SF Giants promote prospects throughout farm system to start second half

2022 first-round pick Reggie Crawford and Mason Black highlight an impressive group of SF Giants prospects that were promoted to start the second half.

The players are now back in the ballparks to begin the home stretch of the 2023 season after taking a couple of days off due to the All-Star festivities. It is also a perfect time to move prospects deserving of a promotion to reward them for their performance in the first half of the season while also making room for the upcoming draft class, like killing two birds with one stone. With that in mind, here are the SF Giants prospects who earned a promotion before the second half of the season starts.

To read Wrenzie and Marc's updated Giants top 42 prospects at the mid-season mark, click here.

SF Giants prospect Reggie Crawford throws a pitch for the SJ Giants. (2023) / Shelly Valenzuela

Reggie Crawford (Wrenzie's #5/Marc's #9 prospect)
San Jose Giants (Single-A) -> Eugene Emeralds (High-A)

Perhaps the most surprising promotion was 2022 first-round selection Reggie Crawford moving from San Jose to Eugene after playing for only 11 games both on the mound and at the batter's box. As a pitcher, Crawford struck out 18 batters and only allowed four walks in 11 innings of work though the three homers that he allowed greatly contributed to his 4.09 ERA. As a hitter, Crawford posted a .841 OPS with two doubles and a home run in just 18 plate appearances.

On the mound, his arm strength has returned to what it looked like before he underwent Tommy John surgery. He's back firing fastballs that topped out at 99 mph this season with a nasty breaking and a developing changeup. At the batter's box, his physicality shows in his powerful lefty swing where he's developing his approach at the plate. 

It will be interesting to see how he fares against High-A pitching and hitting. Also, how much the Giants want to stretch Crawford's workload now.

Reggie Crawford's night is done after 34 pitches and after registering his third strikeout of the night. He left a couple of runners on base (both came via infield singles) but no walks, threw 22/34 pitches for strikes, and flashed a lot of good things. pic.twitter.com/Otefz4p9oi

— Giant Prospective (@giantprospectiv) May 28, 2023

Mason Black (Wrenzie's #10/Marc's #12 prospect)
Richmond Flying Squirrels (Double-A) -> Sacramento River Cats (Triple-A)

After winning the Eastern League Pitcher of the Month last June, Mason Black takes his hot streak to the mighty PCL to close out his 2023 season. Over his last six starts, Black has only allowed just one earned run across 26.1 innings with 38 strikeouts and just six walks allowed.

Entering the 2023 season, Black made a couple of tweaks to his operation on the mound by incorporating more crossfire into his delivery while also changing the profile of his slider to more of a sweeper. Those changes did not bring the results that Black wanted so he reverted back to what made him such a dominant force in the lower minors last season (more linear delivery with a gyro slider) and he has not looked back since. 

Black is a workhorse capable of going deep into his starts so it will be interesting if they keep pushing him in the rotation in a much-tougher pitching environment.

John Michael Bertrand 
Eugene Emeralds (High-A) -> Richmond Flying Squirrels (Double-A)

To fill up the spot left by Black, the Giants promote last year's 10th-round selection John Michael Bertrand who is also having himself a strong year. After spending the first month of the 2023 season in San Jose, Bertrand solidified his status as one of the most reliable arms in the Emeralds' rotation with a 2.92 ERA and a 3.4 K/BB ratio in 49.1 innings. He was particularly stingy over his last five starts with a 0.72 ERA and 4.4 K/BB ratio in 25 innings pitched. 

Bertrand will not blow you away with his stuff but the lefty sure knows how to pitch with a low-90s sinker-slider-changeup combination with a 56% groundball rate across two levels this season. The 25-year-old might is turning out to be an important asset in the Giants' farm system as a reliable innings eater.

Daniel Blair 
San Jose Giants (Low-A) -> Eugene Emeralds (High-A)

Signed by the Giants as an NDFA in late February this year, Blair turned into a dependable arm in the San Jose pitching staff. Blair initially started the season pitching in 1-2 innings stints but has seen his workload increase to more akin to a piggyback starter. As a piggyback starter, he excelled at his role with a 1.99 ERA and a 3.1 K/BB ratio across 45.1 innings of work. 

Blair's best pitches are his fastball which can touch 96 mph and a slider with good depth. He is also known for his attacking mentality on the mound and is a strike-thrower. Expect Blair to see similar success in Eugene.

Daniel Blair fanned 5 over 4 1/3 shutout innings of work, topping at 96mph, in Saturday’s victory over Stockton.

Blair, this season, has a 2.11 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP and .209 OppBA/.591 OppOPS pic.twitter.com/stTlmodiDH

— SFGProspects (@SFGProspects) June 26, 2023

Thomas Gavello
San Jose Giants (Single-A) -> Eugene Emeralds (High-A)

Gavello has been one of the best-performing hitters in the feisty San Jose squad this season with 10 home runs, 11 doubles, an 11.4% walk rate, six stolen bases, and a .876 OPS. His performance took a massive dip in June where he only hit just .159 but picked up the pace once again in his first five games this month with a .409 average.

Last year's 13th-rounder displays decent tools across the board with the ability to work the count and hit for power though there will be questions as to how much contact he can ultimately make at the next level. His biggest asset though is his defensive versatility having played second base, third base, and behind the plate where his solid athleticism plays though he still is a work in progress as a catcher. 

Matt Higgins 
San Jose Giants (Low-A) -> Eugene Emeralds (High-A)

One of the biggest offensive contributors for the San Jose Giants in their California League first-half championship, Higgins is among the team leaders in several hitting categories. It includes his .309 batting average, a .892 OPS, 140 wRC+, nine home runs, 18 doubles, and 51 RBIs.

Splitting time between first base and left field while sprinkling in a game or two as a DH, Higgins has a balanced approach at the box with a compact lefty stroke and a good eye at the plate. He is limited in the corners so his bat always needs to play. It will be interesting to see how well he will fare against High-A pitching.

Hayden Wynja
San Jose Giants (Single-A) -> Eugene Emeralds (High-A)

Signed by the Giants last year as an NDFA, the stats do not necessarily tell the whole story for Wynja. Even though he has a 3.98 ERA for the San Jose Giants this season, Wynja has flashed plenty of potential when he's on with 68 strikeouts in 54.1 innings pitched this season. He's also thrown an immaculate inning last May which made him into a prospect to follow. As a matter of fact, FanGraphs listed him as their #21 prospect for the 2023 season.

Standing at a towering 6'9", Wynja brings plenty of funk from the left side due to his natural height. His best pitch is a slider that flashes above-average to plus at best alongside a low-90s fastball that he throws from a 3/4 release point. Even though he is already 24 years old, there is plenty of intrigue for Wynja as a potential fastball-slider reliever as he moves up the minor league ladder.

Justin Bench
ACL Giants Orange (Rookie) -> San Jose Giants (Single-A)

Bench's promotion is the least surprising. Drafted out of Ole Miss in the 17th round of last year's draft, Bench was expected to start the season in full-season ball at Single-A but started the year on the injured list. In 14 games at the complex in Arizona, Bench hit .370/.466/.587 and will now face some more challenging competition. Drafted as a shortstop, Bench is known for his versatility and has only played third base and left field so far this season.