A little Giants baseball to soothe the soul.
If you need a break from the painful reality that the San Francisco Giants are not playing late-October baseball and the Los Angeles Dodgers are, well … I can’t really give that to you. No one can, sadly. Better luck next year.
But I can, at least, give you a minor distraction, by talking about the Giants players who are playing. A handful of Giants prospects are in the desert, playing in the Arizona Fall League for the Scottsdale Scorpions. After a so-so first week, the Giants prospects were back in action for a second week that was … well … also so-so.
The Scorpions — comprised of players from the Giants, Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, and Pittsburgh Pirates — went 2-4 last week, and sit at just 4-7 … fifth place in the six-team league. Thankfully there’s still a lot of AFL season remaining!
Here’s your weekly update on each Giants prospect in the league.
1B Bryce Eldridge
Week 2: 5-17, 1 home run, 1 double, 1 walk, 2 RBI, 8 strikeouts
Season: 8-33, 1 home run, 2 doubles, 2 walks, 1 HBP, 3 RBI, 15 strikeouts, 2 errors, .700 OPS
Eldridge certainly had a better second week than first week, and he flashed his star power with his first home run of the AFL, after having 23 big flies this Minor League season. He’s striking out a ton though, and we’re only a year removed from another Giants two-way first-round pick (Reggie Crawford) striking out a ton in the AFL and deciding it meant it was time to stop focusing on hitting. I don’t think we have to worry about that with Eldridge!
OF Bo Davidson
Week 2: 1-8, 1 double, 2 walks, 1 RBI, 4 strikeouts
Season: 5-19, 2 doubles, 4 walks, 1 RBI, 7 strikeouts, .743 OPS
Like Eldridge, Davidson hasn’t exactly carried the dominance that defined his 2024 Minor League season into the AFL. But he’s certainly not embarrassing himself, either, with a respectable slash line of .263/.375/.368. It’s great getting to see him get a little attention playing on a larger stage.
3B Charlie Szykowny
Week 2: 3-9, 1 walk, 1 RBI, 2 strikeouts, 1 stolen base, 1 error
Season: 5-17, 1 home run, 2 walks, 3 RBI, 3 strikeouts, 1 stolen base, 1 error, .839 OPS
Szykowny was an underappreciated player this season, sporting a fantastic 140 wRC+ with Low-A San Jose and a respectable 91 wRC+ with High-A Eugene in just his first full season, after the lefty was taken in the ninth round of the 2023 MLB Draft. And so far he’s been the best hitter that the Giants have sent to Arizona. HIs .839 OPS ranks seventh out of the 18 Scorpions hitters.
C Drew Cavanaugh
Week 2: 3-8, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, 1 error
Season: 4-12, 1 double, 1 walk, 1 RBI, 3 strikeouts, 1 error, .802 OPS
Cavanaugh was a late addition to Scottsdale’s squad, as he wasn’t initially on the roster, but was sent to the team midway through the first week. So far he’s making the most of his opportunity!
RHP William Kempner
Week 2: Did not play
Season: 1 game, 1 inning, 0 hits, 0 walks, 0 runs, 2 strikeouts, 0.00 ERA
Kempner was the lone member of the Giants contingency to not play in Week 2. Given that Scottsdale had six games, the logical conclusion is that Kempner is dealing with a physical ailment, which is concerning given that he missed the entire 2024 season due to injury. Here’s hoping we see him back on the mound in Week 3.
RHP Tyler Vogel
Week 2: 2 games, 1.1 innings, 0 hits, 1 walk, 0 runs, 1 strikeout
Season: 4 games, 3 innings, 0 hits, 1 walk, 0 runs, 3 strikeouts, 0.00 ERA
Vogel has been a workhorse for the Scorpions. While no other member of the Giants pitching contingency has appeared in more than two games, Vogel has already played four … something just two other players on the 24-pitcher roster can say. Just as importantly, Vogel has been dominant in those four outings, allowing just one baserunner.
RHP Marques Johnson
Week 2: 1 game, 1 inning, 1 hit, 1 walk, 0 runs, 3 strikeouts
Season: 2 games, 1.2 innings, 3 hits, 3 walks, 5 runs, 1 earned run, 4 strikeouts, 5.40 ERA
After a tough outing in his first game, Johnson — who missed almost the entire 2024 season — bounced back with a delightful second appearance. Great to see him healthy and mowing down batters.
RHP Cale Lansville
Week 2: 1 game, 3 innings, 3 hits, 0 walks, 1 earned run, 4 strikeouts
Season: 2 games (1 start), 5.1 innings, 8 hits, 0 walks, 4 runs, 3 earned runs, 8 strikeouts, 5.06 ERA
After getting a start in the first week, Lansville played a long relief role in Week 2, but he was incredibly effective. It’s fun to see the strikeouts from the 2023 14th-round pick … he had just 69 in 74.1 innings with Low-A San Jose this year, but already has eight punchouts in just 5.1 innings in the AFL.
RHP Elijah Pleasants
Week 2: 1 game (1 start), 3 innings, 4 hits, 0 walks, 3 earned runs, 7 strikeouts
Season: 2 games (1 start), 5.1 innings, 5 hits, 2 walks, 1 hit by pitch, 6 runs, 5 earned runs, 9 strikeouts, 8.44 ERA
Pleasants did the opposite of Lansville, getting a start in his second game after pitching in long relief in his first. And my goodness did he show off the strikeout stuff! Pleasants has been struggling to keep runs off the board, but has nine strikeouts in 5.1 innings, after having just 41 strikeouts in 47.1 innings across two Minor League levels this year. Great to see!
Check back next week for another AFL recap, or watch the games on the free web stream on MLB’s website. This week the Scorpions play Tuesday evening, Wednesday afternoon, Thursday afternoon, Friday afternoon, and Saturday afternoon.