. After making four brief appearances during his pro debut, Bednar opened the 2022 season up with the San Jose Giants – a stay that should have been short given his collegiate success and polish. But he made just 12 starts before an undisclosed injury curtailed his season in mid-June. He would toss just 43.0 innings, posting a mediocre 51-to-22 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Bednar would pop back up in the Arizona Fall League – briefly – before a back injury ended that after 3.1 innings.
Scouting Report: A year into his professional career and the book on Bednar is still the same: fastball, slider, slider, slider, and a rare changeup. It was an up-and-down year for Bednar, who – according to reports – battled that lower back issue for the majority of the year. The command / feel for the strike zone that he showed during his final season at Mississippi State seemed to abandoned him in 2022. Above-average low-90s fastball, plus slider, and a tumbling average changeup. Bednar will tweak the break on his slider, going from a traditional lateral moving breaking ball to a more 12-6 biting one. If Bednar can recapture his 2021 magic, it wouldn’t be out of the question to see him spend significant portion of 2023 in Double-A. He looks more like a #5 arm now, not a mid-rotation candidate.
Ceiling: 1.5- to 2.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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8. Reggie Crawford, LHP
| FB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 70 | 70 | N/A | 45 | 50 |
Background: A two-sport athlete during his career at North Schuylkill High School – though not a “traditional” two-sport star. Crawford, a hulking left-hander / first baseman, starred on the diamond for the Spartans and was a state champion swimmer in the 50-yard freestyle, setting a record time of 20.45 seconds during his junior year. But that hardly proved to be the defining moment of his prep career. After batting .482 with eight homeruns at the plate and punching out 49 in 33 innings on the mound, the Royals took a late round flier on the behemoth prospect in 2019, nabbing him in the 37th round, 1099th overall. Crawford, of course, bypassed the opportunity to join the AL Central Division squad and head to the University of Connecticut. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound first baseman / hurler got off to a scorching – albeit COVID-shortened – start to this collegiate career, batting .365/.414/.558 in 13 games and making one brief relief appearance on the mound. Crawford continued to show two-way promise during his sophomore season with the Huskies in 2021, hitting .295/.349/.543 with 11 doubles, one triple, and 13 homeruns while throwing 7.2 innings with a whopping 17 strikeouts and three free passes. He spent the ensuing summer splitting time with Team USA and the Cape Cod League. In six games with the Bourne Braves, he slugged .296/.345/.482 and tossed another pair of innings, fanning four without surrendering a hit, walk, or run. With Team USA, the big lefty went 1-for-6 as a hitter, but was practically perfect in four relief innings; he walked eight and surrendered one hit. Crawford missed the entirety of 2022 recovering from Tommy John surgery. The San Francisco Giants selected him in the back of the first round, 30th overall, and signed him to a slightly below-slot deal worth $2,297,500; the recommended slot-bonus was $2,486,800.
Scouting Report: With respect to his work as a hitter during his sophomore season, consider the following:
- Since 2011, only three Big East hitters batted at least .290/.340/.530 with at least 10 homeruns and a strikeout rate north of 24% in a season (min. 200 PA): Ethan Stern, Steve Shelinsky, and Reggie Crawford.
As a hitter, Crawford owns (A) tremendous power potential – maybe even creeping in 70- or 80-grade territory had he not missed his junior season. The problem, of course, is that he owns average patience (at best), and full-blown red flag territory swing-and-miss concerns. Crawford whiffed in 25% of his plate appearances as a junior and 24.8% of his career plate appearances. He also posted an 8-to-1 K/BB ratio in the Cape. On the mound, well, Crawford possesses arguably the class’s top fastball, sitting in the mid- to upper-90s and reportedly touching as high as 100 mph on an occasion. He’ll also feature a wickedly devastating slider as well, giving the part-time reliever two plus or better offerings. The problem, of course, with Crawford as a pitcher is that he’s (A) a project, (B) relied too heavily on his fastball to the point that 15 of his 17 whiffs as a sophomore were registered off the heater, and (C) lacks a third option. With that being said, he’s a superior prospect as a pitcher.
Ceiling: 2.0- win player
Risk: Moderate to High
MLB ETA: 2024/2025
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9. Vaun Brown, OF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 45 | 55 | 60 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Background: Trivia time, kiddos. There have been four notable players and one former fan favorite Giant to attend Florida Southern College. Name them. Answer: veteran “Professional Hitter” Matt Stairs, Brett Tomko, Andy McGaffigan, crazy flame-throwing reliever Rob Dibble, and San Francisco fan / cult favorite Lance Niekro. And in recent years the Lakeland, Florida-based school has turned into a little miniature hotbed of baseball talent as nine players’ names were called in the draft since 2017, including three in 2021 alone. The player chosen earliest among the group: Vaun Brown, a 10th round selection by the Giants two years ago. Handed a laughably small $7,500 bonus, the sturdy outfielder shredded the Complex League competition during his 25-game debut, hitting .354/.480/.620. And he continued to mash as he moved into full season action in 2022. Splitting time between San Jose and Eugene (plus one game in Richmond), the 6-foot-1, 215-pound slugger batted an aggregate .346/.437/.623 with 24 doubles, seven triples, 23 homeruns, and a whopping 44 stolen bases (in 50 attempts). His yearly production topped the league average mark by a staggering 75%, per Weighted Runs Created Plus.
Scouting Report: Just how good was Brown last season? There were 609 minor league hitters to accrue at least 400 plate appearances. Here’s how his numbers stacked up:
- Batting Average (.346): 1st
- On-Base Percentage (.437): 6th
- Slugging Percentage (.623): 3rd
- On-Base Plus Slugging (1.059): 1st
- Total Production (175 wRC+): 1st
- Stolen bases: tied for 24th
- Isolated Power (.276): 15th
Everything about Brown screams fluke – his age (24), level of competition (Low-A and High-A), college pedigree, draft status, bonus, strikeout rate (26.0%). You name it and it just simply doesn’t make sense that (A) it’s repeatable, (B) organizations somehow let him slip through the cracks, or (C) it’s actually real. And then there’s his track record in college. Brown was a complementary player in 2017. He was a solid, though unremarkable hitter in 2018, 2019, and in the COVID-shortened 2020 season (though he did start driving the ball more frequently). But something clicked for him during his fifth and final season as he slugged .387/.462/.793. Here’s what we do know:
- #1. The above-average power is legit, even going the other way.
- #2. The hit tool has some holes in it, as evidenced by his K-rate and nearly 16% swing-strike percentage.
- #3. Plus speed, but average defense.
There’s a Hunter Pence vibe when watching Brown play. His stance is sandlot-esque, hands letter height and held from his body. But the swing is oh-so-short and will pepper line drives all over the field. There’s little doubt he doesn’t see some type of action at the big league level, which is a win in itself. And he’s an absolute gamer, backed up by the tape. But he’s also sporting a career BABIP in the .500 range. He doesn’t make sense as a prospect. But until he faulters, he’s tracking like a potential fringe average starting option. There’s an Austin Hays-type ceiling here.
Ceiling: 2.0-win player
Risk: Moderate to High
MLB ETA: 2023/2024
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10. Carson Whisenhunt, RHP
| FB | CB | CH | Command | Overall |
| 50 | 55 | 70 | 45/50 | 50 |
Background: A product of Davie County High School – home to two-time All-Star Whit Merrifield – Whisenhunt bookended his collegiate career in a spectacularly peculiar way. The big southpaw appeared on the mound for a single, solitary performance during his true freshman season, allowing one hit and three earned runs without registering an out. Good enough for a perfectly imperfect infinite ERA. His final season in 2022 was just as strange. The promising lefty, who was tabbed for the Preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List, was popped for a banned substance and subsequently suspended for the entirety of his junior campaign. In between the two lost seasons, Whisenhunt tantalized the competition as a sophomore: in 13 starts, the 6-foot-3, 209-pound hurler struck out 79, walked 22, and posted a 3.77 ERA in 62.0 innings of work. The big left-hander made four starts in the Cape Cod League that following summer as well, posting a 21-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 16.0 innings with the Chatham Anglers. San Francisco took a calculated gamble on him in the second round, 66th overall, and signed him to an above-slot bonus worth $1.8 million, nearly $800,000 above the recommended slot.
Scouting Report: Typical smooth-throwing southpaw with seemingly effortless mechanics. Whisenhunt isn’t going to overpower any hitter with his fastball. But the average offering plays up considerably thanks to his plus-plus changeup and above-average curveball. The command can waiver at times, but given his lack of collegiate experience, additional fine-tuning shouldn’t be out of the question. Whisenhunt’s ceiling isn’t tremendously high, but he should settle in as a competent #4-type starting pitcher, league average-ish.
Ceiling: 1.5- to 2.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024/2025
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All statistics were provided via the following website: Baseball Reference, FanGraphs, TheBaseballCube, BaseballProspectus, ClayDavenport.com, and Baseball America.
