The Giants have their sights set on the future. What the franchise is doing down in the desert is Example A.
The organization has started breaking ground on a new $50 million facility, three miles from Scottsdale Stadium, that will be ready when minor league camp begins in March, 2021. In doing so, the Giants will have the latest in baseball technology, a sparkling new weight room and modern rehab facilities. It seems to be the perfect time to do so for the Giants, too.
San Francisco has one of the most improved farm systems in baseball. The Giants are putting an emphasis on their young prospects, and for good reason. Baseball America released its new top 10 list for Giants prospects on Monday, which is highlighted by an 18-year-old.
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Shortstop Marco Luciano is ranked as the Giants' new top prospect by Baseball America. The teenage infielder entered the 2019 season as San Francisco's No. 2 prospect, but he has jumped over catcher Joey Bart. BA's entire top 10 goes as follows: Luciano, Bart, center fielder Heliot Ramos, center fielder Hunter Bishop, outfielder Alexander Canario, third baseman Luis Toribio, pitcher Seth Corry, outfielder Luis Matos, pitcher Sean Hjelle and infielder Mauricio Dubon.
Luciano is the big winner as the Giants' new top prospect. BA last updated its top 100 list in October and Lucianio was No. 63 overall in baseball -- behind Bart and Ramos. When they update that list, Luciano could be one of the highest risers in the sport.
He hit .322 with 10 homers and a 1.055 OPS in 38 games in the Arizona Rookie League before being promoted to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in Class A Short Season. Luciano did all of this at 17 years old the whole season. Already listed at 6-foot-2 and 178 pounds, Luciano is oozing with star potential.
The Giants' two other high risers are Corry and Matos. Corry, a left-handed pitcher who didn't turn 21 until November was named the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year after dominating for the Augusta GreenJackets in Class A. He finished the season 9-3 with a 1.76 ERA and struck out 172 batters in 122 2/3 innings.
Corry entered the 2019 season as the Giants' No. 20 prospect, according to BA. He has the look of a future ace and could climb up the farm system in no time if healthy.
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Matos, 17, was in the same international signing class as Luciano and wasn't even in the Giants' top 30 going into last season. He is said to already have an advanced approach at the plate, and that was on full display in 2019. Matos hit .367 with seven homers and a 1.004 OPS between 60 games in the Dominican Summer League and Arizona Rookie League.
The future is bright in San Francisco, and the Giants are fully invested in giving their young prospects the best chance to hit their potential.