While the SF Giants did not lose any prospects in the MLB phase of the 2023 Rule 5 Draft, but they lost a trio 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 lost infielder Hayden Cantrelle (Cubs), corner bat Sean Roby (Marlins), and outfielder P.J. Hilson (Pirates).
The Cubs selected Cantrelle, 25, in the first round of the minor-league phase. Cantrelle was first drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Louisiana-Lafayette by the Brewers. The Brewers rushed Cantrelle to High-A and Double-A in his first minor-league season, and he was clearly not ready for the challenge. He hit .171/.368/.307 in 384 plate appearances.
Heading into 2022, the Brewers traded Cantrelle to the Marlins for catcher Alex Jackson. Cantrelle returned to Double-A with Miami, and was no more productive. That summer, the Giants acquired Cantrelle in a minor deal for cash considerations. San Francisco gave him a chance to put things together at the Arizona Complex, Single-A, and High-A, where he posted an OPS north of .900 at each stop. In 2023, though, back at Double-A, Cantrelle’s performance took a step back. He hit .215/.390/.305 in 357 plate appearances. Cantrelle has good speed and is a solid The Pirates selected Hilson, 23, in the fourth (and final) phase of the minor-league Rule 5 Draft. Hilson may have the biggest upside of the trio of prospects the Giants lost but is also the furthest away from that potential. San Francisco signed Hilson away from an Alabama commitment with a $520,000 signing bonus back in 2018. Hilson arguably had both the best speed and arm in the organization. However, having never played the travel ball circuit, Hilson’s game has always been a bit behind his professional peers. He finally turned a corner at the Arizona Complex League in 2022, where he was arguably the best player in the league. However, he hit .247/.283/.420 with 10 home runs and 12 stolen bases at Single-A San Jose in 2023.defensive second baseman with the conceivable tools to handle the outfield. He also has a patient approach at the plate. However, he lacks impact power.
Roby, 25, on the other hand, does not lock any power. The Marlins selected Roby in the third round of the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft. Roby, originally a 12th round pick out of Arizona Western College (Juco) by the Giants in 2018, has plus-plus power potential but has been limited by injuries, a fringey hit tool, and a lack of defensive acumen. Roby hit .219/.286/.481 with 25 home runs in 89 Double-A games in 2022, but injuries limited him to just 65 games in 2023. While he was excellent during injury rehab stints in the lower minors, he struggled mightily over 22 games at Double-A with a .516 OPS.
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