Rising stars for the San Francisco Giants
With spring training starting up, each team is filled with hope for a run at a World Series title and fresh faces are ready to make a name for themselves in the majors. After a disappointing 79-83 finish in 2023, the San Francisco Giants enter 2024 looking to make only their second postseason appearance since 2017.
Here are three rising stars who will look to make an impact for the Giants in 2024.
Jung Hoo Lee, outfielder
2023 KBO stats: .318/.406/.455, 31 extra-base hits and 45 RBI in 86 games played
San Francisco's big offseason acquisition, outfielder Jung Hoo Lee will be a major part of the Giants offense after an impressive seven-year career in the KBO League.
In 884 games the 25-year-old slashed .340/.407/.491 with 352 extra-base hits, 515 RBI and 69 stolen bases during his time in the KBO.
He has all the tools needed to transition to the MLB and will be patrolling centerfield in the spacious outfield of Oracle Park.
Likely to hit at the top of the lineup he could be one of the league leaders in hits, even in his first season stateside.
Kyle Harrison, pitcher
2023 MLB stats: 1-1, 4.15 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 35 strikeouts in 34.2 innings pitched
One of baseball's most electric pitching prospects, Giants left-hander Kyle Harrison finally made his MLB debut last season and showed why he was held in such high regard.
Possessing a sneaky fastball with some run and a filthy slurve, he was one of the more dynamic strikeout artists in the minor leagues with 452 strikeouts in 279.1 career innings pitched.
Harrison will be penciled into the Giants rotation behind last year's National League Cy Young runner-up Logan Webb and newly-acquired 2021 American League Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray.
After a successful debut where he went 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA while striking out 35 batters in 34.2 innings pitched, the 2020 third-round draft pick will look to make his mark and become a household name in 2024.
Marco Luciano, shortstop
2023 MLB stats: .231/.333/.308 with three doubles and one stolen base in 14 games played
With longtime Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford retiring this offseason, shortstop Marco Luciano will have some huge shoes to fill even though Crawford was a shell of himself the past two seasons.
After an uneventful debut where he struck out in 17 of his 39 at-bats, Luciano will come into 2024 looking to learn from his mistakes.
With 118 extra-base hits in 292 career minor-league games including 55 home runs, he will be given the chance to earn the starting job during spring training. Given his competition, he should be able to secure that spot fairly easily.
The 22-year-old shortstop has all of the tools to be a franchise cornerstone, and the Giants will hope that he can continue to get better as he gets comfortable in the MLB.
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