Sports
Giants Have Just One Player Ranked Among Baseball’s Top 100. Who Is It?
Those who follow Major League Baseball closely aren’t impressed with the roster of the San Francisco Giants.
Following an off-season in which the big-market Giants were expected to add a star like Aaron Judge — but didn’t — it’s clear the team lacks the firepower of its top NL West rivals.
A panel of ESPN baseball experts released a list of the game’s Top 100 players on Thursday, and only one Giant squeezed into that exclusive territory — pitcher Logan Webb at No. 71.
“Webb is the antithesis of modern pitchers: He throws a low-spin sinking 91-mph fastball that produces grounders instead of strikeouts, and he gets batters to chase his slider and changeup,” wrote ESPN’s Dave Schoenfield. “We’ll see if the shift ban hurts him more than other pitchers, but I expect his throwback style, pitch efficiency, and command will lead to another strong season.”
Related Story: Giants Embarrass Themselves With Worst Off-Season in Baseball History
Judge, the former Fresno State standout and now the AL single-season home run king, returned to the New York Yankees instead of signing with the Giants. He’s No. 3 among the Top 100, trailing only Los Angeles Angels pitcher-slugger Shohei Ohtani, who is No. 1, and another Angel, All-Star outfielder Mike Trout.
Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correia, whose old ankle surgery scared off the Giants, is rated No. 24. Starting pitcher Carlos Rodon, who overpowered hitters last year as a Giant, is No. 34 and wearing Yankee pinstripes.
San Diego Padres 3B Manny Machado, right, is No. 4 on ESPN’s list of Top 100 players for 2023. (AP File)
In contrast, two NL West clubs are loaded with Top 100 players.
The San Diego Padres have six: 3B Manny Machado (4), RF Juan Soto (6), OF Fernando Tatis Jr. (25), SS Xander Bogearts (28), SP Joe Musgrove (78), SP Yu Darvish (80).
And, the Los Angeles Dodgers check in with four: 1B Freddie Freeman (5), RF-2B Mookie Betts (9), SP Julio Urias (46), SP Clayton Kershaw (87).
The Giants open the season on Thursday, May 30, at the Yankees.
