Parks Harber wasn’t thought of the headliner of the Camilo Doval commerce. That designation typically went to catcher Jesus Rodriguez, a lifetime .309 hitter within the minors who will compete for the backup catcher job. Harber, in the meantime, was an undrafted nook infielder out of North Carolina.
Since that commerce, Harber has offered cause to concentrate.
Harber headlined the Giants’ group of prospects who participated within the Arizona Fall League, incomes a spot on the Nationwide League Fall Stars group. Over 17 video games, Harber hit .383/.513/.683 with three residence runs and 15 RBIs, his 1.196 OPS rating fourth all certified gamers.
The 24-year-old has but to play on the Double-A degree, however there is no such thing as a scarcity of these in San Francisco’s entrance workplace who’ve turn into enamored with the third baseman’s expertise.
“He’s a professional hitter in all regards,” stated senior director of participant growth Kyle Haines in a cellphone interview. “He hits to all fields, he hits all pitch sorts, he hits for energy, he hits for common. He’s a really skilled, well-rounded offensive participant within the field. It’s been actually refreshing to see this.
For Harber, his efficiency within the Fall League was a continuation of how he ended the common season.
Harber didn’t make his debut with the Giants group till Aug. 8 as a consequence of a left wrist harm, however over 25 video games with Excessive-A Eugene, Harber slashed .333/.454/.644 with seven homers and 24 RBIs. Together with his time with the Yankees’ Excessive-A affiliate, Harber hit .323 with 13 homers and a .970 OPS over 79 minor-league video games final season.
North Carolina’s Parks Harber (14) runs the bases throughout an NCAA regional baseball sport on Friday, Might 31, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Picture/Ben McKeown)
Together with the manufacturing, Harber’s batted-ball information from the Fall League leaps off the desk. In line with Prospect Savant, Harber ranked within the ninety fifth percentile of each common exit velocity (94.6 mph) and max exit velocity (114.3 mph). For all of the pop, Haines has been most impressed that Harber’s offensive profile is greater than energy.
“A variety of instances, you simply get energy guys and so they’re promoting out their method. They’ve holes in (the strike) zone. They’ve received chase. They’ve received some flaw as a commerce off to the facility. The factor that basically stands out is his capacity to be a hitter first with energy, not simply this huge robust man with energy.
“That’s really hard to find in our game because there’s very much a sliding scale of trading off power for approach or the ability to use all fields. When you can find somebody who’s a hitter first with power second, it’s pretty unique to our sport.”
Given how properly Harber has carried out, Haines was amongst these curious as to how he went undrafted.
Haines pointed to a few potential causes as to why Harber wasn’t drafted, one being that Harber performed the corners as a substitute of up-the-middle. Harber was additionally an even bigger physique in school, which Haines believes could have led scouts to suppose there wasn’t a lot room left for bodily growth. To that time, Harber misplaced roughly 20 kilos previous to this season.
The Atlanta, Georgia native primarily performed first base within the Fall League as a consequence of roster building, however Haines stated the group views him as a major third baseman. Together with third, Harber will possible see a while in left and proper subject subsequent season.
Harber continues to be a methods away from making his debut with the major-league membership, however he’ll be a prospect price watching in 2026 as he begins his first full season within the Giants’ system.
“From day one, he’s fit in really well, he’s adapted really well and just came in with a really professional approach,” Haines stated.
Right here is how the Giants’ different prospects fared within the Arizona Fall League:
INF Maui Ahuna: 11 video games, .233/.327/.279, two steals, 5 RBIsINF Walker Martin: 14 video games, .222/.311/.296, three extra-base hits, 4 RBIsLHP Ricardo Estrada: 11 innings, 3.27 ERA, 11 strikeouts, seven walksLHP Juan Sanchez: 10 innings, 2.70 ERA, 11 strikeouts, 4 walksRHP Logan Martin: 11 innings, 9.82 ERA, six strikeouts, eight walksRHP Spencer Miles: 8 2/3 innings, 4.15 ERA, 12 strikeouts, one walkRHP Ryan Murphy: 17 innings, 4.24 ERA, 13 strikeouts, 10 walksRHP Jose T. Perez: 8 2/3 innings, 5.19 ERA, six strikeouts, eight walks
Prospect critically injured in automobile crash
Antonio Jiménez, a 24-year-old Giants minor league pitcher, is at the moment in intensive care after he was concerned in a automobile crash within the Dominican Republic final week.
“We are aware of the tragic car accident involving one of our players, Antonio Jimenez, and are in the process of gathering more information. Out of respect for everyone affected and due to the ongoing investigation, we will refrain from further comment,” stated the Giants in a press release.