The SF Giants were reportedly connected to top international free agent pitcher Roki Sasaki. While they missed out on Sasaki, they are now expected to land the second-ranked international free agent, Josuar De Jesus Gonzalez.
De Jesus Gonzalez, a 17-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic, possesses significant raw talent. According to @giantsprospects on X, he would represent the team’s most high-profile international free agent signing since Marco Luciano.
SF Giants poised to land Josuar De Jesus Gonzalez
The Giants have been linked to Josuar De Jesus Gonzalez for quite some time, with discussions about their strong chances of signing the talented Dominican player circulating for at least a year.
Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic recently noted that the Giants “are believed to have agreements in place with three of the top 30 or so international players, including Dominican shortstop Josuar De Jesus Gonzalez, who is a consensus top-5 talent in this year’s class.”
Gonzalez, a switch-hitting shortstop often compared to Francisco Lindor, brings plenty of reasons for excitement. However, Giants fans may approach this news cautiously, given Marco Luciano’s struggles. Luciano, once a highly touted international signing, has faced challenges in his early MLB career.
Many argue that Luciano’s difficulties stemmed from being rushed to the majors and expected to play shortstop before he was ready. Now transitioning to the outfield, he may find more success, but his handling highlights the importance of patience with prospects.
With this new regime, there’s hope they’ll take a more measured approach with De Jesus Gonzalez, ensuring he develops at a proper pace before being called up.
Even if the Giants miss out on Sasaki, securing De Jesus Gonzalez would still be a significant boost. While prospects don’t always pan out, an addition like Gonzalez would inject excitement into the farm system, which could use some bolstering. If the Giants do sign him, their minor league pipeline will undoubtedly look more promising.
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