Giants Prospects Among Baseball's Best

Former San Jose Giant Brandon Belt received mention on the MiLB.com annual top 50 prospects list released last week while Zack Wheeler was ranked among the top 50 on a similar list from ESPN.com. Belt, the top prospect in the San Francisco farm system, is ranked as the #26 overall prospect in the game by Minorleaguebaseball.com. Meanwhile, Belt (#17) and Wheeler (#36) each placed in the top 50 according to Keith Law of ESPN.com.

Belt had a terrific 2010 season leading all of the Minors with a 1.075 OPS and finishing second with a .352 batting average between San Jose, Richmond (Double-A) and Fresno (Triple-A). Belt was also fourth in the Minors in RBI's (112), fifth in doubles (43) and eighth in hits (173) to go with 23 home runs. MiLB.com notes that Belt "has one of the most advanced approaches at the plate of any prospect in baseball" and that he's going to be "an on-base machine" and "could compete for batting titles in the future." ESPN.com also had high praise for Belt calling him "a potential impact call-up for the Giants this year and a middle-of-the-order bat in the near future."

In all likelihood, Belt will begin the 2011 season playing for the Fresno Grizzlies. He did, however, receive an invitation to big league camp and a strong spring training could force the Giants to promote him to San Francisco, perhaps as soon as for opening day.

Wheeler is considered an elite prospect by ESPN.com with his top 50 ranking. The 20-year old right-hander is the 19th highest pitcher on the list. ESPN comments that Wheeler will "sit at 90-94 miles per hour and will show 96 or better" and he's "still filling out physically and should have the workhorse, 220-inning build we expect from No.1 starters." Wheeler is a strong candidate to open the season in San Jose.

Last year, MiLB.com rated both Buster Posey (#4) and Madison Bumgarner (#10) among the top 10 prospects in baseball before each played leading roles on San Francisco's World Championship team.

This year, both MiLB and ESPN ranked Angels outfield prospect Mike Trout the #1 prospect. Trout had a spectacular 2010 as a 19-year old, but saw his Rancho Cucamonga team fall short in the California League Championship Series against the Giants. MiLB.com rounds out their top 5 with Rays pitcher Jeremy Hellickson (#2), Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper (#3), Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown (#4) and Mariners second baseman Dustin Ackley (#5). After Trout, ESPN.com rates Harper #2, Brown #3, Yankees catcher Jesus Montero fourth and Royals pitcher Eric Hosmer fifth.

ESPN.com also rates the top 10 prospects in the San Francisco organization with former SJ Giants Belt (#1), Francisco Peguero (#4), Charlie Culberson (#5), Thomas Neal (#6), Ehire Adrianza (#7) and Eric Surkamp (#8) on the list. The remaining four players: Wheeler (#2), outfielder Gary Brown (#3), pitcher Heath Hembree (#9) and catcher Tommy Joseph (#10) could all play in San Jose at some point in 2011.