And then there were 4. The season has officially ended for all 3 of the San Francisco Giants rookie ball teams. But the 4 A-ball Minor League Baseball affiliates are still in action. Here’s what they did on Wednesday!
Link to the 2026 McCovey Chronicles Community Prospect List (CPL)
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
News
Another draftee was given an assignment, as RHP Ian Korn, a 10th-round pick, was assigned to Low-A San Jose. Korn becomes the first pitcher
from the Giants 2026 draft class to head to an affiliate. He’s joined by RHP Jose T. Perez, who was promoted from the ACL.
RHP Sam Bower and LHP Hayden Wynja (who was rehabbing) were both moved from San Jose to High-A Eugene, while shortstop Kaeden Kent was activated by Eugene. Eugene infielder Zander Darby was sent to AAA Sacramento to fill in while the River Cats deal with an infield shortage.
AAA Sacramento (73-52)
Sacramento River Cats beat the Reno Aces (D-Backs) 6-4
Box score
It seems that LHP Cesar Perdomo is really adjusting to life in the Pacific Coast League. He’s not dominating by any stretch of the imagination, but he’s really figuring out how to get through games, which is pretty impressive given the offensive environment. Perdomo went 7 innings into Wednesday’s game, which marked the 2nd game in a row in which he’d pitched 7 innings … and the 4th time in the last 5 games that he’d pitched at least 6.1. While the results weren’t elite, they were solid enough, as the 24-year old southpaw gave up 8 hits, 3 walks, and 3 runs, while striking out 5.
In Perdomo’s 1st 4 games with the River Cats, he pitched just 15.2 innings and gave up 15 earned runs; in 5 games since, he’s thrown 32 innings with just 12 earned runs allowed. That’s brought his ERA down to 5.10 and his FIP to 5.34, though he still has a low strikeout rate (6.8 per 9 innings, after being 11.1 in AA Richmond this year).
Perdomo, who signed in 2021 out of Venezuela, figures to be a very interesting Rule 5 decision this winter.
RHP Eric Cerantola had his 2nd straight dominant relief outing, retiring all 4 batters he faced, with 2 strikeouts. It was the 5th time in his last 6 appearances that Cerantola didn’t allow a hit, and the 26-year old — who was claimed off of waivers, DFA’d, and outrighted this year — has been lights out for a while now. The 2021 5th-round pick walked 5 batters, all of which scored, in his 2nd outing with the organization. But in 10 outings since, he’s thrown 12 innings and allowed just 5 hits, 3 walks, and 2 runs, with 17 strikeouts.
The offensive star was left fielder Will Brennan, who hit 2-5 with a home run, a double, and 3 runs batted in. Brennan’s season has been more about contact than power — this was just his 6th home run, but he has a .316 average and a 10.7% strikeout rate — but the 28-year old veteran has done enough that he’ll likely get an opportunity next season somewhere. He has an .803 OPS and a 109 wRC+.
Yet another strong game for center fielder Scott Bandura, who hit 2-5 with a double, a stolen base, and a strikeout. It’s now an .898 OPS and a 135 wRC+ through 80 games for the just-turned 25-year old, with just a 14.8% strikeout rate and 22 swiped bags in 23 attempts. He looks more and more like a Rule 5 lock every day.
Right fielder Bo Davidson (No. 4 CPL) hit 2-5 with a strikeout, designated hitter Diego Velasquez (No. 31 CPL) went 1-2 with 2 walks, and catcher Adrián Sugastey hit 1-3 with a double and a sacrifice bunt. All 3 players have been very strong since their recent promotions to AAA.
AA Richmond (71-49)
Richmond Flying Squirrels lost to the Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox) 5-4 (13 innings)
Box score
Quite a funny game over in Virginia, where Richmond and Portland were tied 0-0 after 9 innings! They then took 4 extra innings to get things sorted out, scoring a run apiece in the 10th and 12th innings, before a combined 5 runs in the 13th and final frame.
Needless to say, the standouts were on the mound. Despite giving up 5 runs total (though just 2 earned, due to 3 being the Manfred Man), Richmond pitchers gave up just 6 hits and 2 walks in the 13 inning extravaganza. How impressive!
The biggest star on that front was LHP Esmerlin Vinicio, who made his 4th appearance since getting promoted. He was absolutely magnificent, pitching 3.1 no-hit innings with just 1 walk and 4 strikeouts. The 24-year old has allowed just 4 hits in 9 innings with the Squirrels, while striking out 10 batters. The lone ding has been that he’s walked 7 batters.
RHP Shane Rademacher hasn’t had the prettiest season, but he was very strong in this game, getting the start and throwing 3.2 shutout frames with just 2 hits and 1 walk allowed, while striking out 3. The 2023 undrafted free agent has a 4.22 ERA on the season, but a 6.18 FIP.
RHP Ryan Vanderhei retired all 6 batters he faced, with 1 strikeout, while throwing 15 of 23 pitches for strikes. The 25-year old, who was a 10th-round pick in 2023, has a 2.36 ERA since getting promoted, with a 4.16 FIP.
Not a lot on offense, as the Squirrels had just 9 hits in 13 innings, though they drew 8 walks. The best day belonged to second baseman Dayson Croes, who hit 3-5 and drew 2 walks. It’s been a tough 2nd season of pro ball for the 26-year old lefty, who was returned to Richmond after a stint in Sacramento, and has hit worse in AA (.670 OPS, 82 wRC+) than he did in AAA (.728 OPS, 92 wRC+). Hopefully he can end the season strong.
Left fielder Jose Astudillo hit 2-6 and had a double, which was the only extra-base hit of the day for the Squirrels. He also stole a base and struck out once. Astudillo only has a .597 OPS and a 62 wRC+ with Richmond, but struggles are understandable given that A) it’s a 9-game sample size, and B) he played just 15 games in High-A before getting promoted. The contact skills are translating, though, as he has just an 11.1% strikeout rate and an 8.5% swinging strike rate.
A tough day for center fielder Trevor Cohen (No. 15 CPL), who had an 0-7 which included 1 strikeout. Cohen, last year’s 3rd-round pick, has really established himself as an awesome prospect this year, but has really cooled down following a strong introduction to the level. He has a .702 OPS and an 89 wRC+ in 35 games with Richmond.
High-A Eugene (73-48)
Eugene Emeralds lost to the Everett AquaSox (Mariners) 11-6
Box score
Not a lot of good performances in this game, to be honest. It started on the mound, where LHP Henry Lalane had a tough go of it. The 22-year old, who was making just his 4th appearance with the Emeralds since coming over in the Heliot Ramos trade, made it through just 2 innings, and gave up 6 hits, which included a home run and 3 doubles. The 6’7 southpaw also walked 2 batters while getting tagged for 5 runs, and only striking out 1 batter.
Lalane is, without question, one of the top pitching prospects in the organization. He’s also had a fair amount of struggles in High-A, though. After posting a 2.74 ERA and a 2.62 FIP, with 11.7 strikeouts per 9 innings in Low-A this season, Lalane has had just a 4.45 ERA, a 5.08 FIP, and 8.1 strikeouts per 9 innings in 7 starts in High-A, across the 2 organizations. He’s a fairly intriguing Rule 5 decision, since he’s a tantalizing talent, but does still seem to be quite a ways away.
RHP Matt Dunaway, a 27-year old in his 2nd season, also struggled mightily, as he gave up 6 baserunners and 4 runs in just 1.1 innings, though he did strike out 3. He has just a 5.53 ERA and a 5.10 FIP in Eugene this year, though his strikeout and walk numbers are solid (28 and 8, respectively, in 27.2 innings). RHP Alix Hernandez had the lone strong pitching performance, ceding 2 hits and 1 walk in 2.2 scoreless innings, while striking out 4. Hernandez, who just turned 22, has a 2.92 ERA but a 5.72 FIP in 12 appearances since getting promoted. Between Low and High-A this year, he has 75 strikeouts to 22 walks in 59.1 innings. There’s something in that arm, that’s for sure.
No real standout offensive days. The Emeralds only had 6 hits on the day, though 5 of them were doubles. Third baseman Walker Martin didn’t get in on that action, as he went 0-1 with a strikeout and an error, but he did draw 3 walks and steal a base. It hasn’t been a very good year for the 2023 2nd-rounder, who has just a .237 average, a .742 OPS, a 94 wRC+, a 32.9% strikeout rate, and 26 errors. But he’s drawing a decent amount of walks (10.3% rate), stealing some bases (19 in 22 attempts), and showing off some power (.183 isolated slugging).
Right fielder Cam Maldonado (No. 34 CPL) had the only multi-hit day, as he went 2-4 with a double and 2 strikeouts. Maldonado, last year’s 7th-round pick, has fit in quite well since a recent promotion. Despite having just an .825 OPS and a 100 wRC+ in Low-A this year, the righty has a .999 OPS and a 152 wRC+ through 14 High-A contests.
Shortstop Kaeden Kent, Jeff’s son, who came over with Lalane in the Ramos trade, made his organizational debut and went 0-5 with a strikeout.
Low-A San Jose (72-50)
San Jose Giants beat the Visalia Rawhide (D-Backs) 12-6
Box score
It’s a 12-game winning streak for the Baby Giants!
A so-so start for RHP Argenis Cayama (No. 13 CPL), who is hoping to end the year on a high note after missing a chunk of the season due to injury. Cayama showed off his brilliant stuff by striking out 6 batters in 4 innings, while allowing just 3 hits. But he was uncharacteristically lacking in control, as he walked 3 batters and hit another, en route to 4 runs.
Cayama hasn’t had a great season — he has a 4.20 ERA and a 4.00 FIP — but my goodness is he an exciting arm. Despite still being just 19 years old, he has a brilliant 11.6 strikeouts and just 2.6 walks per 9 innings. He is someone worth being very excited about.
RHPs Dylan Carter and Melvin Pineda had phenomenal relief outings. Carter, a 25-year old UDFA from last year, pitched 2.2 perfect innings with 4 strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 4.99 and his FIP to 4.71, though he has just 8.9 strikeouts per 9 innings. Pineda, a 22-year old from Venezuela, retired all 3 batters he faced, with 2 strikeouts. He has just a 10.42 ERA and a 7.29 FIP in 15 games since getting promoted … but is striking out 11.8 batters per 9 innings, after K’ing a stunning 18.2 batters per 9 in the Complex League.
The star on offense was third baseman Dario Reynoso, who went 2-5 with a 2-run home run, his 4th of the season. Reynoso, a 21-year old from the DR, was hot earlier in the season, but was ice cold to start August. Through the first 10 games of the month, the righty hit just 4-37 with 0 home runs, 1 double, and 19 strikeouts. But he’s been hot in 5 games since, hitting 8-24 with 2 homers and 2 doubles.
Reynoso still has a huge strikeout problem — he’s K’ing at a 32.9% rate — but he has an .862 OPS and a 117 wRC+, with a .203 isolated slugging percentage. There’s a lot to be excited about if he can harness the swings and misses.
Really nice games for center fielder Tanner Mally, left fielder Oliver Tejada, and second baseman Lorenzo Meola (No. 23 CPL). Mally, a just-turned 22-year old who was a 17th-round pick in July, hit 2-3 with a triple and 2 walks, giving him a 1.038 OPS and a 172 wRC+ through 16 pro games. What an introduction! Tejada, a 19-year old who was excellent in the Complex League this season, went 2-4 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, and a strikeout. He has a .739 OPS, an 84 wRC+, and 3 stolen bases in 36 games since getting promoted. Meola, last year’s 4th-round selection, hit 2-4 with a triple, a walk, and a strikeout, boosting his OPS to .820 and his wRC+ to 103.
As for the other recent draftees, 5th-round designated hitter Luke Nixon had his best game, going 2-5 with 2 runs batted in, while 3rd-round outfielder Peyton Bonds didn’t play. And quiet days for the superstars, as shortstop Josuar González (No. 2 CPL) went 1-5 with a stolen base and 3 strikeouts, while infielder Luis Hernández (No. 6 CPL) missed another game with an injury.
Home run tracker
14 — Dario Reynoso — [Low-A]
6 — Will Brennan — [AAA]
Thursday schedule
Sacramento: 6:35 p.m. PT at Reno (SP: TBD)
Richmond: 4:05 p.m. PT vs. Portland (SP: Miguel Mendez)
Eugene: 7:05 p.m. PT at Everett (SP: Niko Mazza)
San Jose: 6:30 p.m. PT vs. Visalia (SP: TBD)
Reminder that almost all MiLB games can be watched on MLB TV
