Here's the state of the Giants' farm system

November 12th, 2020

Though the Giants missed the expanded 2020 playoffs on a tiebreaker, they finished with a losing record for the fourth consecutive year. The last time that happened, in 2005-08, they used early Draft picks to assemble a strong farm system that paid off with three World Series titles in the next six seasons.

While it's still early to bank on championships in San Francisco's near future, it has built its collection of Minor League talent to the strongest it has been since Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt and Zack Wheeler were in the system at the start of last decade. The Giants haven't signed and developed an All-Star from the Draft since Joe Panik in 2011 or the international market since Pablo Sandoval in '03, but those droughts should end soon.

San Francisco has assembled a strong group of position players via first-round picks (catchers Joey Bart and Patrick Bailey, outfielders Heliot Ramos and Hunter Bishop) and international signings (shortstop Marco Luciano, outfielders Alexander Canario and Luis Matos, outfielder Luis Toribio). Except for Canario, who turned pro in 2016, all of them joined the organization since '17.

In two years under scouting director Michael Holmes, the Giants have saved money in their bonus pool on their first two picks so they could splurge on later selections. Doing so in 2020 allowed them to bolster their pitching depth by giving over-slot bonuses to Nick Swiney (supplemental second round) and Kyle Harrison (third). They join the system's top pitching prospect, Seth Corry, to give San Francisco a promising trio of left-handers.

FARM SYSTEM RANKINGS

Only the top 10 systems were ranked from 2015 to 2019 preseason; the top 15 systems were ranked 2019 midseason.

TOP FIVE PROSPECTS

1. Joey Bart, C (No. 11 on Top 100)
2. Marco Luciano, SS (No. 29)
3. Heliot Ramos, OF (No. 60)
4. Hunter Bishop, OF (No. 66)
5. Seth Corry, LHP (No. 94)

Complete Top 30 list »

NOTABLE ADDITIONS

Draft: Patrick Bailey, C, 1st round (No. 6); Casey Schmitt, 3B, 2nd round (No. 23); Nick Swiney, LHP, supplemental 2nd round (No. 15); Jimmy Glowenke, SS, supplemental 2nd round (No. 30); Kyle Harrison, LHP, 3rd round (No. 12); R.J. Dabovich, RHP, 4th round Complete Draft list »

Trade: Luis Alexander Basabe, OF (No. 18); Jordan Humphreys, RHP (No. 26)

The Giants used their first two 2020 Draft picks on quality defenders with power potential in Bailey and Schmitt, which also helped free up money for above-slot bonuses for left-handed starters Swiney and Harrison. They added some depth by purchasing the athletic Basabe from the White Sox and acquiring the polished Humphreys from the Mets for spare part Billy Hamilton.

2021 IMPACT PROSPECT

Joey Bart, C (No. 1): Though he struggled to make consistent contact after rushing to the big leagues this summer, the Giants were a better team with Bart behind the plate, and he should develop offensively next year while splitting catching duties with Posey.

2022 TOP PROSPECT

Marco Luciano, SS (No. 2): Signed for $2.6 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2018, he looks like a bargain with electric bat speed, huge raw power and enough twitchy athleticism to stick at shortstop.

BEST TOOLS

Hit: Marco Luciano
Power: Marco Luciano
Run: Simon Whiteman
Arm: Sandro Fabian
Field: Casey Schmitt
Best athlete: Hunter Bishop

Fastball: Camilo Doval
Curveball: Seth Corry
Slider: Nick Swiney
Changeup: Nick Swiney
Control: Sean Hjelle

HOW THE TOP 30 WAS BUILT

Draft: 15
International: 8
Trade: 7

Five of San Francisco's six best prospects came from the Draft: first-rounders Bart (2018), Ramos ('17), Bishop ('19) and Bailey ('20), plus '17 third-rounder Corry.

TOP 30 BY POSITION

C: 2
1B: 1
3B: 3
SS: 4
OF: 8
LHP: 3
RHP: 9

The Giants have the best duo of catching prospects in the game after spending No. 2 and No. 13 overall choices and a combined $10.8 million in the last three Drafts to secure former Atlantic Coast Conference rivals Bart and Bailey.