Way Too Early Roster Preview: Eugene Emeralds

Photo Credit: Gary Breedlove | Eugene Emeralds

This is the second in a series of “way too early” roster previews for the Giants’ four full-season affiliates. So far, we’ve fake-GM’d up a roster for:

• Low A San Jose Giants

If our last installment of the “Way Too Early Roster Preview” series had the slightest tang of anti-climax (“well…he’s not Luciano but Arteaga is pretty good too, you know!”), then today’s edition will serve up the flavors you’ve been longing for, as so much of the outrageously talented 2021 San Jose roster should take its traveling party to Eugene to open the year. Last year it was the peninsularés who had a front row seat to the most exciting talent in the system, this year that honor goes to the good folks of central Oregon — at least at the beginning!

What’s truly compelling about the likely Eugene roster next year is that it should include the biggest names moving up from San Jose along with some of the biggest names who started last year in Eugene, but struggled for one reason or another.

With this much talent on hand to begin the year, you can forgive the Emeralds’ front office for concocting dreams of a fourth title run in the last six years — yes, that’s right, Eugene had been collecting hardware before it was a Giants’ affiliate, and right about now, they’re no doubt thinking about a “Dynasty!” up in the Land of the Ducks. But don’t get cocky kid — remember what happened to Everett last year when an exodus of high end talent to Double-A left them in a free fall down the stretch. Eugene is going to be the prospect hot spot in April — but come July or August? That’s a different question altogether. For now, let’s meet the incredible collection of talent that should line up on the 1b line in Eugene on April 12.

The Stars

Had things gone a bit differently last summer, following his August 4 call up to High-A, perhaps we could have been squinting our eyes and craning our neck and wondering whether Marco Luciano might head straight to Double-A to start his age 20 season. But as it was, Luciano struggled mightily to make the adjustment to his new level, hitting just one home run post-promotion, striking out at a 37% clip, and producing a 59 wRC+ line that MLB.com’s Sam Dykstra told me last week was not what prospect watchers are accustomed to seeing from their elite prospects, even when young for a level. So, it’s back to Eugene for the power prodigy who will try to make the adjustments that were lacking in 2021 and, perhaps, earn his way to Double-A sometime before the summer is through.

Eugene Emeralds @EugeneEmeralds

🗣️ GET OFF THE SHED. Marco Luciano with his first High-A homer! 📐 49° launch angle on that one 😯 #GoEms x #SFGiants