Gary Brown

Brown, a former top prospect, got a full year with Triple-A Fresno in 2013 and saw his numbers drop across the board. His .231/.286/.375 line was uninspiring, and his 72 wRC+ reflected that. The only positive was that his power numbers (13 homers, .143 ISO) improved from 2012, but that was aided by playing in the hitter-friendly PCL. While he stole 17 bases with Fresno, he was also thrown out 11 times. The 2010 first-round draft pick is starting to look more and more like a bust as he progresses through the Giants' minor league system. He was selected primarily for his defense and speed, but the organization was hoping to see a little more out of him offensively at this point in his career. 2014 will be a make-or-break season for Brown, as the Giants were forced to add him to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. San Francisco has a black hole at offense in left field, so Brown will have a shot at a midseason call-up, if he can fix his offensive issues in his likely return to Fresno.

Brown didn't have the same success he experienced in the California League after making the move to Double-A during the 2012 season. He posted a .279/.347/.385 line with seven home runs and 33 stolen bases in 134 games (610 plate appearances), and could start the 2013 season at the same level or move up to Triple-A. Brown's speed grades as an 80, but his overall power dropped in 2012. His .106 ISO was unimpressive, and he is still too aggressive at the plate (6.6 percent walk rate). Even with the Giants' need for outfield help, he might not get a callup until September thanks to the re-signing of Angel Pagan.

After looking completely lost during his first year in the minors, Brown now looks like a potential everyday player after posting a .336/.407/.519 line as a 22-year-old in High-A last season. He’s a plus defender in center field and stole 53 bases over 131 games last year, as scouts have typically rated his speed as an “80” (that’s the highest possible grade). Other than Brandon Belt, he’s the Giants’ best prospect, but Brown is probably a couple of years away from making a real impact at the major league level and the addition of veterans Melky Cabrera and Angel Pagan will afford him extra development time.