Hard throwing Giants prospect Melvin Adon impresses in first big league camp

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Melvin Adon pitched just 3 1/3 innings before being optioned to minor league camp on Sunday. But for the Giants, that was more than enough to keep their excitement going. 

Adon, 24, burst on the scene here in Scottsdale last fall, striking out 21 in 12 1/3 innings in the Arizona Fall League. He made four appearances in his first big league camp, allowing one run, striking out five and walking none. That last number is the one that stood out to Farhan Zaidi. 

"He had a great Fall League and it was fair to ask if he was going to build on that and kind of continue his trajectory, and that's definitely what we saw," Zaidi said. "I know the gun readings excite everybody, but I like the fact that he threw strikes. That was as encouraging as anything. He's got a good slider. Without the slider, I don't think (the fastball) is as effective, but he can kind of go 50-50 on guys and keep guys off balance. 

"He obviously has as high a ceiling as you can have as a reliever, so that's been really good to see."

That ceiling is sky-high because of velocity that's rare even in today's high-octane game. Adon was 98-99 mph in his final appearance of the spring, but in an earlier game, he hit triple-digits four times, twice touching 102 mph. 

There’s a good chance that repertoire will be on display for Double-A Richmond at the start of the season, and Adon could move quickly. He certainly left an impression on his manager.

“He threw strikes and used his slider well,” Bruce Bochy said. “That kid really made a lot of progress.”

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