This story was excerpted from Maria Guardado’s Giants Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants have endured a difficult start at the big league level this year. The results have been far more encouraging in their farm system, though.
Three of the Giants’ four full-season Minor League affiliates entered Wednesday in first place in their respective leagues, a positive sign for an organization that will need to develop a steady stream of young talent to ensure more consistent success in San Francisco in the future.
Here’s a roundup of several notable performances across the Giants’ farm system this year:
Triple-A Sacramento: 30-20, first place in the Pacific Coast League West
• With three backstops -- Daniel Susac, Jesus Rodriguez and Eric Haase -- on the big league roster, the Giants promoted 2023 17th-round Draft pick Drew Cavanaugh to Triple-A Sacramento on May 12 to help handle catching duties for the River Cats. The 24-year-old hasn’t missed a beat in the PCL so far, batting .368 with a 1.155 OPS and two home runs over his first 10 games for Sacramento this year.
• Jason Foley, who joined the Giants on a one-year, $2 million deal over the offseason, is working his way back from right shoulder surgery, but he could be in line to join the bullpen mix next month. The former Tigers closer made his first rehab appearance for Triple-A Sacramento on May 13 and has tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings in his first four outings for the River Cats.
Double-A Richmond: 31-14, first place in the Eastern League Southwest
• Outfielder Jonah Cox, who was acquired from the A’s in exchange for Ross Stripling in February 2024, has emerged as one of the best players in the Eastern League this year, leading the circuit in batting average (.414), OPS (1.139) and stolen bases (26) over his first 41 games for the Flying Squirrels.
• Infielder Parks Harber, the Giants’ No. 14 prospect per MLB Pipeline, missed the first three weeks of the Minor League season with a hamstring injury, but he’s performed well since returning to action on April 24, hitting .315 with a .952 OPS and six homers over 26 games.
COMPLETE GIANTS PROSPECT COVERAGE
High-A Eugene: 34-12, first place in the Northwest League
• Shortstop Gavin Kilen, the Giants’ 2025 first-round Draft pick and No. 5 prospect, has emerged as one of the Emeralds’ most consistent bats through the first two months of the year, hitting .303 with an .821 OPS, four homers and 38 RBIs over 41 games.
Single-A San Jose: 25-21, tied for third in the California League
• Shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 4) has been on quite the power binge for San Jose over the last week, crushing five home runs in his last seven games. The 19-year-old switch-hitter entered Wednesday batting .331 with a .985 OPS, 10 homers -- tied for the most in the California League -- and 10 steals over 39 games this year.
Arizona Complex League
• The Giants’ decision to have shortstop Luis Hernández (No. 3) -- the prize of their 2026 international signing class -- skip the Dominican Summer League and head straight to the ACL seems to be paying off thus far. Hernández, 17, is hitting .329 with a 1.057 OPS and four home runs over his first 18 professional games, showcasing the advanced approach that earned him a $4,997,500 signing bonus, the highest in the ‘26 class, back in January.
• Fellow teenage shortstop Josuar Gonzalez (No. 2) is also off to a scorching start at the plate, hitting .421 with a 1.209 OPS, one homer and four stolen bases across 13 games, though he hasn’t played since Saturday.