SF Giants add two intriguing prospects in the Rule 5 Draft’s minor league phase.

While the SF Giants did not add any prospects in the MLB phase of the 2023 Rule 5 Draft, they added a pair of players in the minor league phase. Teams are given an added list of roster spots to protect players from selection in the minor league phase. However, there are no restrictions on the acquiring team, like there is in the MLB portion of the draft. So, the Giants selected right-handed pitcher Nick Garcia away from the Rockies and infielder Dariel Lopez away from the Pirates. They also lost a trio of prospects.

Garcia, the Giants selection in round 1, is a Redwood City, California native who was drafted by the Pirates in the third round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Chapman University. Garcia began climbing the minor league ranks in 2021 and 2022, spending a full season at Single-A and High-A, respectively, posting solid numbers. Last winter,

though, the Pirates traded Garcia to the Rockies for outfielder (and former Giant) Connor Joe. Garcia spent all of 2023 with the Rockies Double-A affiliate in Hartford. He struggled mightily, finishing the season with a 7.35 ERA in 94.1 innings pitched (26 games) with 83 strikeouts, 38 walks, and 20 home runs allowed.

Garcia will turn 25 next April, but has a pitch mix that should be able to transition to a bullpen role well. Garcia has flashed upper-90s velocity with his fastball and a hard slider has long been his most effective secondary offering.

While the Giants did not select Lopez until the second round, he may be the most interesting pick of the entire draft. Lopez is still only 21 and hit .286/.329/.476 with 19 home runs as a 20-year-old at High-A in 2022, and then hit .313/.389/.438 in a small-sample size at the Dominican Winter League before he suffered a dislocated knee that cost him the 2023 season. A source informed GBI that Lopez’s surgery was more complicated than originally expected, and concern about his ability to recover from the injury likely led the Pirates to risk losing him.

The right-handed infielder has played all over the field, including shortstop, but has a frame that was likely going to land at third or second base prior to a knee injury. Despite not likely sticking at shortstop long term, he has flashed the offensive potential to be an everyday player.

“His upside is all about the bat,” an industry source from a rival organization told GBI. “I love his swing and bat-to-ball skills. Power was coming around pre-injury… He’s got a natural ability to use the middle and opposite field and strike zone knowledge was improving.”