Giants Arizona Fall League Review
By Joe Ritzo
The Arizona Fall League season came to a close today for seven former San Jose Giants. Top Giants performances in the AFL this year included Steven Duggar showcasing impressive power and speed as he gears up for a key 2018 campaign, Tyler Beede delivering multiple excellent starts on the mound and D.J. Snelten thriving in a relief role. Here’s a Giants review of the Arizona Fall League:
Tyler Beede
4 starts, 0–1 record, 4.50 ERA, 16.0 IP, 16 H, 8 ER, 4 BB, 11 SO
Beede missed the first two weeks of the AFL as he continued to recover from a groin injury that he sustained in July while pitching for Triple-A Sacramento. The former first round draft pick struggled in his first AFL start (five runs in two innings) before three straight tremendous performances. Beede fired four innings with no earned runs allowed in his second start of the fall before back-to-back five-inning outings with one and two runs surrendered respectively. Over his final three starts, Beede tossed a combined 14 innings with only three earned runs allowed (1.93 ERA), one walk and 10 strikeouts. Beede figures to compete for a spot on San Francisco’s opening day roster in the spring and even if he returns to Sacramento to open the season, should make a contribution in the major leagues at some point during the year.
Tyler Cyr
8 appearances, 0–1 record, 5.63 ERA, 8.0 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO
Cyr followed his outstanding season in Double-A (2.19 ERA, 18 saves) with a solid performance in the fall league. The right-hander did not allow a run in six out of his eight relief appearances in the AFL. Cyr was also the lone Giants pitching representative in the Fall Stars Game earlier this month and picked-up the save in the contest with a 1–2–3 ninth inning. Cyr will be a candidate to join the Sacramento bullpen this season.
Steven Duggar
.263 AVG (20–76), 3 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 9 SB, .367 OBP
Duggar was the Giants’ top hitter in the Arizona Fall League this season. After being limited to just 44 games played during the minor league season due to multiple injuries, Duggar took advantage of the extra playing time against top competition in the fall as he positions himself for a pivotal spring training. Duggar had multi-hits in five out of his final 10 AFL games while his nine stolen bases overall (in 10 attempts) led the Scottsdale Scorpions and ranked third in the league. The top prospect outfielder also enjoyed a power surge late in the fall season blasting three home runs over his last five games. His 12 walks (in 20 games) also led the team. Duggar saw action exclusively in center field in the AFL and will likely garner substantial playing time during major league spring training games in February and March. Assuming good health, Duggar is almost a guarantee to debut in San Francisco during the 2018 season and continued success throughout the spring could certainly accelerate his arrival.
Aramis Garcia
.259 AVG (14–54), 1 2B, 1 HR, 12 RBI, .293 OBP
Garcia hit just .191 in 47 at-bats in the Arizona Fall League last year as he attempted to return to top form after a facial fracture injury knocked him out for the majority of 2016. Now following a solid 2017 minor league campaign that concluded in Double-A Richmond, Garcia enjoyed far more success in his second year in the AFL. The top catching prospect in the organization hit safely in 10 out of his 13 games played en route to finishing with a .259 batting average. Garcia drew only one walk in 58 plate appearances, but also hit .455 with runners in scoring position (10-for-22) and ranked third on the Scorpions with 12 RBI’s. Garcia received a late promotion to the Eastern League last August and thus will probably return to the Flying Squirrels when the 2018 season begins.
Joan Gregorio
8 games (3 starts), 1–0 record, 5.87 ERA, 15.1 IP, 19 H, 10 ER, 5 BB, 9 SO
Gregorio missed the final two months of the minor league season due to suspension, but returned to action in the fall league. The right-hander had an encouraging first start tossing three scoreless innings, but struggled mightily over his next three appearances (one of which was a start) yielding nine earned runs over four innings pitched. Gregorio recovered over the final two weeks of the fall season firing 5 1/3 scoreless innings with just one hit allowed and three strikeouts spanning his last three relief appearances. Gregorio is already on San Francisco’s 40-man roster and was enjoying a solid season with Sacramento (3.04 ERA in 13 starts) before his suspension.
Chris Shaw
.158 AVG (3–19), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .273 OBP
Shaw had a terrific 2017 minor league season with Richmond and Sacramento as the slugging top prospect led the entire Giants system in home runs (24) and RBI’s (79) to go with a combined .292 batting average between the two teams. Unfortunately, Shaw wasn’t able to finish strong in the fall league as a shoulder injury sustained after just five games played down in Arizona prematurely ended his season. Shaw collected three hits — all singles — in 19 at-bats before his injury while seeing action exclusively in left field. He was also selected to play in the Fall Stars Game, but was unable to participate. Shaw is one the elite prospects in the Giants system as the 2017 season comes to a close and could figure into San Francisco’s plans in some fashion next year.
D.J. Snelten
8 games, 0–0 record, 2.25 ERA, 12.0 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 11 SO
Snelten flew under the radar this fall compared to the performances of top prospects Beede and Duggar, but the left-hander was outstanding for the Scorpions in a relief role. Snelten began the fall with 11 consecutive scoreless innings over seven appearances with just five hits allowed, five walks and 10 strikeouts. He gave up three runs in his final outing, but still managed a 2.25 ERA and a .209 opponents batting average for the fall season. Snelten worked primarily as a starting pitcher during his two years in San Jose (2015–16), but looks to have found a home now as a full-time reliever. He had a 2.42 ERA in 52 innings out of the Sacramento bullpen during the minor league season and after his dominant fall, could be given a further look in big league camp next spring.
Scottsdale finished the fall season with an overall record of 12–17 — four games behind first-place Mesa in the East Division. The Scorpions, who were made of prospects from the Giants, Los Angeles Angels, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets and New York Yankees organizations, lost nine out of the final ten games.
