There R Giants #22: R.J. Dabovich

Photo Credit: Kirk Nawrotzky | Richmond Flying Squirrels

We’re into the There R Giants Top 50. Over the winter months, I’ll write a post on each of the fifty players in my rankings, leading us back to the much-needed spring. Our list of previously covered players is getting a little long, so from here on out I’m moving the links for the full list down the bottom of the post.

I’ve made this point a few times during this project, but it bears repeating: the primary virtue of the Giants’ system right now appears to be its depth. We haven’t yet reached the 20 mark in my Top 50 and we’re already well into the land of players who have a near certainty of contributing to the big league team — and a decent chance of contributing in a significant manner in the not too distant future. That’s right: for all of you reading this series and thinking: “that’s great and all, but when am I actually going to see this fellow in San Francisco?” the answer for today is: pretty danged soon!

It would not be one jot surprising if Roderick John, aka R.J. Dabovich, came up to help the Giants in 2022 — perhaps playing the role of Camilo Doval or Kervin Castro, the strong armed youngster. Taking a knock at any nearby block of wood, it would be downright surprising if he wasn’t a part of the team by 2023, and likely the first member of the 2020 draft class to hold that distinction.

Dabovich, the Giants’ penultimate pick of that foreshortened draft, is primed to move fast with an arsenal that is tailor-made for contemporary data-driven pitching development philosophies. In fact, between his vertical movement, his approach angle, and his ability to tunnel, Dabovich might just be the most “2022” pitcher in the system. He’s the man for this time and place. He fits right in there. He… ah, hell, I done talked enough… let’s just get to the jump!

Thanks to Dean Jackson at Driveline Baseball for the Slow Mo footage