One of Giants' top prospects struggling to open year
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/6/2013) Giants outfield prospect Gary Brown is not off to a great start for Triple-A Fresno. The 2010 first-round pick is batting under the Mendoza Line through 30 games, sporting a .195 average.
Brown also has one home run, two triples, six doubles, 10 RBI and 23 runs. He has two stolen bases, eight walks and 28 strikeouts. MLB.com considers Brown the Giants' second-best prospect.
Trio of cut Giants could be back before long
by Nando Di Fino | Senior Fantasy Writer (3/15/2013) Among the cuts the Giants made Friday were the young trio of Roger Kieschnick, Heath Hembree and Gary Brown. Those Fantasy players casually familair with prospect lists may recognize Brown -- he was the team's first-round pick in the 2010 draft and could be the long-term answer in center field. This season seems to be the make-or-break one for Brown, who took a step back in power and average in 2012 after a promising 2011.
Hembree and Kieschnick, although lesser-known, could find their way to San Francisco sooner. Hembree struggled a little in 2012 as he jumped from High-A to Triple-A and battled an elbow strain, but his 4.19 ERA belied a solid 1.16 WHIP, and he struck out a batter per inning. Although there's little room for him in the closer mix at the major-league level, Hembree, who throws in the mid-90s, could eventually join the bullpen as a low-ratio, high-strikeout middle reliever.
Kieschnick is a big-swinging outfielder who hit .295 with 15 home runs in 234 at-bats last year. He missed three months after fracturing his left shoulder against an outfield wall trying to make a catch on a home run. With the Giants probably juggling Gregor Blanco and Andres Torres in left this season, it's not unlikely to think if they're hurting for runs, and Kieschnick gets off to a hot start, he could get the call. This is pure deep-league talk, but if I'm picking an NL-only reserve (or even a dynasty league reserve), I'd probably go for Kieschnick first out of these three players.
(2/12/2013) San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday that outfielder Gary Brown will see extended playing time during the spring. Brown, who is widely considered as one of the Giants' top prospects, will play all three outfield spots during camp. "This will give him a great opportunity to show what he can do," Bochy told MLB.com.
