I wrote this note about Devers a few weeks ago: giantsprospects.substack.com/p/winter-tho...

From the baseball community on Reddit: Some interesting language from Dalton Rushing after Jung Hoo Lee lands hard at home Explore this post and more from the baseball community

This Rushing guy seems like an ass www.reddit.com/r/baseball/c...

Yes I realize the post I’m quoting suggests Elder’s stuff is really bad. Maybe, just maybe, the human eye and brain can still identify things not yet picked up by stuff models. But in all likelihood, Elder will probably have overall poor results again in a few weeks.

I did not realize Elder was having such a good start to the year. Thought there was a lot more in the tank for him and he was probably available for peanuts early in the offseason #knowball

Dylan Carter, who I’ve not heard of, throwing 95-97. Didn’t have feel for low 80s breaking ball. Cutter looked like something.

State of pro ball. A guy throwing that hard would be known 15 years ago.

Maldonado has put a charge into a few balls off some soft lefty stuff. Gets to it without having to swing too hard.

At the San Jose Giants game. No Level or Barajas :( Maldonado hit a bomb already.

That inning showed Bailey’s value. First pitch to Tena was called a ball, but was a strike. An enterprising person can look up how often that location has been a ball for Bailey. My guess, very rare. And he would’ve challenged anyways. So instead of 1-2, it was 2-1, prior to single.

Bailey is such a good fit for Webb that I’m surprised they are doing this. A bit too reactive imo. Susac has done well in 17 PA, but giving him high leverage PH opportunities and now this, is based on what else?

I was looking at this last night and it surprised me. Thought he has looked a lot better than that. Guess I have fallen into the Arraez vortex

He’s in action in Arizona. He popped up in a BA report recently, appears to have found some of his prior ability this year.

This was my note on Marquez in the top 80 write up giantsprospects.substack.com/p/2026-top-8...

5/11 would make playoffs now, so pretty early still

I fear a team with a structured bat speed program is going to pounce on Ramos and get him back to his plus levels. Just does not make sense for it to have fallen off so much at his age.

I don’t believe the Giants are really engaging in this development avenue, either in the majors or the minors.

Possible hot take, I think Bailey will end this season better offensively than his 2025 season (70 wRC+).

Looking at regulars (2024-2026):
Chapman: 64% -> 51% -> 55%
Devers: 28% (BOS) -> 20% -> 13%
Adames: 33% -> 20% -> 28%
Ramos: 55% -> 45% -> 17%
Bailey: 13% -> 16% - 25%
Lee: 13% -> 3% -> 4%
Schmitt: 25% -> 21% -> 18%
Encarnacion: 70% -> 54% -> 51%

Arraez: 0% -> fast swing rate isn’t everything

My hypothesis: despite adding two big bats better than almost anyone on the 2024 roster, the 2025 team still posted the same 97 wRC+ because 2024 team maximized matchups and was better prepared. Nice upswing so far in 2026, but still not maximizing talent. More matchup than prep issue rn imo.

Giants fast swing rate (bat speed >=75 mph). Every single month in 2024 (no Adames/Devers) was better than any month in 2025 and so far in 2026.

Hitters get their best swings off when they are on time, which comes from pitch recognition and discipline, downstream of prep

Framing is just that valuable even though it’s hard to fathom. It doesn’t make up for how bad the bat has been so far. But he has been better the last two years.

Ashcraft vs Oliva

Framing still matters, but eyeballing it, ABS seems to have taken about 15% of his defensive value away so far. That’s half a win. So if he hits like last year, he’s probably a 2.5 win player rather than 3.

Ben Badler posted a video of SS Bony Guzman (2027) here: www.instagram.com/p/DXFsythFNK...

Note: Guzman is expected to receive 1.5-2M bonus, so likely in the 10-20 range for the class.
giantsprospects.substack.com/p/2026-giant...

My only NFL draft take

I barely know anything about football, but one QB in the top 30 seems to be not accounting for value of the position? It’s by far the most valuable position in the sport. So even a mediocre QB prospect has to be pretty valuable. Seeing a TE, IOL ahead of the second QB is strange for that reason

Minasian talks about it here at 3:50. They haven’t felt like this has mattered enough to change their roster decisions. Or interpret it as you would like www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/video/mlb/sa...

There is a guy doing the Johnny Cueto in the Pakistan Super League.

There are drafts now in bluesky!

It would be interesting to see Rodriguez and maybe even Eldridge get reps in LF in the next couple of weeks. Lee/Ramos platoon in RF could be where the team needs to head.

Bresnahan added to Eugene’s roster.

Obviously wasn’t around for Lanier/Hiller, but Vizquel in 2008 was so bad that I feel like i have 200 of those PA imprinted. If you thought Bailey was bad last year, that was nothing, I mean nothing, in comparison to Vizquel. 40 wRC+ is so bad that people will remember you poorly decades from now.