2012 San Jose Giants Season Preview: Outfield
There's no question that Brown will begin the year in the upper levels of the farm system after his terrific 2011 campaign, but the possibility certainly exists that other outfielders from last season's San Jose club will return. Jarrett Parker, Nick Liles and Ryan Lollis are each hoping for a spot on the Richmond (Double-A) opening day roster, but it's unlikely that the trio will all find themselves in the Eastern League the first week of April.
Parker is, by far, the biggest prospect of the group and the front office will have to determine this spring if he's ready for the Double-A test after an inconsistent year in the California League. A second round draft pick in 2010, Parker debuted as a professional last season and ranked among the team leaders in doubles (25), home runs (13) and stolen bases (20). He also showed a patient approach at the plate that led to a team-best 74 walks. Parker possessed some of the best raw power and speed on last year's Giants team. He also showed his versatility by playing an above-average right field after spending most of his collegiate career in center. It's those tools that put him among the top position player prospects in the system.
The downside of Parker's year was a .253 batting average, including a dreadful 5-for-51 (.098) stretch to end the regular season. He often struggled with runners in scoring position batting at just a .204 clip while his 144 strikeouts by far and away led the team. If a spot is available in the Richmond outfield and the organization wants to put his tools to the test, then Parker will be a Flying Squirrel. Or he's headed back to San Jose, presumably as the everyday starter in right field, where the 23-year old would be expected to play a leading role on the team.
Liles and Lollis both enjoyed solid 2011 seasons from their corner outfield positions. Liles played in 78 games with San Jose (primarily in left) and hit .281 with two homers and 37 RBI's. The 24-year old doesn't have much power, but he makes a lot of contact and enjoyed multiple hot streaks last year that made him a tough out. Meanwhile, Lollis started the year with the Giants and hit .255 in 14 games before a demotion to Augusta (Low-A) in a move designed to get him more playing time. The former 37th round pick was a key contributor with the GreenJackets posting a team-best .314 batting average in 80 games. Like Liles, Lollis doesn't have much power (two homers), but he did contribute 22 doubles and steal 10 bases during his stint in Augusta. Lollis started nearly game in right field for the GreenJackets after the All-Star break and would be a logical candidate to play the same position in San Jose if Parker is moved to Double-A.
Newcomers to the Giants outfield this season could include 2011 Augusta players Chris Lofton and Devin Harris. Lofton was a ninth round pick of the San Francisco Giants two years ago, but endured an up-and-down season with the GreenJackets. The 21-year old can cover a lot of ground in center field and ranked among the Augusta leaders with 22 stolen bases, but a less-than-impressive .237 batting average may give the front office pause to whether he's ready for a promotion to the Cal League. Fatigue of his first full season may have factored into Lofton's final batting average as he hit .292, .281 and .299 in May, June and July respectively before falling down to a dreadful .159 clip in August. With Brown moving up though, there is an opening in center field for San Jose and Lofton could fill that role, perhaps while batting leadoff or ninth in the order.
Harris was a late pick in the 2010 draft (48th round) and a .231 batting average with a team-leading 136 strikeouts last season in Augusta wouldn't normally warrant a promotion to San Jose. However, he features a big power bat from the right side and with a strong spring training, Harris could vault himself to the Giants as a left fielder/DH. His 26 doubles and 15 home runs both ranked second on the GreenJackets squad - impressive totals in a home ballpark that can be difficult on right-handed power hitters.
The short-season Salem-Keizer Volcanoes featured an exciting outfield in 2011 of Shawn Payne, Jesus Galindo and Brett Krill and the trio is all well deserving of promotions to full-season ball. The most likely scenario is that all three are headed to Augusta, but don't discount the possibility that one, or even two of them, may jump all the way to San Jose. Galindo, 21, is the best prospect of the group. He led the Northwest League in stolen bases last season with a whopping 47 in just 62 games to go with a .276 batting average and two home runs. Galindo has a bright future and should again rack up impressive stolen base totals this year, but he's probably the least likely of the Salem trio to move to the Cal League.
Krill and Payne are older at 23 and 22 respectively and each were drafted out of the college ranks by the San Francisco Giants, thus making an aggressive promotion to San Jose more likely. Krill was selected in the 25th round two years ago and the slugger enjoyed an excellent season with the Volcanoes batting .304. His 16 doubles led the team while he also ranked among the club leaders in home runs (6) and RBI's (43). With a year and a half of pro experience already under his belt, Krill might be the most ready of the three to jump to San Jose. He played exclusively right field last season.
Payne was a center fielder in college (Georgia Southern) before his selection in the 35th round last June. He mainly played left in Salem-Keizer last season with Galindo in center, but a move back to center would probably be in order if he skips Augusta and is promoted to San Jose. With the Volcanoes, Payne was a productive hitter, often batting in the #2 hole. He hit .306 with three triples, no home runs and ranked fourth in the league with 21 stolen bases. Payne also walked a team-leading 29 times, which combined with his speed, could make him an attractive candidate to hit leadoff. Payne did hit six home runs last spring during his senior season at Georgia Southern.
There are more questions with the prospective San Jose outfield than perhaps any position group concerning the team this spring. The first domino will likely be a decision on Parker - does he return to San Jose or earn a promotion to Richmond? Familiar faces Liles and/or Lollis could be back to man corner outfield spots if there's no room in Double-A. Do the underwhelming batting averages of Augusta's top outfielders merit a promotion or do they return to the South Atlantic League, perhaps then opening the door for one of Salem-Keizer's top players to jump all the way to the Giants? All will be decisions that are made by the end of spring training in advance of San Jose's opening night on April 5.
2012 San Jose Giants Outfield Prospects
(2011 regular season statistics are listed)
* Jesus Galindo, OF
Salem-Keizer: .276, 2 HR, 20 RBI, 47 SB
* Devin Harris, OF
Augusta: .231, 15 HR, 58 RBI, 6 SB
* Brett Krill, OF
Salem-Keizer: .304, 6 HR, 43 RBI, 4 SB
* Nick Liles, OF
San Jose: .281, 2 HR, 37 RBI, 6 SB
* Chris Lofton, OF
Augusta: .237, 1 HR, 31 RBI, 22 SB
* Ryan Lollis, OF
Augusta: .314, 2 HR, 37 RBI, 10 SB
San Jose: .255, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 0 SB
Richmond: .222, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB
* Jarrett Parker, OF
San Jose: .253, 13 HR, 61 RBI, 20 SB
* Shawn Payne, OF
Salem-Keizer: .306, 0 HR, 19 RBI, 21 SB
2012 San Jose Giants Previews will continue next week on sjgiants.com with a look at the corner infield positions.
2012 San Jose Giants Season Preview: Middle Infield
2012 San Jose Giants Season Preview: Starting Pitchers
2012 SF Giants Minor League Hitting Preview
2012 SF Giants Minor League Pitching Preview