Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

A curse and a blessing. That’s what earning the fabled “Five-Tool Player” label gets you in baseball. It’s a blessing because that means you have the 5 “tools” that scouts look for in a player:

1) Hitting for power

2) Hitting for average

3) Fielding ability

4) Throwing ability

5) Speed

When you have these tools, you have the potential to become the next Bryce Harper or Mike Trout. That’s the blessing. The curse? You are expected to rise through the ranks quickly, and if you don’t live up to your potential you are often labeled a bust, regardless of what round you were picked.

Roger Kieschnick has earned the “Five-Tool Player” label. Nicknamed the “Hawk” by his teammates, Kieschnick was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the third round (82nd overall) of the 2008 MLB Draft. Baseball America rated him the top position player from Texas in that draft.

While playing in his first season of professional ball for Single high-A in San Jose, Kieschnick hit .296 with 23 home runs and 110 RBIs in 131 games. Although he struck out 130 times with only 36 walks, he produced an impressive .876 OPS.

In 2010, Kieschnick was promoted to Double-A Richmond, where he continued his torrid ascension until going 0-30 in late-May and early June. His season was derailed by injuries, and he only managed to play in 60 games. A return to Richmond in 2011 saw Kieschnick finish 126 games before a back injury ended his season in August. However, he still led the team with 16 home runs and 65 RBIs despite a premature end to his season.

The Giants added Kieschnick to the 40-man roster in 2012, and Kieschnick started the season in Triple-A with the Fresno Grizzlies. In addition to playing some left field instead of his usual position in right, he recaptured his prowess at the plate in the hitter-friendly PCL, batting .319/.390/.623 with 14 home runs, 12 doubles, and 37 RBI through May before crashing into a wall in left field, fracturing his shoulder tracking a ball that went over the wall anyway. He had hit safely in all 24 of the team’s road games up until his injury.

Kieschnick’s thoughts before the injury: “I started off strong, and the last couple of years I haven’t had a good start. It definitely made it a lot easier on me. Last year in Richmond, which isn’t the best hitting environment – it’s cold and all that – but I got off to a slow start and was hitting .200 for the first month, and I had to crawl my way out the rest of the year. The start this year makes it a lot easier on you, especially as the season goes on.” Quote courtesy of CBSSports.com.

Kieschnick was rumored as a possible September call-up in 2012 before getting hurt, and although that never happened, he did manage to get back on the field and finish the season with a final slash line of .306/.376/.604 with 15 home runs and 46 RBI in 55 games.

So far this year, Kieschnick is off to another great start. Currently, he’s hitting .311/.381/.574 with 7 home runs and 33 RBI. His strikeouts are down from this time last year (68 to 53), and he’s playing solid defense in left field despite the requisite need to polish jumps and routes in the outfield like all prospects must. His BB% currently sits at 10.6%, which is the highest it’s ever been in his professional career.

With Angel Pagan‘s injury history, Gregor Blanco and Andres Torres‘ overall limitations and lack of .OPS, and Francisco Peguero‘s unimpressive stint during his limited call-up earlier this year, it’s entirely possible that Kieschnick could be roaming left field at AT&T Park well before September. A member of the draft class that produced Brandon Crawford and Buster Posey, Kieschnick has succeeded at all three levels despite being plagued by injuries. Kieschnick appears poised to make his mark sooner rather than later.

Click here to check out SF Giants Rumors interview with Kieschnick.

~Paul Ghiglieri

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“You always set high goals. That’s one thing I certainly do. I’m not getting ahead of myself by any means, but sure, it is something that you think about and dream about.”

That was Michael Kickham‘s response during the 2012 NLCS when asked if he had mentally projected himself experiencing playoff baseball in the big leagues in 2013 or 2014. Given Ryan Vogelsong‘s injury and the possibility of a promotion from Triple-A Fresno, Kickham could find himself on the big league roster sooner than he thought…

Kickham was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 6th round of the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft. His career at Missouri State was rather far from prolific with a 4-9 record and a 5.29 ERA in 15 games. However, scouts saw potential in Kickham’s plus stuff and big-bodied frame.

Jason Parks, an authority on prospects for Baseball Prospectus, wrote the following about Kickham (courtesy of Jay Jaffeof, Sports Illustrated):

The 24-year-old has good stuff from the left-side—including a plus fastball—with feel and utility for a deep secondary arsenal. Some scouts think Kickham would be a better fit in the bullpen, where his velocity could play up and his command issues could play down, but he has the body and the arsenal to develop into a back of the rotation workhorse. Either way, Kickham is a major-league arm and should see action in 2013.

Kickham can get his fastball up to 94mph, and he complements that heater with a solid curveball, plus slider, and workable change up. During his initial stint at Single-A Augusta, he posted a 5-10 record with a 4.11 ERA in 21 games started. His K/9 ratio was a solid 8.30, but his BB/9 ratio (2.98) was concerning. Opponents hit .257 against him, but the rather high BABIP of .318 should put that into better context.

A promotion to Double-A Richmond in 2012 saw Kickham emerge as a legitimate prospect. He managed to compile a 3.05 ERA across 27 games started, his 11-10 record betraying his effectiveness. His 75.5 LOB% (Left-On-Base Percentage) shows how proficient Kickham was at getting out of jams, which is something he largely did to himself when you consider his BB/9 rate jumped up to an alarming 4.48 even though opponents only hit .216 against him. Still, Kickham impressively struck out 137 batters across 150 innings with an above-average ground ball rate, earning a promotion to Triple-A Fresno for the 2013 season. He was also an Eastern League postseason All-Star.

After a brutal start to this season in which Kickham allowed run totals of 1, 4, 5, 6, and 8 over his first 5 games, he’s since posted 4 consecutive quality starts in which he’s struck out 25 and walked 6 with only 5 runs charged to him in that span, totaling a 1.80 ERA. His BB/9 rate still sits at an eye-popping 4.72, but 13 of his 19 walks took place over those first 5 games in which Kickham simply couldn’t put it together. Since then, he has pitched well. Plus, he’s already got 50 strikeouts in 47.2 innings (9.4 SO/9), which ranks 2nd in the hitter-friendly PCL. Impressively, 32 of those 50 strikeouts the lefty has hand-tied have come against right-handed hitters.

Baseball America ranked Kickham as the fifth-best prospect overall in the Giants’ farm system, and they graded his slider to be the best in the organization. He projects as a backend starter, and his solid pitcher’s frame suggests he can be a workhorse similar to Vogelsong. If he can continue to harness his command and keep his walk-rate down, Kickham’s low-90s average velocity combined with above-average off-speed repertoire should translate to swing-and-miss stuff that’s good enough to earn a spot on the Giants rotation, perhaps sooner rather than later given the uncertainty surrounding the returns of Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito, and Vogelsong for 2014.

~Paul Ghiglieri

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Technorati Tags: 2010 MLB Amateur Draft, Barry Zito, Giants Hot Stove, Giants Trade Rumors, Michael Kickham, MLB Rumors Giants, Ryan Vogelsong, San Francisco Giants, SF Giants News, SF Giants Rumors, SFG Rumors, Tim Lincecum

“A lot of us in the organization said he reminded us of Buster Posey,” said Richmond Flying Squirrels hitting coach, Ken Joyce. “In the sense that he has that same demeanor. He has that attitude in the way he goes about his business. He’s professional, came from a decent family, and a good school at St. John’s.”

That kind of summation of a player sounds like something Trent Baalke would say after another successful NFL Draft. Like the 49ers, the San Francisco Giants seem drawn to high character players who come from good families and take their opportunity to make a living as a professional athlete seriously.

Of course, this doesn’t always translate to success. In Posey’s case, it most certainly did. To make such a favorable comparison when discussing Joe Panik‘s approach to the game suggests that the Giants drafted a player who is ready to take the next step and understands the work necessary to excel at each level.

Twenty-two year-old Panik was drafted with the 29th pick of the 1st round in the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft from St. John’s University (Queens, NY). He ranked tenth among college baseball players with a .509 OBP and was a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, an honor given to the nation’s top shortstop. At the time, most pundits suggested that Panik’s game most likely translated best at second base at the major league level.

The scouting report on Panik is favorable, although most scouts saw his ceiling as a utility player and didn’t have him going in the 1st round. At 6’1, 190 lbs, Panik possesses an average frame with solid athleticism. He has great contact ability like Marco Scutaro, taking a simple and quiet swing consistently through the strike zone. He also uses the whole field well in his approach at the plate. His OBP numbers suggest a knack for pitch recognition. One of the biggest question marks surrounding Panik was whether or not he could adjust to high-end velocity and drive the ball with more authority at the upper levels rather than simply slapping it around the infield. With a lack of innate raw power, he projects more as a gap-to-gap hitter, again not unlike Scutaro.

Panik’s modest arm strength, solid throwing mechanics on the run, and quick transfer and unload times with plus accuracy are perhaps the biggest reasons for a position change from shortstop to second base. His fundamentals with the glove are solid, and his decent range makes him an ideal candidate for the right side of the infield.

Panik is an instinctual, grinder of a player with a high baseball IQ. He made his professional debut in 2011 at Class-A short season with Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in the Northwest League. He got off to a roaring start, leading the league with a .341 batting average, 49 runs scored, 54 RBIs, and a .401 OBP, earning the MVP award. An invitation to the Arizona Fall League provided Panik with his first opportunity to play second base regularly. He was rated the tenth best second base prospect according to MLB.com prior to the start of the 2012 season.

The Giants pushed Panik aggressively in 2012, and Panik hit .297, with 76 RBIs and 58 BB in the High-A California League (San Jose Giants). He posted third in the league with 159 hits, and after the All-Star break, he hit .324, including a .337 average with runners in scoring position. This earned Panik a promotion from High-A to Double-A, where the superior pitching in the Eastern League should pose a stiffer challenge to Panik. Double-A has a way of sorting out all the real prospects, so this is definitely the year to monitor Panik’s progress.

As of this posting, here are Panik’s stats batting in the 2-hole for Richmond:

.304 BA, .380 OBP, .788 OPS, 9 doubles, 2 triples, and 12 RBIs in 32 games.

Currently, he’s made 4 errors in those 32 games, sporting a .933 fielding percentage.

Panik’s thoughts on his progress so far: “I was pretty excited to come to the Eastern League, making the jump from High-A to Double-A. I was looking forward to it. So far, I’ve gotten off to a good start, and I’ve really gotten comfortable with the competition. Going forward, I’m very confident.”

If he can continue to make progress driving the ball to the outfield and he maintains his solid average and OBS, then Panik should find himself starting for Triple-A Fresno (Fresno Grizzlies) in 2014 with a possible September call-up that year. The third year in Scutaro’s deal was the deal-breaker in resigning him, but the front office seems content to write that off as an acceptable loss if he can remain productive for the first two years of the deal. A passing of the torch, so to speak, from Scutaro to Panik in 2015 appears to be the grand scheme in the end.

~Paul Ghiglieri

Note: Check out SF Giants Rumors Interview With Joe Panik, and click here for Panik and Joyce’s quotes.

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RHP Kyle Crick – Courtesy of MiLB.com

Rated as the number one prospect in the San Francisco Giants‘ farm system and #86 prospect overall according to MLB.com, 20-year old right-handed pitcher Kyle Crick is proving once again that the Giants organization has a knack for drafting and developing young pitchers.  Following in the same mold as Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner, Crick was drafted right out of high school and projects to be a top of the rotation starting pitcher.

In 2011, after drafting infielder Joe Panik with the 29th overall selection, the Giants turned their attention to Crick in the supplemental first round (49th overall) with the compensatory pick they received when Juan Uribe signed with the Dodgers that previous off-season (thanks LA).  Since then, Crick has given the Giants a lot to be excited about.

At 6’4, 230 lbs., Kyle Crick maintains an imposing presence on the mound. He has a big, physical, work-horse body type with an electric fastball that consistently hits 93-95 mph and can touch 99.  In his first season in the minors with the Augusta GreenJackets in 2012, Crick showed overpowering stuff leading the SAL League with a 27.1 strikeout percentage fanning 128 batters in just over 111 innings.

On the mound, Crick uses his big body to his advantage.  Maintaining a high arm angle, Crick has learned to keep his fastball deceptive to hitters.  In addition, he has also developed a longer than normal stride (similar to Tim Lincecum) which allows his pitches to get on hitters quicker.

Most often drawing comparisons to Cain due to his size and durability, Crick has also been compared to Cain for his pitching aptitude and arsenal.  While Crick’s fastball is clearly his best and most overpowering pitch, there is some debate as to which pitch will be his next most dominant.  Although his slider is more developed and has the potential to be a plus pitch in the majors, many scouts believe that it is his newly developed curveball which has the most potential.  In 2012, Crick’s curveball was voted best breaking pitch in the SAL League by managers.

Although he projects to be a top of the rotation starting pitcher, Crick is still a very raw and unpolished project and his development could go either way.  His biggest area for improvement is undoubtedly his control which led him to give up 67 walks for a rate of 5.4 BB’s per 9 innings.  At 20 years old, Crick has time to figure things out and the Giants will continue to let him progress at his own rate.

Crick figures to be starting the 2013 season at High-A San Jose and could be headlining what scouts believe to be ‘the best rotation in the minors.’  The other starters rumored to be joining Crick in San Jose include 2012 first-round draft pick Chris Stratton (Giants #3 rated prospect), 20-year old Clayton Blackburn (#6 overall), and 18-year old Adalberto Mejia (#10 overall).

Don’t forget to go to the SF Giants Rumors Facebook page to share your thoughts on all the latest Giants News/Rumors!

~Stamati Horiates

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Technorati Tags: Adalberto Mejia, Augusta Greenjackets, Chris Stratton, Clayton Blackburn, Giants Hot Stove, Giants Trade Rumors, Joe Panik, Juan Uribe, Kyle Crick, Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, MLB Rumors Giants, San Francisco Giants, SF Giants News, SF Giants Rumors, SFG Rumors, Tim Lincecum

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Outfielder Roger Kieschnick was the San Francisco Giants‘ third-round draft pick in 2008 out of Texas Tech. In ’09, Kieschnick was a Cal League All-Star and shined in San Jose hitting .296 with 23 home runs and 110 RBI. Since then however, Kieschnick has struggled with some nagging back injuries which limited him to only 60 games in 2010 and 55 games in 2012.

Stamati: When did you first realize you could play baseball professionally?

Roger Kieschnick: As a kid I played all sports growing up like most kids but I was a freshman in high school when I started focusing on baseball. I was playing football at the time and I was missing baseball practice to play football so that’s when I knew I had to make a decision to do one or the other. So I chose baseball and it has worked out for me.

Stamati: I’d say. Out of curiosity, what position did you play in football?

Roger Kieschnick: Mostly outside linebacker. A little tight end and receiver.

Stamati: What type of commitment did you have to make to baseball when you decided to play full time?

Roger Kieschnick: The high school I went to had a pretty good off-season workout program. You always just want to play at the next level so I set my sights on D-I and did what I could to get myself ready. As you grow, your goals change and now I want to play in the majors.

Stamati: Did you ever think this is just too hard?

Roger Kieschnick: No, not at all. I enjoy playing this game and I want to do it for as long as I can. It’s something I’ve done since I was little so I’ve never thought about that.

Stamati: How have you handled obstacles along the way?

Roger Kieschnick: My parents and my grandfather have been very influential in my life. They’ve always taught me right from wrong. Being a Christian has helped put things in perspective for me to choose the right path.

Stamati: So, you grew up in Texas and attended Texas Tech. Was that a dream of yours?

Roger Kieschnick: Actually, my mom and sister both went to the University of Texas. I watched them win the College World Series so I wanted to go there at first. They recruited me a bit but when I talked to them they had already signed two high school All-Americans to play outfield so I thought maybe I should look somewhere else. Texas Tech was right there, it’s in the Big 12, it’s a great school, and they had a great coach. They offered me a scholarship and the opportunity to play every day so I couldn’t turn it down.

Stamati: You were at Texas Tech when coach Bobby Knight was there. Did you go to the basketball games?

Roger Kieschnick: Oh yeah. We went to a lot of those games. Bobby Knight packed the house. Not just basketball though, I would go to volleyball, soccer, and every football game. It was a great environment.

Stamati: You hit a grand slam in your first game at college. What was that like?

Roger Kieschnick: Yeah it was my first game as a freshman so it was pretty sweet. It feels good to contribute every day.

Stamati: You’ve played on the US College National Team and have spent a few years in the minors now. What have those experiences taught you?

Roger Kieschnick: It’s been a good experience. You can always learn more anytime you can play with other players who have a lot of talent. I’ve been fortunate in that way. Whether it’s just from getting advice or watching other guys working hard just going about their business. It’s helpful.

Stamati: What drives you to succeed in high pressure situations?

Roger Kieschnick: The thrill of knowing that you have the opportunity to do something special. It’s the great thing about this game. There are highs and lows. It’s a lot of fun.

Stamati: What does it feel like when you’re in the zone?

Roger Kieschnick: It’s great. You’re seeing the ball well and swinging at good pitches. The stars are lined up for you.

Stamati: Since college, you’ve spent time tinkering with a changing your swing. How hard is that to do?

Roger Kieschnick: It’s a long process about trying to feel comfortable at the plate while also being consistent. It’s something I’ve worked on for a long time and it’s gradually gotten to where it is now. You always have to work on your swing.

Stamati: What advice would you give to youngsters out there who hope to play ball one day?

Technorati Tags: Down On The Farm, Fresno Grizzlies, Giants Hot Stove, Giants Trade Rumors, MLB Rumors Giants, Roger Kieschnick, San Francisco Giants, San Jose Giants, SF Giants News, SF Giants Rumors, SFG Rumors

RHP Kyle Crick – Courtesy of MiLB.com

For those of you that love to hear about up and coming players in the San Francisco Giants farm system. This is the perfect post to read! Baseball America has released their Giants Top 10 Prospects list.

Four out of the top ten prospects are position players. Which means, arms are still the focus for the Giants farm system. You can never go wrong with having some decent arms waiting in the wings.

However, I’m sure you were thinking outfielder Gary Brown would be listed as the teams number one prospect. Brown is expected to be the Giants future center fielder, but he’s currently holding down the fourth spot on this list. You probably have guessed it by now, the number one prospect in the organization is a pitcher!

The Following players below are the top ten prospects in the Giants organization, courtesy of Baseball America.

Giants Top 10 Prospects, 2013

Kyle Crick – RHP

Joe Panik – SS

Chris Stratton – RHP

Gary Brown – OF

Mike Kickham – LHP

Clayton Blackburn – RHP

Heath Hembree – RHP

Francisco Peguero – OF

Roger Kieschnick – OF

Adalberto Mejia – LHP

Keep checking back for insights and updates on these prospects!

Don’t forget to go to the SF Giants Rumors Facebook page to share your thoughts on the top ten prospects with over 3,000 other Giants fans!

~King of Cali (Steven Robles)

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Technorati Tags: Adalberto Mejia, Baseball America, Chris Stratton, Clayton Blackburn, Francisco Peguero, Gary Brown, Giants Top 10 Prospects, Heath Hembree, Joe Panik, Kyle Crick, Mike Kickham, Roger Kieschnick, San Francisco Giants

Gary Brown of the San Jose Giants.

Drafted 24th overall by the San Francisco Giants in the 2010 Major League Baseball Player Draft, 24-year old center fielder Gary Brown is making a strong case to open the 2013 season in Triple-A Fresno. Currently rated as the Giants top minor league prospect, Brown projects as a quality major league center fielder with plus defensive skills and good speed at the top of the order.

In his first full season of minor league ball with the San Jose Giants in 2011 in which he batted leadoff every game, Brown tore up the competition. On his way to swiping 53 bases that year, Brown also set the San Jose Giants hits record with 188 in just 131 games played. At the end of 2011, Brown was rated as the Giants best minor league hitter for average, fastest base runner, best athlete, and best defensive player by Baseball America.

In 2012, Gary Brown spent the entire season with the Giants Double-A affiliate, Richmond Flying Squirrels. Although his numbers were not as impressive in Richmond as they were in San Jose, there was a lot of talk within the Giants organization of promoting Brown to the majors in 2012. In 134 total games in Double-A, Brown finished the ’12 season hitting .279 with 33 stolen bases.

While Brown has shown the ability to set the base paths on fire, he has also shown a troubling propensity to get caught stealing. Thrown out 19 times in ’11 and 18 times in ’12, Brown’s success rate has been rather pedestrian. While his speed has never been the issue, Brown’s problems have been contributed to hesitation and bouts of poor decision making, an area he has focused on while working to correct a hitch in his slide.

Another area of concern for Brown last season was his struggle to consistently hit right-handed pitching. Although finishing the season with a .264 against righties was not tragic for the up and comer, Brown must improve to bring his game to the next level.

The resigning of 31 year old Angel Pagan to a new 4-year contract means youngster Brown has some time to develop and his work cut out for him. With his sights set on cracking the Giants major league roster, the 2013 season could prove to be a big one for Brown who undoubtedly wants to show that he has made the necessary adjustments from his 2012 campaign and that his breakout 2011 season was no fluke.

Don’t forget to go to the SF Giants Rumors Facebook page to share your thoughts on all the latest Giants News/Rumors!

~Stamati Horiates

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Technorati Tags: Angel Pagan, Gary Brown, Giants Hot Stove, Giants Top Prospects, Giants Trade Rumors, MLB Rumors Giants, Richmond Flying Squirrels, San Francisco Giants, San Jose Giants, SF Giants News, SF Giants Rumors, SFG Rumors