Finishing up the look at rookies and players 24 or younger, we turn to the San Francisco Giants.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Madison Bumgarner, LHP: Pitched most of the season at age 20, rookie went 7-6, 3.00 with an 86/26 K/BB in 111 innings, 119 hits. Worries about velocity drop proved overblown and he had a very successful season by all accounts. I still have some workload concerns, he threw 194 innings this year at a young age, but his efficiency helps. Drafted in the first round in 2007 from high school in North Carolina.
Buster Posey, C: 23 year old rookie, hit .305/.357/.505 for the Giants, 18 homers, threw out 37% of runners and gave up just one passed ball. The Giants couldn't have asked for a better debut, and it isn't a fluke, he's genuinely this good. Drafted in the first round in 2008 from Florida State University.
Dan Runzler, LHP: 25 years old, 3.03 ERA with 37/20 K/BB in 33 innings, 29 hits. Needs sharper command, but he gets grounders and strikes people out, good profile for a bullpen guy. Was a ninth round pick in 2007 from UC-Riverside.
Pablo Sandoval, 3B: Turned 24 in August, though it seems like he's been around forever. Hit .268/.323/.409 for the Giants, 13 homers, 34 doubles, not as impressive as 2008 or 2009. I think his true level of ability is somewhere in the .280-.300 range with 15-20 homer annual power, though with his body he may not age well. Signed as a free agent in 2003 out of Venezuela.
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