Shakeup Opens Path for Youth

SF Giants Minor Lines, July 9, 2024

Photo Credit: Richmond Flying Squirrels

The Giants made two somewhat surprising moves in the last two days, both of which opened up more playing time for youngsters. First, sending Austin Slater to Cincinnati (apparently, after placing him on waivers), opening up more opportunities for Luis Matos (and, in fact, leaving just four healthy true outfielders on the roster). That was shocking enough, but yesterday, the team threw in their lot at The Six with the untested tandem of Brett Wisely and Tyler Fitzgerald. Among other things, these two moves seem to be preparing the ground for a trade deadline that could be about buying and selling simultaneously. They also begin to shift some burden for the ultimate fate of this team onto the youth of the roster. That could make for a very interesting second half. Slowly but surely, the Giants’ big league roster is being shaped by the farm system. Ten members of the current active roster are players I’ve covered in Richmond over the past three years. Three others spent significant time on Sacramento’s squad in that time. And, of course, Logan Webb and Tyler Rogers just preceded this wave of young talent by a couple of years, coming up just before the pandemic rather than just after. It’s been a while since the farm was this relevant to the fate of the major league club. Now the question will be: can they craft a winning season out of it?

At least for now, it doesn’t seem like Marco Luciano is going to be part of the shortstop solution for the Giants, according to comments that Farhan Zaidi made to beat reporters yesterday:

More on that story in a minute.

HITTER of the NIGHT: Ty Hanchey (ACLG), 3 for 3, 2 HR (4), 2 R, 5 RBI, 1 BB
PITCHER of the NIGHT: Josh Bostick (SJ), 4.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K

Let’s get to the Minor Lines, because there really R giants in here!