The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

EXPECTATIONS loom large for highly touted San Francisco Giants prospect Ryan Reckley as he enters the organisation ranked as one of the top 30 players in its farm.

MLB Pipeline ranks Reckley at no.25 as it continues its annual preseason farm system ranking and analysis.

When Reckley signed last January, he was listed as the No.9 international prospect by both MLB.com and Baseball America. He was the top signing of a Giants recruiting class that also included no.30 prospect Juan Perez of Venezuela.

The Giants signed 11 prospects on the first day of the international signing period.

“San Francisco signed him for $2.2 million in January, giving him its largest international bonus since paying Marco Luciano $2.6 million four years earlier. Advanced for his age, he could come to the United States for his pro debut as a 17-year-old this summer,” his Pipeline analysis said. “Reckley should be able to adapt to pro pitchers immediately because he understands his swing and the strike zone. A switch-hitter with bat speed, he shows more pop from the right side and could produce 15 homers per season once he adds strength. He’s more of a gap-to-gap hitter who could fit at the top of a lineup with his on-base ability and plus speed.”

The Giants organisation has had Bahamian talent in its pipeline dating back to Andre Rodgers in the late 1950s, drafted Byron Murray in 2014, signed Lucius Fox in 2015 and Antoan Richardson currently serves as a first base coach at the major league level. Giants’ director of international scouting, Joe Salermo, said Reckley’s foundation in addition to his play on the field made him one of the Giants’ top targets for the last few years.

“It’s been a pleasure watching Reckley play the last two and-a-half years,” he said. “The Bahamas is a hotbed for baseball. From Antoan Richardson, to Jazz Chisholm, to Reckley and to all of these young players coming up.”

Listed as a 5’10”, 165-pound shortstop, Reckley’s scouting grades include - Hit: 55, Power: 45, Run: 60, Arm: 50, Field: 55 and Overall: 55 according to MLB Pipeline.