Giants Minor Leaguers Report To Camp
Minor league spring training will once again be an ultra-competitive setting as all of the players will be fighting for coveted roster spots on the four teams scheduled to begin their seasons in early-April (Fresno Grizzlies, Richmond Flying Squirrels, San Jose Giants and Augusta GreenJackets). Beginning on March 14, the San Francisco front office will put the players on the four individual teams: a Triple-A squad, a Double-A team, a High-A team and a Low-A club. Those four teams will play a 14 or 15-game exhibition schedule over the next 2 1/2 weeks against other organizations in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.
The rosters for the four clubs during spring training are fluid meaning several players will shift up-and-down throughout the exhibition season. A strong spring training performance during these games can certainly help a player's cause whether it's attempting to earn a promotion up the minor league chain or perhaps just make a team out of spring for the first time. Unfortunately, spring training can also have negative consequences for minor league players with a handful likely to be released at various times during the month.
Top 2011 draft picks will be experiencing their first spring training this month. First rounder Joe Panik and second rounder Andrew Susac both received invitations to big league camp, but with neither player under consideration for a spot on San Francisco's opening day roster, they both should join their minor league teammates in the coming days. Other top picks such as pitcher Kyle Crick (supplemental first round), first baseman Ricky Oropesa (third round) and pitchers Bryce Bandilla (fourth round), Chris Marlowe (fifth round) and Josh Osich (sixth round) will take part in the first workout of minor league camp tomorrow. Certainly all of these players will be watched closely this spring after their high draft selections last June. Several figure to have an opportunity to begin the season in San Jose with impressive spring performances.
Additionally, a handful of 2011 San Jose Giants will be looking to get the call to Double-A at the conclusion of spring training. Second baseman Ryan Cavan, first baseman Luke Anders, catcher/infielder Alex Burg and outfielders Jarrett Parker and Nick Liles are among the position players that will look to strengthen their case for a promotion to Richmond this spring after playing leading roles in San Jose last season. Likewise for starting pitchers Chris Heston, Kelvin Marte and Craig Westcott.
2011 San Jose Giants Gary Brown, Tommy Joseph, Ehire Adrianza, Chris Dominguez, Nick Noonan, Heath Hembree, Jake Dunning and Stephen Harrold are all currently participating in big league camp. All of these players are almost certain to begin the campaign in the upper levels of the farm system (Double-A or Triple-A) with the possible exception of Harrold, who spent less than a half a year with San Jose last season. Most should join their minor league teammates in camp soon although top prospects such as Brown and Hembree could garner a more extended stay in the major league spring training given the possibility that they may see time in "The Show" later in 2012.
The first big league spring game is scheduled for tomorrow when the San Francisco Giants host the Arizona Diamondbacks at Scottsdale Stadium. The full San Jose Giants spring training schedule can be found here.