As the San Francisco Giants continue to keep fans on the edge of their seats, waiting for their first free agent signing of the offseason, we’re diving into something equally thrilling: the 2026 Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List. But here’s where it gets controversial—while the Giants desperately need pitching this year, it took us until the ninth installment to spotlight a pitcher who could potentially fill that void. Enter Carson Whisenhunt, the left-handed hurler who’s been voted the No. 9 prospect in the system, marking a six-spot drop from his runner-up position last year. At first glance, Whisenhunt’s 2025 season looked solid: 21 starts for AAA Sacramento with a 4.43 ERA and a 4.77 FIP, stats that placed him in the middle of the pack among Pacific Coast League pitchers. His hefty workload—107.2 innings pitched, ranking 13th in the league—even earned him the Pitcher of the Year title. And this is the part most people miss—despite those accolades, his MLB debut was less impressive, with a 5.01 ERA and a 6.91 FIP over five starts.
Beneath the surface, Whisenhunt’s performance raises questions. His AAA numbers, while decent, lose some luster when you consider he was repeating the level after 25 starts in 2024. Yes, he improved his ERA and walk rate, but his FIP worsened, and his strikeout rate plummeted from 11.61 to 7.94 per nine innings. His MLB debut added to the concerns, with all his pitches grading well below average. Is his fastball Major League-ready? That’s the million-dollar question. At 25, Whisenhunt remains a top pitching prospect in the Giants’ system, but his future is at a crossroads. Will he solidify his spot in the rotation this year, or will he return to AAA for a third season, risking his place on the 40-man roster?
Now, let’s shift gears and introduce the next wave of talent. Here are the nominees for the No. 9 spot on our list:
- Jacob Bresnahan (20.4-year-old LHP): 2.61 ERA/3.00 FIP in Low-A (93 IP).
- Argenis Cayama (19.1-year-old RHP): Struggled in Low-A (8.16 ERA/6.93 FIP, 14.1 IP) but shone in the ACL (2.25 ERA/3.58 FIP, 48 IP).
- Luis De La Torre (22.2-year-old LHP): Dominant in Low-A (1.77 ERA/2.46 FIP, 35.2 IP) and solid in the ACL (3.72 ERA/3.36 FIP, 38.2 IP).
- Parks Harber (24.1-year-old 3B): Crushed it in High-A (.969 OPS/174 wRC+, 260 PA) and Low-A (.972 OPS/169 wRC+, 83 PA).
- Keyner Martinez (21.2-year-old RHP): Consistent in Low-A (2.86 ERA/3.96 FIP, 22 IP) and ACL (1.90 ERA/2.70 FIP, 47.1 IP).
- Trevor McDonald (24.8-year-old RHP): Stellar in MLB (1.80 ERA/2.54 FIP, 15 IP) but struggled in AAA (5.31 ERA/5.53 FIP, 142.1 IP).
- Blade Tidwell (24.5-year-old RHP): Rough MLB debut (9.00 ERA/7.47 FIP, 15 IP) but strong in AAA (3.62 ERA/3.63 FIP, 97 IP).
Here’s the burning question for you: Which of these prospects has the most upside, and who do you think will make the biggest impact in 2026? Let’s debate it in the comments—agree or disagree, we want to hear your take!
