2017 San Jose Giants Season Preview: Starting Pitchers
By Joe Ritzo
Our 2017 San Jose Giants position-by-position season preview series begins today with a look at the starting rotation.
A reminder that these are just roster projections/possibilities. The official 2017 San Jose Giants opening day roster will not be set until spring training concludes.
2016 was a tumultuous year for the San Jose starting rotation. Top prospects Sam Coonrod and Andrew Suarez anchored the rotation early in the campaign while the likes of Jordan Johnson, Mark Reyes, Martin Agosta and Jason Forjet were also solid producers as the Giants competed for a first half North Division title. However as the season progressed, a number of factors contributed to the downturn of the San Jose rotation resulting in a second half record well below the .500 mark.
Coonrod and Suarez both earned well-deserved promotions to Double-A Richmond before the All-Star break, but the Giants also endured season-ending injuries to the veteran arms of Agosta and Forjet. Top prospect Phil Bickford was traded to the Brewers in a deadline deal while rotation mainstays Johnson and Reyes struggled throughout the second half. By the end of the season, San Jose’s team ERA sat at an uncharacteristically high 4.60 — third-worst in the California League.
Now looking ahead to this April, the San Jose Giants, a team that routinely ranks among the league leaders in most pitching categories, will look to bounce back on the mound. The starting rotation will likely be comprised of a few returning arms, including pitchers who joined the team late in the season after excelling at lower levels. Giants fans can also expect to see some new faces in the starting rotation when the team arrives the first week of April.
The most likely returnees among the starting pitchers who spent the entire 2016 season with San Jose are Johnson and Reyes. Johnson had several strong starts last season and finished the year ranked eighth in the California League with 111 strikeouts (in 120 innings). The 23-year old wasn’t a particularly high draft pick (23rd round out of Cal State Northridge), but quickly rose up the prospect rankings late in 2015 when he displayed an electric low-to-mid 90’s fastball and control of a pair of quality offspeed pitches. Johnson certainly showed glimpses of that top prospect arm last year, but also had bouts of ineffectiveness, most notably with a glaring 24 home runs allowed — the most by any pitcher in the league in 2016.
Johnson’s 5.33 ERA in 22 starts last season would seem to indicate a return to the San Jose Giants. However, the right-hander did turn things back around late last year posting a solid 3.81 ERA in August before receiving the Game 1 start in the Mini Series versus Bakersfield. That strong finish to the year combined with an impressive spring training could certainly result in a promotion to Richmond when minor league rosters are announced. If not, and the organization feels he needs more work at the Class-A Advanced level, Johnson would be an experienced and talented arm at the top of San Jose’s 2017 starting rotation.
The lefty Reyes is also a candidate to return to the Giants after spending all of last year in the rotation. A former 22nd round pick out of Crowder College, Reyes had a spectacular 2015 All-Star season in Augusta (2.13 ERA) before an up-and-down year in the Cal League. With the Giants last season, Reyes logged a 4.74 ERA in 23 starts while his nine wins were second on the club. The 24-year old isn’t a strikeout pitcher, but thrives on location and movement. Reyes was a solid contributor throughout the first half last year (3.74 ERA) before scuffling, like most San Jose hurlers, in the second half (5.85 ERA). If Reyes gets another crack at starting for the Giants and can return to his first half form from last year, he’d be a valuable member of the staff.
Other San Jose rotation possibilities include Cory Taylor and Jake McCasland — two standout starters for Class-A Augusta last season before making playoff starts for the Giants during the Mini Series in Bakersfield. In all likelihood, both right-handers will be full-time members of the San Jose starting staff in 2017.
Taylor was an eighth round pick in the 2015 draft out of Dallas Baptist with last year marking his first full professional season. The 23-year old thrived in the GreenJackets rotation last year fashioning a 2.58 ERA and a 9–5 record in 18 starts. Listed at 6’2” and 255 lbs., Taylor is a presence on the mound. He struck out 100 batters in 97 innings for Augusta while issuing just 25 walks and allowing only four home runs. Taylor even garnered a couple of spot-starts with Richmond late in the season and more than held his own tossing 12 innings in Double-A with just one earned run allowed.
Taylor officially joined San Jose in late-August last season. He was effective in two out of his three regular season starts with the Giants (six earned runs allowed in the other outing inflated his ERA to 6.75) before getting the ball in Game 2 of the Mini Series against the Blaze. Taylor is armed with a low 90’s sinking fastball that reportedly tops out at 95 MPH. Combined with an above-average slider and an emerging change-up, Taylor has the pure stuff to excel in the California League this season. He enters the year ranked as the #20 overall prospect (and seventh-highest starting pitcher) in the San Francisco organization according to Baseball America.
McCasland was a 26th round pick in 2013 out of the University of New Mexico and spent the first three years of his pro career working as a reliever in the lower levels of the Giants system. He opened last season in the Augusta bullpen, but then exploded after given an opportunity to start in June. Over 109 innings with the GreenJackets last year, McCasland boasted an incredible 1.65 ERA. He struck out 107 batters compared to just 24 walks while limiting the opposition to a .197 batting average. The highlight of McCasland’s year was a seven-inning no-hitter last July 17 against Delmarva. He retired 21 out of 22 batters in the start with the only baserunner coming on his own error.
McCasland would have led the South Atlantic League in ERA last season, but was three innings shy of qualifying. The organization clearly took notice as McCasland was promoted to San Jose for the Cal League playoffs last September and was then asked to start the winner-take-all Game 3 of the Mini Series at Bakersfield. 2017 will be a pivotal year for McCasland — likely in San Jose — as he’s already 25 years old and will look to show that his breakout 2016 season was not a fluke.
Taylor and McCasland were the stars of Augusta’s starting rotation during the second half last season, but there were several other arms that played key roles in helping the GreenJackets to one of the best records in the South Atlantic League after the All-Star break. Other possibilities to move up from the Augusta starting rotation to San Jose this year include Michael Connolly, Domenic Mazza, Heath Slatton and Grant Watson.
Connolly, a 27th round selection in 2013 out of the University of Maine, led the GreenJackets with 11 wins last season. The right-hander was also ninth in the South Atlantic League (among qualifying pitchers) with a 3.05 ERA. Connolly’s strikeout totals weren’t as impressive as either Taylor or McCasland, but he did possess a better than 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and led the staff with 135 innings pitched. Connolly has yet to pitch above the Class A level through the first four seasons of his pro career, but may finally get that opportunity in 2017.
Mazza is a left-handed starting pitcher out of nearby Concord. Drafted in the 22nd round in 2015 out of UC Santa Barbara, Mazza joined Augusta from Extended Spring Training last June and was immediately inserted into the starting rotation. Over 14 starts with the GreenJackets last year, Mazza compiled an 8–3 record with a 3.93 ERA. He struck out 79 and walked only 16 in 84 2/3 innings, but also had a high .292 opponents batting average.
Slatton was an 18th round pick in 2015 out of Middle Tennessee and has been primarily a reliever throughout his pro career. The right-hander was a dominant closer in the Arizona Rookie League in 2015 (0.79 ERA) and was having a solid season out of the Augusta bullpen last year (3.72 ERA). Then in a surprise move last August, the 23-year old was placed into the GreenJackets rotation where he was nearly unhittable. In his five starts totaling 20 1/3 innings, Slatton yielded just one earned run and struck out 17. Slatton is a logical candidate to move up to San Jose this year and it will be interesting if his brief, albeit very successful, starting stint last year was a temporary role or a sign of what’s ahead.
Watson is another lefty starting pitcher who will look to make the jump to the California League this year. A product of UCLA, Watson was a starting pitcher throughout all four seasons of his collegiate career, winning 30 games with the Bruins. He was a key hurler on their 2013 national championship team and was ultimately selected in the 16th round by the SF Giants two years later. Watson began last season in the Augusta rotation and dominated early with a 0.92 ERA in four April starts. The southpaw though had a pair of DL stints later in the season and tailed off as the year progressed. Overall, Watson posted a 4.62 ERA in 17 starts, but is another Augusta pitcher with impressive strikeout-to-walk totals (68 SO, 18 BB in 78 innings). A polished arm with good control, Watson could earn a spot in San Jose’s starting rotation with a solid spring.
There is also a group of starting pitchers that were at the Short-Season or Rookie levels last summer who might be considered for spots in the San Jose starting rotation this April. Conner Menez and Caleb Baragar are a pair of left-handed starting pitchers who were drafted last June, but finished the 2016 season pitching at the Class-A Advanced level for San Jose.
Menez, a 14th round pick out of The Masters College (NAIA school), bolstered a depleted San Jose staff last August making five starts with the Giants down the stretch. Overall, he logged a 4.94 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 27 innings. In his final start of the season, Menez fired 6 2/3 innings with no earned runs allowed against playoff-bound Visalia.
Meanwhile, Baragar was a ninth round selection of the San Francisco Giants last year after a standout collegiate career at Indiana University. In 55 innings with the AZL Giants (Rookie level), Baragar possessed an excellent 2.28 ERA with 50 strikeouts. He was added to San Jose’s roster during the final week of the regular season and made one start with the Giants surrendering just two hits in 5 2/3 innings (three runs) versus Bakersfield.
The promotions of Menez and Baragar late last season were done more out of necessity given the personnel issues San Jose was dealing with at the time. However, both polished lefties represented themselves well in the California League and thus could be in the mix for spots in the Giants rotation this spring.
Finally, he might be more of a longshot to make San Jose’s opening day starting staff, but Matt Krook could also insert himself into contention with an impressive showing this spring. Krook, who is from San Mateo, was a first round draft pick of the Marlins out of high school in 2013, but ultimately had his contract offer pulled because of injury concerns. Krook instead attended the University of Oregon where he had a whirlwind collegiate career with the Ducks, which included earning Freshman All-American honors in 2014 before missing all of 2015 due to Tommy John surgery. Krook returned to action last spring as a junior, but was understandably inconsistent with an ERA above five and high walk totals. The Giants were clearly intrigued by Krook’s potential though making him the first pitcher they selected in last June’s draft (fourth round overall). After signing his pro contract, Krook was sent to Salem-Keizer where he made 10 starts and logged a 6.17 ERA. He struck out 39 batters in just 35 innings, but also walked 33.
As a former first round draft, Krook has tremendous pure stuff that includes a lively low-to-mid 90’s fastball and a plus curveball. A year further removed from elbow surgery, the Giants certainly have high hopes for Krook in 2017. If he can showcase improved control, Krook has all the tools to move quickly through the system and could help San Jose at some point this year. Krook is currently rated the #23 prospect in the San Francisco farm system by Baseball America.
2017 San Jose Giants Starting Pitching Candidates
(2016 regular season statistics listed)
Caleb Baragar, LHP
- AZL Giants: 14 G, 10 GS, 5–2, 2.28 ERA, 55.1 IP, 16 BB, 50 SO
- San Jose: 1 GS, 0–1, 4.76 ERA, 5.2 IP, 5 BB, 3 SO
Michael Connolly, RHP
- Augusta: 25 G, 18 GS, 11–7, 3.05 ERA, 135.2 IP, 31 BB, 107 SO
Jordan Johnson, RHP
- San Jose: 22 GS, 8–9, 5.33 ERA, 120.0 IP, 39 BB, 111 SO
Matt Krook, LHP
- Salem-Keizer: 11 G, 10 GS, 1–3, 6.17 ERA, 35.0 IP, 33 BB, 39 SO
- AZL Giants: 2 G, 1 GS, 0–1, 1.59 ERA, 5.2 IP, 2 BB, 2 SO
Domenic Mazza, LHP
- Augusta: 14 GS, 8–3, 3.93 ERA, 84.2 IP, 16 BB, 79 SO
Jake McCasland, RHP
- Augusta: 27 G, 13 GS, 8–5, 1.65 ERA, 109.1 IP, 24 BB, 107 SO
Conner Menez, LHP
- San Jose: 6 G, 5 GS, 2–0, 4.94 ERA, 27.1 IP, 11 BB, 20 SO
- Salem-Keizer: 1 GS, 0–1, 7.20 ERA, 5.0 IP, 1 BB, 4 SO
- AZL Giants: 8 G, 2 GS, 2–0, 2.57 ERA, 21.0 IP, 4 BB, 26 SO
Mark Reyes, LHP
- San Jose: 23 GS, 9–9, 4.74 ERA, 127.1 IP, 60 BB, 80 SO
Heath Slatton, RHP
- Augusta: 27 G, 5 GS, 2–4, 2.37 ERA, 49.1 IP, 23 BB, 44 SO
Cory Taylor, RHP
- Augusta: 18 GS, 9–5, 2.58 ERA, 97.2 IP, 25 BB, 100 SO
- San Jose: 3 GS, 1–1, 6.75 ERA, 9.1 IP, 4 BB, 11 SO
- Richmond: 2 GS, 1–0, 0.75 ERA, 12.0 IP, 5 BB, 10 SO
Grant Watson, LHP
- Augusta: 17 GS, 3–7, 4.62 ERA, 78.0 IP, 18 BB, 68 SO
The 2017 San Jose Giants preview series will continue next week with a look at the bullpen.
