Firm

Hiromi Itoh (RHP)

Kaima Taira (RHP)

Likely

Roh Si-hwan (3B)

Won Tae-in (RHP)

Kona Takahashi (RHP)

Shugo Maki (2B)

Possible

Teruaki Sato (3B, OF)

Ryosuke Tatsumi (CF)

Kaito Kozono (SS, 2B, 3B)

Do you think SF should acquire Roh & Won to make presence in S. Korea?

But there was so much Dodgers. Holy shit.

MLB executives will be furious at the decrease in TV ratings that comes with a Milwaukee vs Tampa or Cleveland WS (even though those are great teams with superstar players). Milwaukee and Cleveland would be PACKED attendance wise, Tampa is the only one of the three you'd be worried about from that standpoint.

It also illustrates the struggles some of the other big markets have had (including us)

Yankees- Made World Series in 2024 after Soto trade, but they haven't been nearly up to the Yankee standard in recent times. They notoriously passed on signing/pursuing Bryce Harper and Manny Machado and have wound up settling for a lot of B tier talent (Hicks, aging Donaldson, Grisham, McMahon, etc.) in addition to aging stars (Goldschmidt).

Mets- surprise NLCS appearance in 2024 and a lot of internal struggles and locker room issues these last couple of years. Lots of veteran high-priced players view this as a vacation spot

Phillies- Aging top-heavy roster, missed chances in 2022 WS and blew 2023 NLCS to Arizona.

Red Sox- Haven't been quite themselves in recent years, trading Betts/Devers/Sale, losing Xander B. Power struggle between Breslow/front office and coaches/players

Cubs- Have a megastar in PCA, but a lot of B range talent otherwise. Good enough to make playoffs, not much beyond that. Meh farm system too

Blue Jays- made world series last year and took Dodgers to the brink but came back and missed playoffs this year. Vlad Jr. had a poor season, Bichette left in free agency

Angels- Moreno drama, been a really poorly run franchise for a long time now

Braves- eliminated by Dodgers in NLDS after missing playoffs in 2025. Won WS 2021

Tigers-traded Skubal and Mize, missed playoffs this year after making it back-to-back years before that

Rangers- 2023 WS win and then mediocrity since

Nationals- have been REALLY bad since 2019 title

Giants- no need to regurgitate what this forum has talked about ad-nauseum

So basically, every big market not named LAD has performed below the expectations of their respective fanbases.

Today was supposed to be an off-day in the desert, but weather had other plans, as these teams made up the games from Monday that were rained out.  But, our beloved Scottsdale Scorpions were not in need, so the Giants prospects got their Wednesday off.  But here’s today’s games for anyone that wants to read about them.

Scottsdale: No Game Scheduled

This was originally an off-day for the league, but the AFL has used it to get a couple of the recent rained out games in.  Scottsdale hasn’t been rained out, so they kept the offday, and will be back against Peoria (who spanked them on Tuesday) tomorrow.

Other Games

Surprise Saguaros 9, Peoria Javelinas 8

Link

Peoria Notable Prospect Lines:

• RF Ike Irish (MLB #97; BAL #5): 1-3, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB (3), 1 HBP, 2-2 ABS
• LF Carter Graham (CIN #22): 1-2, 3 R, 1 2B (1), 1 SB (2), 1-1 ABS
• DH Ty Harvey (SD #4): 0-4, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1-1 ABS
• SP Winyer Chourio (SD #15): 2.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 6 BB, 2 K, 3 WP

Surprise Notable Prospect Lines:

• SS Sebastian Walcott (MLB #9; TEX #1): 0-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 2 SB (2), 1 E (3)
• 3B Aidan Miller (MLB #58; PHI #2): 1-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 1 K
• 2B Aroon Escobar (PHI #6): 1-2, 1 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 1 3B (1), 1 SF, 1 E (1)
• DH Luke Hill (CLE #16): 2-5, 1 RBI, 1 SB (2)
• RF Angeibel Gomez (MLB #81; KC #2): 1-4, 1 R, 1 K, 1 3B (1)
• SP Steven Zobac (KC #14): 1.2 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 2 K

Mesa Solar Sox 7, Salt River Rapids 3

Link

Salt River Notable Prospect Lines:

• SS Dax Kilby (MLB #83; NYY #1): 0-3, 1 BB
• 2B Demetrio Crisantes (MLB #72, AZ #1): 0-4, 1 E (2)
• LF Jared Thomas (COL #10): 2-3, 2 R, 1 K, 1 2B (1), 1 SB (4), 1 HBP

Mesa Notable Prospect Lines:

• DH Jake Cook (TOR #22): 1-5, 1 R, 2 K, 2 SB (7)
• SS Arjun Nimmala (MLB #35; LAA #1): 2-3, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 2B (1), 1 SB (1), 1-1 ABS
• C Davis Diaz (SAC #19): 2-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SB (1), 1-1 ABS
• 2B Mason White (BOS #26): 1-4, 1 BB, 2 K
• RF Breyson Guedez (SAC #9): 1-4, 2 RBI, 2 K
• CF Jake Casey (TOR #25): 0-4, 1 K
• SP Jake Bloss (TOR #12): 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
• RP Kenya Huggins (SAC #23): 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

😂

I can't describe how much I enjoy watching blake snell struggle as a dodger. The lack of integrity he showed throughout his brief stint with SF, makes him so easy to root against

Sure it would be great if the Dodgers lose in 4 but wouldn't it be even better if Snell replaces Kershaw as the designated post season choke artist?

I know our team isn’t doing so well but I’ll always be a Giant. Made this custom N64 and wanted to show it off!

EDIT: sold out!! Thank you so much and pins will be shipped on Thurs/Fri.

Hi everyone! A month ago I posted about some pins I designed in honor of Mike Krukow: https://www.reddit.com/r/SFGiants/s/Mu6zYpIIK5

Hopefully this is ok to repost (please delete if not). Some people reached and asked to buy some. I’ve reached out to those folks and if anyone else is interested, I have 10 left. Link is here: https://ko-fi.com/s/3bc6597770

Please ignore any bots that post other links with AI renditions of my work. I saw that in the previous thread and don’t want anyone to get scammed.

It’s so obvious what a seismic void there is not having any of the awesome NPB guys that have posted,choosing our ball club over literally any other ones in recent years.

We have a proud history of Japanese ball players, from Masanori Murakami in the 60’s, to guys like Shinjo, and Aoki in the aughts years. The issue is that though lovable, those guys weren’t among the best and most talented.

With a huge Japanese community in the bay, and being the storied ballclub that we are, it’s such a sincere failure we’ve not been able to entice any of the recent NPB imports to sign with us. I know Farhan made concerted efforts to sign Yoshinobu and Ohtani, juries still out if he ever made more than a tepid run at Senga, but I guess that contracts been a bit of a disappointment for the Mets.

I was heartened to read that Buster was scouting at least two potential Japanese players heading into this offseason, and know he was heavily after Roki before he signed with the fraudsters down south. I just really need it to happen. I know we have a logjam at first and love Devers and Eldridge, but let myself daydream about Munetaka hitting bombs into McCovey cove last offseason. Not asking for much here, but having some Japanese ballers would make this team so much more fun to root for. Please Buster; make it happen.

Well, the final Giant assigned to the Arizona Fall League finally made his debut appearance for the fall!  Randy Rodriguez returned to the mound in a brief but successful outing.  That wasn’t all, as three Giants pitchers went onto the mound today, with Darien Smith having the best outing, as Scottsdale and Peoria had a real pitcher’s duel going for four innings.  And then, after he left the game, Scottsdale gave up 11 runs in the next inning alone…oh well.  And today, we highlight the opposition pitcher who set the tone for Scottsdale’s offense being held back.

The Minor League Baseball Organization of the Year: Your Richmond Flying Squirrels!

https://www.mlb.com/milb/richmond/news/flying-squirrels-named-2026-milb-organization-of-the-year

This week is the MiLB Business Summit…kind of the Winter Meetings for minor league baseball, and today they announced that the Richmond Flying Squirrels were named the 2026 Organization of the Year Award.

Of course, this year the Flying Squirrels opened the long-awaited new stadium, CarMax Park, culminating literally a decade and a half of work to make it happen.  (Ever wonder why “The Diamond” never got a corporate name?  For 15 years, the Squirrels thought a new stadium was so close to happening that they never wanted to sign a long-term naming deal that would end early when they moved.)  But the Squirrels have been a long-run top organization.  The new stadium helped the team average 7,105 fans per game, the 7th-best attendance in all the minors and the highest average attendance in the Eastern League since 2004.  But the Squirrels’ performance in attendance is no new-stadium fluke…they have led all 30 DoubleA MiLB clubs in attendance since 2022, increasing their attendance each season.

This is all just more plaudits for the well-deserving Flying Squirrels organization, who I will openly say as a member of the media, is one of the tightest-run and most professional organizations I’ve worked with in over 20 years of experience.  As more and more teams have been purchased up by ownership groups, particularly Diamond Baseball Holdings, the Squirrels are run very well as a mostly independent ownership.  (OnDeck Partners, a self-described “American baseball holding company”, who owns three minor league clubs, holds a minority stake.)

I love to see Richmond being honored for well-deserved performance over the years.  But part of me worries a lot about 2031, which is looming.

Non-Giant Prospect to Highlight of the Day: Luke Holman (CIN #23)

Today’s game between Peoria and Scottsdale started with just one hit allowed between both teams through four innings, none by Scottsdale, and that was led by Luke Holman, who struck out six in his three innings of work.  The 23-year old Reds prospect has only rarely pitched since being drafted in the second Competitive Balance of the 2024 draft. He had Tommy John surgery in April 2025 after appearing in just two games in his debut year, and was able to make four rehab appearances in the ACL before that season ended.  The LSU pitcher was one of the better SEC pitchers in 2024, working mostly off of a low-90’s fastball with good ride and a good slider.  His other pitchers are a bit behind with lost development time.  However, he was showing good stuff in this game, and has 10 strikeouts to just one walk in 5.0 total innings so far this fall.

Scottsdale: Peoria Javelinas 13, Scottsdale Scorpions 5

Link

Giants Prospects to Spotlight:

• SP Randy Rodriguez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K - Look who finally debuted!  A good game for him in his first game since August 22nd.  He threw 11 pitches, seven of them for strikes.  Otherwise, not much to go off of, other than he was back and looked healthy and good.
• RP Darien Smith: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K - Smith had his best outing of the fall, allowing only a hit in what was a pitcher’s duel for four innings.  The one hit was the only allowed by either team after four.  Smith leads Scottsdale in innings pitched with 8.0 over three appearances, and has a 2.25 ERA with nine strikeouts to three walks.
• RP Alexander Fuentes (SF #26): 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 WP - Fuentes came in for the 8th inning and struggled with his command, walking three and allowing a hit.  Of 26 pitches, only nine were strikes.  He has eight walks to five strikeouts in 3.0 innings over three appearances.
• CF Dakota Jordan (SF #7): 1-4, 2 K, 1 2B (1) - After the slow start, Dakota Jordan is slowing getting his batting average up, going 1-for-4 with a double, he second extra-base hit of the fall, raising his average to .185 (5-for-27), but also adding two strikeouts to give him 12.
• DH Dalton Wentz: 0-2, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K - No hits for Wentz, lowering his average to .182 (2-for-11), but two walks gives him three walks to go with four strikeouts across five games.

Other Scottsdale Prospect Lines:

• SS Bryce Rainer (MLB #45; DET #2): 0-4, 4 K, 1 E (1)
• LF Brendan Summerhill (TB #28): 0-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K
• 1B Eric Bitoni (MIL #26): 2-3, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 2B (1)

Peoria Notable Prospect Lines:

• CF Tai Peete (STL #17): 0-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
• 1B Ike Irish (MLB #97; BAL #5): 4-5, 1 R, 2 RBI
• C Boston Smith (SEA #13): 1-4, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
• RF Alex McCoy (SD #26): 1-5, 1 R, 3 K
• SS Carlos Sanchez (CIN #14): 1-4, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K
• SP Luke Holman (CIN #23): 3.0 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 6 K

Other Games

Salt River Rafters 6, Glendale Desert Dogs 5 (10 Innings)

Link

Salt River Notable Prospect Lines:

• SS Dax Kilby (MLB #83; NYY #1): 0-4, 2 SB (2), 1 HBP
• 1B Jared Thomas (COL #10): 0-5, 4 K
• 2B Andy Perez (COL #15): 0-4, 1 BB, 2 K
• CF Yasser Mercedes (MIN #17): 1-2, 2 R, 3 BB, 2 SB (2), 1 CS (1), 1-1 ABS
• 3B Core Jackson (NYY #11): 1-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 2 SB (5)
• SP Sean Sullivan (COL #20): 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR

Glendale Notable Prospect Lines:

• SS Tate Southisene (MLB #57; ATL #3): 1-3, 1 R, 1 K, 1 SB (1), 1 E (2)
• 2B Charles Davalan (MLB #84; LAD #6): 1-4, 1 HBP
• DH Dillon Lewis (MIA #11): 1-5, 2 RBI, 3 K, 1 2B (3)
• LF Caleb Bonemer (MLB #27; CWS #2): 1-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 K, 1 HR (1)
• CF Eduardo Quintero (MLB #18; LAD #3): 0-4, 3 K
• 1B-SS Colby Shelton (CWS #23): 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 K, 1 HR (1)
• RF Owen Carey (ATL #21): 0-2
• RF Isaiah Drake (ATL #29): 0-2, 1 K
• RP Mathias LaCombe (CWS #17): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HR

Mesa Solar Sox at Surprise Saguaros: POSTPONED

Well, this is a new one.  It wasn’t the weather…well, not directly.  Officially, this game got postponed due to power loss.  As of right now, no makeup date has been announced.  Peoria and Surprise are supposed to make up their game from Monday tomorrow on what was supposed to be an off-day.  Hopefully the power is back by then!

Programming Note

As noted, Wednesday is an off-day for the league, but there is that makeup game scheduled.  No Giants on Wednesday, though.

Shohei is a top 10 talent of all time but I’m so tired of hearing broadcasts refer to him as the best player to ever live. Even at his peak, he has never displayed the utter dominance as Bonds, nor has he ever struck such fear into opposing pitchers. This isn’t an anti-Shohei post, but this narrative that he’s “the best” to every play is ridiculous. Bonds’ bat alone is more valuable than Shohei’s hitting and pitching abilities combined. A players greatness should be measured by their overall contributions to the team, and I think it’s foolish to take 2022-2024 Shohei over any Bonds season from 2001-2004.

Shohei can prove me wrong if he puts up 10 WAR per season for the next ten years and wins 4 more MVPs.

Sorry I’ve just been hearing it over and over throughout the playoffs, did my monthly check of Bonds bRef page and got pissed. Recency bias is a bitch.

EDIT: I’m aware Mays’ name is floated around in the GOAT conversation. Love Mays and what he did for the Giants, but he played way before my time, so I can’t confidently make that argument based off stats and word of mouth. I saw Bonds play with my own two eyes, which is why I singled him out.

Barry Bonds cut the Angels' lead to 1 with a homer off Troy Percival, but it wasn't enough as the Giants dropped Game 2 of the 2002 World Series.

Was a great year for the org, fireworks mishap aside.

10/10

For the second straight day, we’ve got only one game to recap in the Arizona Fall League, but this time it’s because rain wiped out two games and shortened the one that was played.  But hey, the one that got played was Scottsdale, so we have some Giants players to note!  Also, let’s talk about how teams are doing, and put a focus on a former Dodger prospect who is among the best prospects in all of baseball.

Non-Giant Prospect to Highlight of the Day: Zyhir Hope (MLB #26; DET #1)

Let’s discuss a former Dodger.  Zyhir Hope was drafted in the 11th round in 2023 out of high school by the Cubs, and was traded to the Dodgers the following offseason in the Michael Busch/Yency Almonte trade.  Hope was ranked as high as #6 in the Dodgers system, in a system deep with outfielders, before the Dodgers traded him to the Tigers as a key piece for Tarik Skubal.  Notably, this is Hope’s second Arizona Fall League call, as he slashed .228/.301/.446 in 2024 with the Dodgers group in Glendale.  Hope has a ton of power and speed, and his potential has him in the top third of the 100 best prospects in baseball.  He’s been moved off of center field but is an above average defender in either corner.  The big question will be whether or not he can make enough contact to let his offense show through, as he has high strikeouts (as one would expect for power hitters).  In 124 games across Double-A teams for both the Dodgers (Tulsa) and Tigers (Erie), he hit .287 with a .880 OPS, hitting 29 home runs and stealing 26 bases, but with 141 strikeouts to 62 walks.

Scottsdale: Scottsdale Scorpions 6, Glendale Desert Dogs 2 (7 Innings)

Link

Giants Prospects to Spotlight:

• CF Dakota Jordan (SF #7): 1-3, 2 K - A bit of a pedestrian day for Jordan, but 1-for-3 pushes his average up slightly, now up to .174, as he’s 4-for-23.  His 10 strikeouts are a 35.7% strikeout rate still. 
• 2B Kaeden Kent (SF #20): 0-2, 1 R, 1 BB - Kent had an 0-fer, but is still 6-for-16 (.375).  The walk was his first in five games, to go against just two strikeouts.
• SP Miguel Mendez (SF #16): 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 1 WP - Mendez made his second start, and now has seven strikeouts to three walks in 4.2 innings, with a 3.86 ERA in the limited innings.
• RP Drake George: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K - Drake George made his second appearance, the first one in a relief spot, and hasn’t allowed any hits or walks, nor has he struck anyone out, in 2.0 innings.

Other Scottsdale Prospect Lines:

• DH Bryce Rainer (MLB #45; DET #2): 1-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 2B (2), 1-1 ABS
• C Nathan Flewelling (MLB #62; TB #3): 2-3, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB (1), 1-2 ABS
• RF Zyhir Hope (MLB #26; DET #1): 1-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 2 K, 1 HR (1)
• LF Braylon Payne (MIL #6): 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 K
• 1B Eric Bitoni (MIL #26): 0-3, 1 K

Glendale Notable Prospect Lines:

• RF Eduardo Quintero (MLB #18; LAD #3): 0-4, 1 K
• 2B Charles Davalan (MLB #84; LAD #6): 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR (1)
• SS Wyatt Sanford (PIT #5): 1-2, 1 BB, 1 K
• CF Caleb Bonemer (MLB #27; CWS #2): 0-2, 1 BB, 1 K
• DH Jhonny Severino (PIT #28): 1-3, 1 R, 1 K, 1 2B (1)
• 3B Chase Harlan (LAD #9): 2-3, 1 RBI, 1 K
• 1B Colby Shelton (CWS #23): 0-2, 1 BB
• LF Isaiah Drake (ATL #29): 0-2, 1 K
• PH-LF Owen Carey (ATL #21): 0-1
• SP Brooks Auger (LAD #29): 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB< 3 K, 1 HR

Other Games

Peoria Javelinas @ Surprise Saguaros - Postponed (To Be Made Up on Oct. 14th)

Salt River Rapids @ Mesa Solar Sox - Postponed (No Makeup Date Listed)

Standings

Here’s the current standings in the Arizona Fall League:

#1 Scottsdale - 6-1 (.857)
#2 Salt River - 5-2 (.714)
#3 Surprise - 4-3 (.571)
#4 Peoria - 3-4 (.429)
#5 Mesa - 2-4 (.333)
#6 Glendale - 1-7 (.125)

It’s obviously very early in the Fall season, a little more than 1 week into a 6-week season, but it’s good to see the Giants-led Scottsdale team on top.

This is also a good spot to point out that having a lot of Top Prospects doesn’t mean you’re going to have a winning team in the AFL.  Take a look at the number of Top 30 prospects listed on each team’s roster

Scottsdale - 8 Hitters, 1 Pitcher - 2 Top 100
Glendale - 14 Hitters, 5 Pitchers - 4 Top 100
Mesa - 10 Hitters, 3 Pitchers - 1 Top 100
Peoria - 8 Hitters, 5 Pitchers - 1 Top 100
Salt River - 6 Hitters, 4 Pitchers - 1 Top 100
Surprise - 11 Hitters, 4 Pitchers - 3 Top 100

Scottsdale has the least with only 9 Top 30 guys, and only one such pitcher ranked (the Giants’ Mendez).  Salt River is right behind them with only 10.  Those two teams currently are the leaders in the AFL.  Meanwhile, easily the most heavily-laden prospect team is the (amusingly-Dodgers-led) Glendale team with 19, and 4 Top 100 guys, and they have the by far worst record in the league.

Again…it’s early.  Things can change.  Scottsdale and Salt River’s lead is not much in this league.  But this is definitely worth noting about the way it goes in this league.

Seriously, this dude is on fire! (Why are we supposed to not like him again?)

Patrick Bailey just hit a solo home run in the 7th inning to tie the score at 2-2, Guardians vs. Rays. In 2026 post season play Bailey is hitting .389 with 7 hits in 18 AB, 2 HR and 3 RBI, .421 OBP and 1.143 OPS.

This is 2 more homers and 3 more RBI than the entire Giants team has hit in post season play in the last 4 years. Way to keep on keeping on Patrick Bailey.

“Oh man, Chapman, Adames, Devers, Lee, you guys are all severely underperforming at the plate. Let’s trade our back to back gold glove winning, offensively clutch catcher away, because surely, he’s the problem!” I hope Tugboat and that first round draft pick pay off.

I was never a Bailey guy. I think he thinks caring about offense day-to-day is beneath him because of his defensive value and I liked the trade to Cleveland. But when he actually decides it’s worthwhile to lock in at the plate, he’s nails. I can’t deny it

Man, I miss that guy.