2010 Preview: San Jose Giants

2009 Recap
Standings- 93-47, won Championship in 3 games over High Desert
Team Runs- 803, 2nd out of 10
Team ERA- 3.27, 1st out of 10

Statistical Leaders:
BA (min. 200 AB)- Thomas Neal, .337
R- Thomas Neal, 102
HR- Roger Kieschnick, 23
RBI- Roger Kieschnick, 110
SB- Darren Ford, 35
OPS (min. 200 AB)- Thomas Neal, 1.010

W- Craig Clark, 16
ERA (min. 50 IP)- Daniel Turpen, 1.24
IP- Craig Clark, 147.2
K- Craig Clark, 135
WHIP (min. 50 IP)- Garrett Broshuis, .90
S- Rafael Cova, 8

The Giants are one of baseball's deepest and most talented organizations, and San Jose clearly benefited from that in 2009. Using a number of the organization's best prospects including Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford, Roger Kieshnick and several other high picks, the Giants dominated the Cal League wire to wire and came away with the championship. San Jose's pitching was by far the best in the league, and that allowed them to cruise through the playoffs and shut down High Desert's powerful offense. With their 93-47 record, they proved to be one of the best teams in the entire minors.

Likely key departures
OF Thomas Neal
OF Roger Kieschnick
OF Darren Ford
SP Craig Clark
SP Clayton Tanner
SP Paul Oseguera

Potential Baseball America top 10 prospects
8. SS Ehire Adrianza
10. Francisco Peguero

Other potential additions and returnees
1B Josh Mazzola
OF Ben Woodbury
C Johnny Monell
SP Ari Ronick
P Andy Reichard

As it stands right now, San Jose won't be able to win 93 games again, but they should still have a competitive team in 2010. A affiliate Augusta was clearly one of the betters teams in the SAL last year, but they were victims of the league's first half/second half champion system and did not make the playoffs. The lineup should be solid, especially if #8 prospect Ehire Adrianza converts his tools into production. 1B Josh Mazzola was Augusta's only double digit home run hitter, but Ben Woodbury, Johnny Monell and Francisco Peguero showed they'll be good contributors.

Despite not featuring any really good prospects in 2009, pitching was San Jose's strength, and it looks like that will be the case in 2010 too, again without the team's top prospects. The Green Jackets were among the SAL's best pitching teams, and starters such as Ari Ronick should carry that over to lead a solid rotation. Eric Surkamp had a strong full season debut in 2009, and he's still young enough where a good 2010 season could put him on the prospect map. His high strikeout total was a bit unusual for Augusta, who was near the bottom of the SAL in team K's.