Way Too Early Roster Previews: San Jose Giants

So far in “Way Too Early” Roster Previews, we’ve looked at:

• Sacramento River Cats

• Richmond Flying Squirrels

• Eugene Emeralds

And now we come to the end of our roster previews. The lowest link on the full-season chain, San Jose gives us the wooliest group of players — a large chunk of youngsters still trying to prove they belong off the complex along with the latest incoming draft class, and a variety of injury rehab types. It’s the level where guys are still trying to get their pro careers off the ground — some in the first blush of an exciting rise, others coming to Low-A after several years of delays of one sort or another that have prevented them rising higher. In all it’s the rawest in skills and abilities, and tends to be one of the most fluid rosters, as players try and fail to make the jump to full season ball, to be replaced by those waiting behind in extended.

It’s also the affiliate that is closest for many of you — and maybe the one you’re most keenly eager about, as you might actually get to see these players at Excite Ballpark come spring.

So, let’s see if we can give you something to get excited about! Once again, the outfield pulls our focus — it should be the group that has the highest upside on this roster, and it’s also going to be the one that is hardest to sort out. But this time, the outfield isn’t the sole unit of interest — there are some intriguing parts scattered among the other units as well.

It’s hard to tell if this is going to be the club to break the Giants’ three-year losing streak in the Cal League playoffs, where the club has gone 0-6 since winning the title back in 2021. At first blush, the roster doesn’t appear to be as talented as some of the most recent editions, but you never know how a squad of neophytes will come together, or where the pleasant surprises may come from (remember, less than two years ago, a fairly anonymous 21-year-old 6th rounder named Hayden Birdsong was part of the “way too early” picture for the 2023 San Jose club. And last year, nobody had undrafted JuCO free agent, Bo Davidson, as a club MVP on their Bingo cards. Fates can change quickly down here!

Let’s explore!