The Giants are planning promote top infield prospect Marco Luciano prior to tonight’s game against the A’s, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. Luciano is already on the 40-man roster, so a corresponding move will only be needed to add him to the club’s active roster.
Luciano, 21, has long been considered one of the game’s top prospects. He was a consensus top-20 prospect in the sport as recently as last year, and is currently considered a consensus top-50 prospect across most services. Scouts are enamored with Luciano’s power potential and bat speed, but have long questioned his hit tool due to an elevated strikeout rate throughout his minor league career. While Luciano’s defense previously raised questions regarding his ability to stick in the infield long-term, with many projecting a move to the outfield in his future, a strong 2023 campaign on that side of the ball has largely alleviated those concerns, indicating he should at least be able to stick at third base if not his native position of shortstop.
Luciano has struggled to stay on the field in recent years due to back troubles, missing ten weeks in 2022 due to the issue and another month this year. When healthy, however, he’s produced at the plate with a .263/.339/.549 slash line with a 121 wRC+ in 57 games at the High-A level last season and a Double-A slash line of .228/.339/.450, good for a wRC+ of 114 in 56 games this year. Luciano’s strikeout rate rose more than 7 points this season, nearly reaching 30% at Double-A, though the youngster managed to mostly make up for the additional whiffs with a massive 14.9% walk rate.
Luciano’s performance at Double-A recently earned him a promotion to the Triple-A level, where he’s slashed an excellent .292/.370/.625 that’s good for a wRC+ of 130 even in the inflated offensive environment of the Pacific Coast League. The Giants, who have struggled to a 9-11 record in July and just snapped a six-game losing streak last night, seemingly view Luciano as a potential spark who can help cover for the injured Thairo Estrada and Brandon Crawford up the middle, roles that currently fall to struggling youngsters Casey Schmitt and Brett Wisely.
How exciting!
I envision the Giants retiring Luciano’s #2 jersey in a couple of years- right next to Bill Terry. Go Gigantes!
that would require blake sabol to be convinced to give #2 to a younger player.
It begins
it began earlier in the year lol luciano will be something like the 9th player to make their debut this year
.235 in the minors…impressive
Man could you be positive about anything?
Get out of the 90’s with your use of batting average only, way to cherry pick
This, Villar has looked horrible all season in the bigs on both sides…
RIGHT! It’s like that time they made a big deal about calling up that player who was only batting .211 with a single home run in about 100 plate appearances with 25 strikeouts in the minors that season. Shoot, what’s the guys name?
Oh sorry, it was the Braves with Ronald Acuña, and it’s almost as though minor league numbers don’t tell the whole story (especially if you’re going to hone in on batting average).
Luciano?
Promote him……or else.
This seems a little rushed. Sure, he raked in a very short sample size at AAA, but his AA numbers weren’t great.
In AA, his early numbers were lousy during a recovery from his stress fracture. However, he definitely picked it up and earned his promotions. Also, the org had him seeing more pitches – in other words, he modifying his entire approach in order to get familiar with the changes of speed and movement.
Little side note: the reason for the elevated strikeout numbers is actually not a troubling sign: the Giants org has consistently asked him to see more pitches, regardless of the outcome; they’re not worried about strikeouts, so much as they want Luciano to see more pitches and how they move (especially in the pitcher-favored Eastern League).)
He’s striking out *looking* a lot, and for good reason. He gets on base a ton and his barrel rate and exit velo are insane. The kid is going places. Super stoked.
Nice scouting report!
I’m lucky enough to know some folks in the organization!
That is lucky ! Good work, Bacon. Thankyou.
yeah I was listening to a scout on this and they were talking about how part of his training was also to get to 2 strikes and extend the AB – I am pretty interesting to see how that translates to the bigs
Go Luci go!!!!! I couldn’t sleep last night after the news broke at like 11pm in SF! We Giants fans have waited a long time!!!!
I checked MLBTR last night but everyone was asleep so it didn’t get posted till this morning!!!
Lol!
Go go go Luci!!!!
Hell yeah. Been waiting years for this moment.
pretty funny that so many of us are like FINALLY… and the kid is 21 lol
I was able to sleep fine. Then again, I’m a level headed adult. That said, I’m excited to see Luciano too. Been waiting years for this. I hope he does well. I’m not going to disrespect him by shortening his name to a female connotation out of laziness though
CR Wow! I didn’t realize that a comment clearly responding to someone else would be taken so personally by, or trigger you, especially to the point of making up and hurling personal insults, about a person who you really know nothing about. Yet here we are. Speaking of level headed, you’ve shown clearly that you are not. The simping over agnes is cute though, lmao.
As far as Farhan goes, he’s never actually run any other team before and it shows.
So sorry that you take my screen name so personally and it offends you so much, but I have a right to my opinion, just like you. Cope harder and save those tears for your mama, cause I ain’t the one, son.
agnes cooch I’m sorry you’re so miserable. Poor little thing. Remember nicknames are no big deal. As far as the beauty of life, I’ve seen and appreciate it much more than anyone who thinks that millionaire executives are compassionate and kind people, lmao
Someone move ur rock??
claud raymond I seriously hope you get your constipation problem solved quickly
SS or 3B ?
SS for sure. It’s all Luciano has played. JD Davis is the 3B. My guess is that Schmitt stays as the backup IF and Wisely gets sent down. Or they could keep Wisely at 2B and send Schmitt back down to get his plate confidence back up.
wisely has shown enough with the glove – I think villar goes back down
Oh yeah forgot about Villar.
Clearly, Zaidi is either showcasing him for the deadline and or taking him out for a test drive so he assess internal fixes vs outside organizational fixes for the Giants ridiculously bad middle infield production
It’s a risky move in the sense that if Luciano doesn’t perform well , his trade value plummets
also potential trade partners for outside organizational middle infielder help see that and it can weaken Zaidi’s position at the table
He’s their 3B of the future (with Schmitt or Fitz at SS.)
Unless the return is monumental for the org, I do not see them using this as trade bait.
Don’t worry Supreme, 27champ likes to rain on our parade.
We all know Crawford is old but he’s the last of the championship era guys, and he’s a quiet leader and example for the kids. He’s riding off in the sunset. Thairo getting HBP is not anyone’s fault in the organization. That’s why the middle infield is being tested.
We do have a lot of SS in the system—Tyler Fitzgerald, Aeverson Arteaga, Diego Velasquez, and we just signed Maui and that’s just off the top of my head, there’s probably more! The future is going to be fun!
Will Wilson as well.
You are right sanfranb27! I should have listed Will Wilson too. Zaidi has some cleaning up to do if the roster at the deadline!
@agnes gooch you’re right, Farhan has really made some sloppy mistakes while roster building
rock, now!
Lol there’s no way they’re trading Luciano this summer. If they were wanting to showcase him, they may as well had left him raking in AAA.
Good point. And they genuinely need the help up the middle infield. That’s been an achilles heel since Estrada and Crawford hit the IL, and the bats have gone ice cold leading up to the deadline.
raking? he is not even raking in AA. I think they are evaluating him if he is worth developing or trading him. Helios comes to mind as a big time prospect who fluttered – is marcos legit or a Helios.
@Datashark it’s *Heliot and he’s still a prospect. And doing very well in AAA, we might see him again this year. Despite Farhan’s obvious chip on his shoulder toward 1st round picks from the previous regime
He struggled in AA coming off back problem. And now hitting well. Raking? Probably an exaggeration at just under .300 at AAA. Last night, he hit 3 balls in play at 109mph, 110, and 110. Slater is only giant to hit a ball 109 since break. This info came from Baggerly.
per pavlovic: Luciano is batting .305 over his last 32 games with an OPS nearing 1.000, eight homers and eight doubles, and team officials have consistently praised his improved approach at the plate.
Ha ha ha. Yep. Clearly. In your warped, obsessed head.
27chumpy I doubt Luciano is getting traded this year, unless it’s for Ohtani. And I don’t think Ohtani will be traded.
Sweet!
Let’s go Marco!!
100!% Let’s go Marco!
Should have been Tyler Fitzgerald..
I think he has shown enough to get a call – wisely’s defense has been really good but I would think luciano pushes out villar and at some point if the 40 man frees up you can swap fitzgerald and wisely
Rookie number 9 and still in the fight.
Good luck, Marco !
Big day foppert! I’m so stoked! Hope Luci has a beautiful night! And our number one pick Bryce Eldridge will be at the park with Larry Baer also! I’ll be there too!
That’s awesome, Agnes. Unwavering support rewarded by the baseball Gods. Great to see.
Had a feeling this was coming. Pavlovic went down and checked him out just prior to his promotion to AAA. Apparently he looked a cut above and the coaches were saying he is almost ready. Go Giants !
Luci has power which we sorely need! The hype train is real but he’s still a kid, so I will temper expectations. But I’m going to be screaming my head off in support of him and our Giants!!!
If you ever want to comment on our little blog foppert, you are welcome 🙂
It’s an odd mix of friendly Giants fans!
Here’s the link where we are now:
sfgiants.blog/2023/07/24/as/
I’m getting there, Agnes. I have a Disqus profile…..but then got lost. Apparently some hot chicks were checking me out though !
Thanks for the link.
Lololol! There are some busty bots on Disqus! Don’t get enamored!
agnes cooch Bart has light tower power too. I read an article suggesting that Blake Sabol might be traded at the deadline. Bailey and Bart could be a great catching combo
This might be a show and tell us what your made of — Anticipation to trade possibilities
Alternatively, it is just the next step in his development.
Finally Luciano gets opportunity to prove himself
Finally? He’s 21!
To the folks suggesting this is a showcase for a potential trade, you’re looking at it backwards
Until he debuts in mlb he’s all potential. Once a player debuts their potential becomes reality. It’s a Schrödinger’s box scenario .
Also one week of mlb play will not impact decision making in any meaningful way
Utah, per Baggerly he hit 3 balls in play 109mph+. And Slater is only Giant to do that once since break. So, another reason to indicate it’s not a showcase. If he is successful now, there’d be less reason to trade him. Btw, do I need to Google Schrodingers Box cuz I have ZERO clue.
the 3 109s were last night
claude raynond personally I’m open to seeing Bart’s 114+MPH exit velocities again
Googled it. It made me wonder if the expression “let the cat out of the bag” was originally “let the cat out of the box” cuz they are so similar in meaning. Anyway, I totally get ur reason for the Box reference. Liked it.
Wishing you the best, nice of the front office to get you started against lower level pitching than you’re currently used to at AAA. Best of luck kid god knows this team needs a shot to remain relevant going forward.
Hyped to see him in the bigs! Shame for Villar that he just can’t get a hit to save his life. I’ll be rooting for him to figure it out. In the meantime I’m hoping Marco’s back is 100% and we get to see the best he’s got!
Apparently it is. He told Pavlovic a couple of weeks ago that he is 100%
I’m surprised at Luciano’s call up so quickly. Giants certainly need a shot in the arm, and Villar, Schmitt and Wisely just haven’t produced offensively so I’m excited to see him play. Villar is the man out. I just hope the Giants aren’t rushing Luciano to his detriment. Fingers crossed.
Hi Pete!
Hi Agnes! Joined the other group you suggested. Hope all is well.
If he starts off hot, like Schmitt did, we might not even trade for a middle infielder, just prioritize pitching and maybe outfield instead.
Good. Get him up here. Get experience. The G’s are still middle of the pack. Maybe slightly better. Imagine an Ace. With what they have, a hot starting pitcher would carry them far. We’ve seen it before.