The rebuild at Oracle Park took place much faster than anyone could have expected, but at some point, the Giants still plan to turn their fate over to the next generation. The latest Baseball America Top 100 list was a reminder that the organization should be in good hands.
For the second year in a row, the Giants had five players listed among Baseball America's top prospects, led once again by shortstop Marco Luciano. The other four selections were the same as in 2021: Joey Bart, Luis Matos, Heliot Ramos, and Kyle Harrison.
Luciano was ranked as high as ninth last season but came in at 17th after an up-and-down first full season in the minor leagues. The shortstop tore through Low-A ball, hitting 18 homers in 266 at-bats for the San Jose Giants and posting a .930 OPS. The transition to High-A was more difficult, and Luciano had a .577 OPS with just one homer in Eugene. He didn't turn 20 until the end of the season, though, and he was nearly four years younger than the average hitter in High-A West last season.
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Luciano should begin the 2022 season back in High-A, with the Giants hopeful he can master the level quickly and spend most of his age-20 season in Double-A. Like with almost every young power hitter, the focus will be on plate discipline. Luciano struck out in 30 percent of his at-bats, but when you throw in a short stint in the Arizona Fall League, he hit 22 homers in 127 games in 2021.
Bart has been a fixture on every prospect list since being taken second overall in 2018, but he should soon lose his eligibility. With Buster Posey retired, Bart is in line to be the starting catcher for the Giants, a role he briefly held two years ago. Bart spent nearly all of 2021 in Triple-A, posting a .294/.358/.472 slash line with 10 homers in 252 at-bats. He comes in at No. 71 on Baseball America's list, two spots ahead of the player who should soon be the consensus No. 2 prospect in the system.
Luis Matos started the season teaming up with Luciano in San Jose and batted .313 with a .358 OBP and .495 slugging percentage in his first full minor league year. The center fielder had 15 homers, 35 doubles and 21 stolen bases while limiting strikeouts. Matos is one of the best pure hitters in the minors, and he doesn't turn 20 until later this month.
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The fourth Giant on the list could join Bart in the big leagues at some point in the 2022 season. Heliot Ramos came in at No. 94 after posting a .740 OPS and hitting 14 homers across two levels last season. The 22-year-old opened eyes in spring training before having a solid two-month run in Double-A. He had a .722 OPS in 54 Triple-A games and should begin the 2022 season back in Sacramento.
Kyle Harrison, the best pitching prospect in the system, rounds out the group. The 20-year-old lefty looks like one of the steals of the 2020 draft after striking out 157 batters in 98 2/3 innings at Low-A. Harrison had a 3.19 ERA and allowed just three homers in 23 starts. He came in at No. 95 on the list.
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