DrB's 2026 Giants Top 50 Prospects: #18 Dakota Jordan

18.  Dakota Jordan OF.  DOB:  5/9/2003.  B-R, T-R.  6' 0", 220 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2027.

2025(A):  .311/.377/.497, 15 2B, 6 3B, 14 HR, 27 SB, 8.9 BB%, 22.8 K%, 416 PA.

Dakota Jordan is an extraordinarily physical player.  He looks more like a football linebacker or running back than a baseball player.  Another way to describe him would be a bulked up version of Heliot Ramos.  The Giants drafted him in round 4 2024 draft on the strength of his raw power/speed tool kit.  The big question was the hit tool.  The 2025 season quieted those concerns but I point out A ball is very conservative placement for a 4'th round college draftee.  I am not sure why he wasn't promoted to A+ after a strong first half.  Perhaps he might have been promoted late but he suffered an oblique strain which he aggravated when he tried to return.  

I have him ranked lower as a prospect based on strength of competition and concerns that the football type physicality might not translate well to baseball.  I will add that Jordan is another example of how the Rule 5 Draft rules need to be adjusted to the reality of the later draft date.  He burned up a year of service time toward eligibility in 2024 despite recording just 7 PA's. As a fan of both the player and the team, I find that frustrating.

Hot Stove League Update: Giants Sign Harrison Bader

 One of the Giants goals going into the Hot Stove League was to upgrade their outfield defense.  Over the course of the winter they made some minor acquisitions of Justin Dean and Joey Wiemer who were definitely defensive upgrades but probably not upgrades of overall value due to terrible hitting numbers.  Those guys are long gone and the Giants finally got their upgrade and at a reasonable price.

Harrison Bader OF.  DOB:  6/3/1994.  B-R, T-R.  5' 11", 210 lbs.  2 yr/$20.5 M(+ $500 K in incentives)

2025(Twins/Phillies):  .277/.347/.449, 17 HR, 11 SB, 7.8 BB%, 27.1 K%, 3.2 fWAR.

Bader is coming off the second best season of his career the best being all the way back to 2018.  He had a comparable season in 2021 but a weak bat held him back in the intervening years.  He is a plus defensive CF which the Giants desperately needed. I am sure they will take whatever he can give at the plate.  The other part of this equation is Jung Hoo Lee.  It makes no sense to sign Bader if moving Jung Hoo to RF is not part of the plan.  I assume he was duly informed of this reality at the appropriate time.  Lee has limited range but a strong throwing arm so RF should be a good fit for him.  If he continues to make contact, use all fields and get on base as opposed to trying for Splash Hits, he can be a strong contributor and Bader will improve at least 2 OF positions by his mere presence.  Nice pickup for a reasonable price by the Buster/Zach tandem.

DrB's 2026 Giants Top 50 Prospects: #19 Argenis Cayama

19.  Argenis Cayama RHP.  DOB:  9/15/2006.  6' 1", 180 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2028.

2025(ACL):  1-1, 2.25, 48 IP, 10.31 K/9, 3.38 BB/9, 3.32 GB/FB.

2025(A):  1-0, 8.16, 14.1 IP, 4.40 K/9, 6.28 BB/9, 2.69 GB/FB. 

Cayama is drawing some national buzz with MLB Pipeline rating him the Giants #9 prospect.  Put up elite numbers in the ACL before a late season stumble after promotion to A San Jose.  Cayama is praised for an advanced feel for pitching.  He leads with both 4 and 2 seam fastballs which range from 92-97 MPH, a tight slider and a promising changeup.  Even after his promotion he maintained elite groundball rates.  He should be assigned to A San Jose to start 2026 and will try to master that level at age 19.

DrB's 2026 Giants Top 50 Prospects: #20 Luis De La Torre

20.  Luis De La Torre LHP.  DOB:  9/6/2003.  6' 0", 188 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2026.

2025(ACL):  2-1, 3.72, 38.2 IP, 14.43 K/9, 3.72 BB/9, 0.95 GB/FB.

2025(A):  2-2, 1.77, 35.2 IP, 11.86 K/9, 2.78 BB/9, 2.16 GB/FB.  

MLB Pipeline scouting report says FB sits 94-96 MPH, touches 98.  Slider is a plus pitch at times.  Changeup a work in progress.  I saw him pitch in San Bernardino and was impressed with his pitch mix and command.  Not sure why his groundball rate jumped after promotion to San Jose.  Maybe the coaches there were able to add a 2-seam sinker?  Should move up to A+ with a chance to advance to AA during the season.  Will likely need to be added to 40-man roster after the season to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.  Starting to generate some national buzz but still a sleeper/breakout prospect in the system.

DrB's 2026 Giants Top 50 Prospects: #21 Carlos De La Rosa

21.  Carlos De La Rosa LHP.  DOB:  11/30/2007.  5' 11", 178 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2029.

2025(DSL- Yankees):  0-1, 5.32, 22 IP, 14.73 K/9, 2.05 BB/9, 2.17 FIP.

2025(DSL- Giants):  0-0, 3.48, 10.1 IP, 13.06 K/9, 3.48 BB/9, 2.58 FIP.

Acquired from the Yankees in the Camilo Doval trade.  Signed by the Yankees in the 2025 international class with a bonus of $400 K.  MLB Pipeline scouting report says FB 92-96 MPH, 2 types of slider and a changeup.  A little undersized for a MLB pitcher but delivery is relatively low effort.  Should be able to develop pitch mix into a MLB starter role.

Hot Stove League Update: Rangers Trade for Mackenzie Gore

 The Rangers pulled off what might be the biggest trade of this year's Hot Stove League by acquiring  much-discussed target, Mackenzie Gore LHP, from the Nationals for 5 prospects.  Let's break it down:

Rangers Get:

Mackenzie Gore LHP.  DOB:  2/24/1999.  6' 2", 193 lbs.  Arbitration Eligible.  Free Agent 2028.

2025(Nationals):  5-15, 4.17, 159.2 IP, 10.43 K/9, 3.61 BB/9, 0.91 GB/FB.  

Gore has long been projected to be a future ace but he's now 4 seasons into a MLB career and has a career ERA over 4. What has he done to earn that acclaim.  He has impressive stuff and some interesting peripheral numbers but he is a flyball pitcher with inconsistent command who is susceptible to gofer balls.  Rangers have 2 years to see if he turns into an ace but they gave up a haul to get him.

Nationals Get:

Gavin Fien SS.  DOB:  3/8/2007.  B-R, T-R.  6' 3", 200 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2029.

2025(A):  .220/.267/.341, SB, 6.7 BB%,  24.4 K%, 45 PA.

Rangers first round draft pick in 2025 out of HS, #12 overall.  Big for a SS and will probably eventually move to 3B.  Scouting report has power over hit.  A ball is an aggressive placement for a newly drafted HS player but Fien has a long way to go before he us MLB ready.

Alejandro Rosario RHP.  DOB:  1/6/2000.  6' 1", 182 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2026.

2024(A):  2-3, 2.11, 47 IP, 13.21 K/9, 0.96 BB/9, 2.42 GB/FB.

2024(A+):  2-2, 2.24, 41.1 IP, 13.14 K/9, 1.74 BB/9, 1.38 GB/FB.

Drafted in 5'th round 2023 out of college(Miami) had a tremendous 2024 season but missed all of 2025 with an elbow injury(presumably UCL and Tommy John surgery).  

Abimelec Ortiz 1B/OF.  DOB:  2/22/2002.  B-L, T-L.  5' 10", 230 lbs.  MLB Roster, 3 Options.

2025(AA):  .247/.343/.444, 16 HR, 3 SB, 11.3 BB%, 22.3 K%, 391 PA.

2025((AAA):  .283/.388/.565, 9 HR, SB, 12.7 BB%, 21.8 K%, 165 PA.

Power is only plus tool.  Probably limited to 1B/DH.

Devin Fitz-Gerald IF.  DOB:  8/17/2005.  B-S, T-R.  5' 10", 185 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2028.

2025(ACL):  .318/.423/.542, 6 HR, 5 SB, 13.1 BB%, 11.5 K%, 130 PA.

2025(A):  .250/.442/.281, 3 SB, 25.6 BB%, 20.9 K%, 43 PA.

5'th round draft pick out of HS in 2024.  Average to above-average tools across the board.  Nice start to pro career in 2025.

Yeremy Cabrera OF.  DOB:  7/2/2005.  B-L, T-L, 5' 11", 155 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2026.

2025(A):  .256/.364/.366, 8 HR, 43 SB, 11.5 BB%, 19.1 K%, 451 PA.  

Speed is best tool. Can get to the ball in the OF.  Some pop in the bat.

Comment:  Gore was arguably the top trade target of this year's Hot Stove League but on-field production lags behind the hype.  Nationals get a nice haul of prospects although none are a lock to ever be impact players at the MLB level.  Comparable package for Giants would have started with Gavin Kilen.

DrB's 2026 Giants Top 50 Prospects: #22 Yunior Marte

22.  Yunior Marte RHP.   DOB:  8/9/2003.  6' 5", 210 lbs.  Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2026.

2025(A-Royals):  3-5, 2.74, 82 IP, 8.67 K/9, 2.20 BB/9.

2025(A-Giants):  0-0, 3.60, 20 IP, 7.65 K/9, 4.05 BB/9.

This is not Forever Giant Yunior Marte RHP from a couple of years ago.  This a younger, stronger version of the same name.  Acquired at the trading deadline for Mike Yastrzemski.  2025 was a significant improvement on prior seasons.  Mid-90's FB, sharp slider that may be his best pitch, working on a split change.  Used mostly as a starter up to this point.  Whether he continues that track probably depends on developing the third pitch and maintaining improved command.  More likely he ends up as a bullpen armm which those guys have value too.