In 2024, Jacob Bresnahan was named the Arizona Complex League Pitcher of the Year. Last season, he won the same honor in the Single-A California League. The only thing standing between the Giants’ No. 9 prospect earning such kudos for the third consecutive year might be his recent promotion to Double-A Richmond.
Bresnahan concluded his High-A Eugene tenure by being named the Northwest League Pitcher of the Month for August, leading the circuit in WHIP (0.95), average-against (.175) and K/9 (10.2) while finishing second in ERA (2.86) over a stellar four-start stretch. He allowed one earned run or fewer in 11 of his 20 outings for the Emeralds this season, doing so while generating a ton of weak contact with a .235 batting average on balls in play ranking sixth in the Minors among pitchers who have thrown 90 innings this year.
But he wasn’t always viewed as a surefire thing on the mound. In 2023, Bresnahan became just the third player ever drafted out of Sumner High School (Wash.) and the first since 2004. While he had a University of Oregon commitment, he wasn’t a standout on the showcase circuit as an amateur, limiting his exposure. When the Guardians came calling in the 13th round, it took a $375,000 signing bonus (roughly fifth-round money) to get him to begin his pro career.
After making his debut in three abbreviated Arizona Complex League appearances in 2023, Bresnahan began making hay the following summer. But the club was firmly in the American League playoff picture and decided to swap the southpaw to San Francisco at the 2024 Trade Deadline in a deal that sent veteran righty Alex Cobb to Cleveland for what ended up being a three-start rental.
Since then, Bresnahan, who wasn’t ranked among the Guardians’ Top 30 prospects at the time of the deal, has rocketed through the Giants’ recently rejuvenated system. He generates top-tier chase rates and now operates with a fastball that has routinely parked around 93-95 mph this summer, throwing it at the top of the zone where its plus induced vertical break enables it to miss bats. After serving as a fairly pedestrian offering as a teenager, Bresnahan's fastball has taken a massive jump as he's continued to fill out physically.
More from MLB Pipeline:
• Top 100 prospects | Stats | Video | Podcast | Complete coverage
It helps that Bresnahan also boasts one of the best changeups in all of Minor League Baseball. He’s one of just four ranked prospects with a 65-grade or higher cambio, trailing only new organization mate Ramon Marquez (SF No. 5/MLB No. 99) -- the lone hurler to earn a 70 grade. The southpaw kills spin on the offering exceptionally well and batters are often helpless to discern a discrepancy from his heater as he operates with above-average extension from his 6-foot-3 frame.
Add it all together and Bresnahan has put himself on the verge of Top 100 Prospects list inclusion on the heels of back-to-back exemplary campaigns. Among the 177 hurlers to have thrown at least 190 innings over the past two years combined, the 21-year-old ranks fourth in K rate (31.2 percent) and fifth in average-against (.191). His 2.84 ERA since Opening Day 2025 is second-best in the Minors under the same qualifiers.
COMPLETE GIANTS PROSPECT COVERAGE
Just 21 years old until mid-2027, Bresnahan is the first of San Francisco’s top-flight pitching prospects to touch the upper Minors. In addition to his continued ascent, recent 2026 Draft additions Jackson Flora (SF No. 3/MLB No. 31), Carson Bolemon (SF No. 10) and Kaden Waechter (SF No. 15), combined with trade acquisitions Marquez, Henry Lalane (SF No. 11) and Miguel Mendez (SF No. 16) have vaulted the club up to No. 6 in the organizational pitching prospect rankings.