Here Comes the Draft Class

SF Giants Minor Lines, August 5, 2025

Photo Credit: Tennessee Volunteers Athletic Department

In what might be the final major roster shake up of the season, the Giants brought top draft picks Gavin Kilen and Trevor Cohen to San Jose along with UDFA catcher, Daniel Rogers — a move that kicked off a chain of other moves up and down the system. Bringing the top two members of the draft class to a Li’l Giants squad that was already loaded up with the core of the outstanding ACL club makes San Jose the Must See TV of the final month of baseball — and sets them up very nicely for a title run. The San Jose lineup last night probably featured three of the system’s top six prospects (we’ll see how it shakes out sometime this winter), a likely fourth top 10 prospect on the pitching staff, and as many as eight other players with claims on the top 30 in this current Giants’ system. Hot tamale! Get out and see them while you can, folks! If I were in the Bay Area, I’d be buying playoff tickets, I can tell you that!

Because my Tuesday post-pourri transaction lists are always obsolete within hours of posting, let me catch you up with all the dominoes that fell with these moves yesterday. In addition to Kilen, Cohen, and Rogers reporting to San Jose, we had the following:

• Eugene: Jean Carlos Sio and Tyler Switalski promoted from San Jose; Nate Furman’s rehab assignment transferred from San Jose; 15th round draft pick Damian Bravo assigned

• Richmond: Dayson Croes promoted from Eugene; Devin Mann released

And, in addition to all of that “new guy” excitement, we ended the night with a delightful surprise from an old friend, as Ryan Murphy finally made his season debut as he works his way back from elbow surgery. I say “finally,” but this is almost exactly what he told me in spring the plan would be. Murphy worked one perfect 1-2-3 inning with a couple of punchouts in a real sight for sore eyes. It doesn’t have to be “new” to bring a smile of anticipation to our faces!

And with that, let’s get to the action last night which was hot and heavy! There were big bats doing what big bats do up and down the system, and some dominant pitching performances as well — at least on domestic soil!

HITTER of the NIGHT: Bryce Eldridge (Sac), 3 for 4, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB, K
PITCHER of the NIGHT: Dylan Carmouche (Eug), 7.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K

For the second time in three days, I’m stuck trying to choose between jaw-dropping performances from Bryce Eldridge and Dakota Jordan, who seem to be participating in a long-distance competition with each other to see who can hit the ball the hardest and the farthest. This time I’ll give it to Eldridge for drama and degree of difficulty, even though Jordan went deep twice more last night!