The Giants are set to get their first look at middle-infield prospect Mauricio Dubon, per Robert Murray of The Athletic (Twitter link). The Giants will promote the 25-year-old, whom they acquired in the deadline deal that sent Drew Pomeranz and Ray Black to the Brewers, prior to tonight’s game. Dubon is on the 40-man roster, so San Francisco will only be required to make a 25-man roster move to accommodate his promotion.
Dubon currently ranks fifth among Giants farmhands at Baseball America, seventh over at Fangraphs and eighth at MLB.com. He’s hitting a combined .302/.345/.477 in 539 plate appearances on the season, including a .323/.391/.485 line (116 wRC+) in 112 plate appearances since being traded over to his new organization. Dubon has long posted low strikeout rates in the minors, but he’s taken that trend to a new level in Triple-A Sacramento, where he’s walked more often (10 times) than he’s struck out (nine).
Originally a Red Sox draft pick in 2013, Dubon went to Milwaukee alongside Travis Shaw in the much-maligned (by Boston fans, that is) Tyler Thornburg swap. However, while he looked to be on the cusp of MLB readiness early in 2018, a torn ACL in May wiped out the remainder of last season for him. Upon returning to the field in 2019, Dubon was suddenly looking up at Keston Hiura and Mike Moustakas in the Brewers’ big league infield, clouding his path to the Majors to an extent. While the Brewers could’ve given him a look at shortstop with Orlando Arcia struggling immensely in 2019, the decision was instead made to utilize him as a means of adding some help to the relief corps.
With his new organization, Dubon is blocked at shortstop by Brandon Crawford (and his no-trade clause), who is signed through the 2021 season. However, while Dubon has played primarily shortstop in 2019, he has ample experience at second base and could immediately step into a regular role there as he auditions for 2020 at-bats. The Giants recently cut ties with Joe Panik, creating a clear opening for Dubon to slot into the lineup.
Dubon is generally regarded as a hit-over-power prospect, but his home run output has increased in Triple-A this season (though it’s worth noting the important caveat that home runs have skyrocketed throughout all of Triple-A upon switching over to the same ball used in MLB). While there may be questions about his ability to hit for power in the long run, particularly in the cavernous Oracle Park, Dubon typically receives average or better ratings for his hit tool, arm strength, speed and defensive abilities. Paired with a keen eye at the plate and solid upper-minors production, that skill set should earn him a legitimate opportunity at regular playing time with the Giants as they look to transition to a younger core under new front-office management headed by president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi.
By promoting Dubon now, the Giants will put him on track to become eligible for arbitration upon completion of the 2022 season and to reach free agency in the 2025-26 offseason. Future shuttling between the Majors and Triple-A could of course impact that timeline (and Dubon does have an option remaining beyond the current season). As things currently stand, he wouldn’t be a candidate for Super Two status, meaning he’d be arb-eligible the standard three times before hitting the open market.
Allright. !!!
Now that’s some good news right there. Next up needs to be Jaylin Davis.
I wouldn’t hold your breath. I doubt the Giants want to make room on the 40-man roster with Pillar, Yaz, Slater, and Dickerson taking up playing time/ABs. Especially since Bochy seems willing to use both Solano and Avellino in the OF as well.
they are at 39
I’m sorry man Dickerson is not the answer for the outfield. He got off to a hot start but he will slowly get back down to league average and he’s often injured.
He’s hitting.330 in limited action. Let’s give him the first couple months of next year and see then
Alex Dickerson has only played half a season in the majors. He’s produced when on the field. We don’t know what he could be. We haven’t seen enough of him to know. You don’t know that he’s not the answer. I don’t think Zaidi even knows that at this point.
Was he going to be rule five eligible this offseason? Never understood why the Brewers gave him up for a fairly underwhelming package.
IDK either but the Giants for once made out quite well on that deal. Dubon is legit.
I think he could have been, his first season was in low A in 2014. But they also could have waived someone like Tyler Saladino to make room on the 40-man to protect him, so I really just don’t know.
Rule 5 has nothing to do with Dubon. If you are on the 40 man roster, you are exempt from the rule 5. That’s why teams will add guys to the 40 man leading up to the draft
he was on the rule 5 already (think he was added prior to the 2018 season)
Oh ya I see that now.
The Brewers completely screwed up in this trade. The guys they got are absolutely terrible and what they had in the minors were just as good or better. Dubonshould have been the starting ss back in JUNE. This trade is as bad as the Shoop trade.
Villar alone was too much to give up for Schoop
Nothing said in the article about Scooter Gennett, but I think Giants want to see what they have in Dubon to decide about whether or not Scooter will be pursued for next year.
Scooter has not looked particularly good, chasing after everything and striking out in the clutch. Dubon is knocking at the door, and I’m glad he’s going to get a look.
Giants fans really want to see what Jaylin Davis can do in the bigs, but it looks like that will have to wait until September or until an outfielder gets injured.
Gennett has the exact same OPS+ as Panik did in SF this year. And Gennett’s baserunning has been atrocious.
And with September only a few days away, Davis will be here soon enough.
Gennett to Indians.
He is also a threat to steal a base or two. It’ll be nice to have a legit lead off hitter again.
Adios Gennett.. released per knbr! Just watched Dubon hit a HR for Sacramento during the Cueto rehab start last night. Should be fun to see the potential second baseman of the future get a shot!
One of the pieces added to the horrendous Travis Shaw-for-Tyler Thornburg trade.
Should be the Brewers’ starting ss. I believe by WRC+ Arica is the worst offensive player in the bigs.
I’m a 57 year fan of the Giants and I have to admit that it’s time to reduce the playing time of Crawford, Belt and Posey. They all look overmatched at the plate and they have the hustle of a snail. Bring up some players that have a spark and desire. I know they would be expensive backups as Crawford & Posey have no trade clauses in their contracts and Belts contract is so bad that no one with take it on unless the Giants pay most of it.
Agreed. If they are trying to compete next year they can’t go into the season with 3 automatic outs the starting lineup. Farhan pulled some Wizard magic getting Melancon to waive his no clause and the Braves to pay his salary. Maybe he has some more tricks up his sleeve, but if he doesn’t they need to either be backups or released.