Tony Torcato

24-year old outfielder continues to show promise as top offensive prospect, having seen action with big league club each of last 3 campaigns...has posted impressive numbers over 1st 7 years in organization, hitting .303 with 369 runs, 178 2Bs, 13 3Bs, 38 HRs and 438 RBI...has collected 910 hits in 784 minor league games, most in Giants organization over last 7 seasons...owns better than .290 career average at every level he's played (.291 short-A, .309 single-A, .303 double-A, .294 triple-A, .306 Major League)...climbed organizational ladder in 2001, playing for club's single-A, double-A and triple-A affiliates before being added to 40-man roster in November...completed rise with ML debut in 2002, and has logged stints with big league club each of last 3 seasons...made successful switch from infielder to outfielder in 2001...was originially San Francisco's 1st round selection (19th pick overall) in 1998 First Year Player draft...tabbed as Giants 4th best prospect by Baseball America entering 2002...named Giants Organizational Player of Year by USA Today following 2000 campaign....in 1998, nearly became 1st teenager to bat .300 in Northwest League since Ken Griffey, Jr. did so in 1987... Graduated from Woodland (CA) High School in 1998...single.

2004

Opened season on big league roster for 1st time in 7 professional campaigns...optioned to triple-A Fresno April 14 to make room for RHP Brian Cooper...was recalled Sept. 1 and remained with big league club for remainder of season...over 2 stints with San Francisco, hit .556 with 5 singles in 9 at bats, all pinch-hit appearances...also drew walk and was hit by pitch for .583 on-base percentage...kept up noted consistency at triple-A level, finishing season with .289 batting average (114-for-395) while playing left field (48 games), right field (17 games), and 1st base (23 games)...named Fresno's August Player of Month after hitting .333 (27-for-81) with 11 RBI...

2003

Hit above .290 for 6th-straight professional campaign, logging .296 avg. with 18 2Bs, 3 HRs and 48 RBI in 107 games with triple-A Fresno...spent majority of time (58 games) at 1st base, but played flawless outfield defense (75 chances) over 36 contests...spent 3 different stints with Giants, joining big club July 17-25 when Benito Santiago was disabled, Aug. 14-19 while Barry Bonds was on Bereavement List, and Sept. 2-end of season...played in 14 ML games, going 3-for-16 (.188)...collected 1st big league RBI July 18 vs. Colorado, hammering pinch-2B...in fact, was 2-for-7 (.286) as pinch-hitter...had 2 hits in 1st 6 ML at-bats of campaign, but went just 1-for-10 in his final 9 games.

2002

Put together another solid campaign in 1st full season at triple-A level, batting .290 in 130 games with Grizzlies...flashed developing power, clubbing career-high 13 HRs with 23 2Bs, 3 3Bs and 64 RBI, 5th-best total in organization...following disablement of SF outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo, was recalled July 26 and made ML debut that night, starting in RF vs. LA...went 1-for-4 in initial contest, singling off Dodgers' Hideo Nomo for 1st big league hit...also made start July 28 vs. LA and logged 1st career multi-hit effort, going 2-for-3 with 2B in 3-1 Giants victory...was named Fresno's Player of Month for July after blistering 23-game period in which he batted at .345 clip (29-for-84) with 5 HRs and 18 RBI...hit safely in 16 of those contests, including 11 games with at least 2 safeties...was named July 15-21 Pacific Coast League Player of Week by HOWE SportsData after going 12-for-24 (.500) with 4 HRs and 8 RBI in 6 games...was recalled to SF for 2nd time prior to Sept. 1 game at Arizona...saw action in 3 games with Giants down stretch, going 0-for-4.

2001

Had best professional season, rising to triple-A level while excelling at all 3 stops...played for San Francisco's single-A, double-A and triple-A affiliates, hitting combined .323 with 71 runs, 38 2Bs, 4 3Bs, 5 HRs and 78 RBI in 138 games overall...led all Giants farmhands in batting average and hits (179), tied for most 2Bs, and tied for 4th overall in RBI...established career highs for games, at-bats (555), hits, 2Bs and 3Bs...began campaign in single-A San Jose, serving primarily as DH while recovering from off-season shoulder surgery...hit .341 with 21 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 2 HRs and 47 RBI in 67 games for Giants before earning June promotion to Shreveport...batted .293 with 23 RBI in 36 games for double-A Swamp Dragons...concluded campaign with triple-A Fresno, hitting at .320 clip over final 35 contests...was named San Jose's Player of Month for May after hitting .350 (36-for-103) with 21 RBI in 28 games...played for Grand Canyon in Arizona Fall League following season.

2000

Had finest professional season, being named organizational Player of Year by USA Today...hit .324 with 7 HRs and 88 RBI in 199 games at single-A San Jose...also appeared in 2 games at Shreveport, marking 1st appearance at double-A level, before having season ended by left shoulder dislocation...combined, posted career highs in nearly every offensive category, including average (.327), games played (121), at-bats (498), hits (163), 2Bs (37), HRs (7), RBI (90), walks (41), and stolen bases (19)...his average at San Jose ranked 3rd in California League and 2nd in Giants organization...ranked 5th in Giants system with 90 RBI...led San Jose in hits (159) and 2Bs (37)...earned San Jose's Player of Month award in both April and May...was named Cal League Player of Week by Howe Sportsdata April 6-16 and May 15-21...was 3B on California League's In-Season All-Star squad while being named DH on league's Post-Season All-Star team.

1999

Hit .291 with 4 HRs and 58 RBI in 110 games for Bakersfield in 1st season at single-A level...earned Blaze's Player of Month Award in August...following season, was named Giants #3 prospect and was included on Howe Sportsdata's All-Teen Team...his batting average ranked 9th in Giants system.

1998

Broke into professional ball at age 19 by hitting .291 with 3 HRs and 43 RBI in 59 games for rookie league Salem-Keizer...nearly missed becoming 1st teenager to hit .300 in Northwest League since Ken Griffey, Jr. hit .313 for Bellingham in 1987...led Volcanoes with 15 2Bs.