Top Giants Pitching Prospects To Look Out For In Spring Training
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Bleacher Report) -- With a fastball that rarely cracks 90 miles per hour (MPH), Chris Heston doesn't have the best pure stuff amongst the San Francisco Giants' pitching prospects. However, his ability to throw strikes, keep the ball on the ground and get lefties out makes him the most polished pitching prospect in the system.
Another high-upside starting-pitching prospect in camp is lefty Michael Kickham. Kickham has better velocity than Heston, sitting in the low-90's with his fastball. He was also able to hold right-handed hitters in check last year, as righties hit only .221 against him.
Edwin Escobar is another high-upside lefty, but he's not as close to the big leagues as Kickham or Heston. The 20-year-old put it all together last year at Low-A Augusta—putting up a 2.96 ERA with 122 strikeouts against just 32 walks in 130.2 innings pitched.
Heath Hembree and the manager's son, Brett Bochy, are the two relievers in camp who combine a high upside with a close proximity to the major leagues. Hembree has better pure stuff than Bochy, but injuries and control problems set him back last year.
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