The San Francisco Giants’ trade of closer Camilo Doval started out as all about catcher Jesus Rodriguez. He was supposed to be the big prize. But as time passed, another name started popping up — infielder Parks Harber.
Harber’s breakout in the Arizona Fall League has turned heads. Suddenly, he’s one of the fastest-rising talents in the organization. His offensive numbers have been eye-popping, and he’s showing off some surprising defensive flexibility too.
It’s wild how quickly the narrative around this trade changed. The Giants might have stumbled onto something special with Harber.
Parks Harber: The Unexpected Jewel of the Doval Trade
Usually, the top prospect in a trade gets all the attention. In this case, everyone expected Jesus Rodriguez to be that guy.
But Harber’s ridiculous performance in Arizona changed everything. He didn’t just hit well — he dominated.
Dominating the Arizona Fall League
Harber slashed .383/.513/.683 with three homers, nine doubles, and a monstrous 1.196 OPS. That was good for fourth-best in the league. You don’t put up those numbers by accident.
He’s shown he can adjust to advanced pitching. Giants GM Zack Minasian even gave the scouting staff credit for spotting Harber’s potential before most people caught on.
Harber mostly played first and third base, but he also got some time in right field. The Giants are clearly testing his defensive range, which makes sense in today’s game where flexibility is gold.
Harber’s Immediate Impact in the Giants’ System
Once Harber joined the Giants’ system, he made noise right away. In just 25 games for High-A Eugene, he hit .333 with a 1.097 OPS and seven home runs.
Stack those results on top of his Fall League numbers, and it’s hard not to get a little excited. His bat could push him up the ladder pretty quickly.
Projected Path to the Majors
Harber is already 24 years old and played college ball, so he’s not a raw kid who needs years to develop. If he keeps this up, he could see Double-A by early 2026. That’s not a wild prediction at this point.
The Giants have reason to be optimistic, though they’ll want to see how he handles tougher pitching. That’s always the real test.
Giants Roster Moves and Rule 5 Draft Decisions
While Harber’s stock rises, the Giants made some interesting choices before the Rule 5 Draft deadline. They didn’t protect any new prospects, keeping the 40-man roster full.
This left players like Will Bednar and Reggie Crawford unprotected.
The Risks of Leaving Prospects Unprotected
Both Bednar and Crawford once looked like promising arms, but injuries and shaky results have slowed them down. Now they’re open to being picked up by other teams in the Rule 5 Draft.
It’s a gamble, sure. But the Giants seem confident in their current roster and maybe doubt these pitchers could stick with another team for a full season.
The Coaching Tree Legacy
Off the field, the Giants keep making their mark through their coaching pipeline. Coaches from the 2021 staff have landed bench coach and managerial jobs all around the league.
Impact Beyond San Francisco
This coaching tree just adds to the Giants’ reputation for growing not only players but sharp baseball minds. For guys like Harber, being surrounded by experienced leaders can make a real difference.
Final Thoughts: A Trade That Keeps Giving
When the Giants traded Camilo Doval, most people expected Jesus Rodriguez to be the main focus. But Parks Harber ended up stealing the spotlight instead.
Harber’s mix of power, patience at the plate, and defensive flexibility looks pretty appealing for a team building for its next big run. He’s not just padding his Arizona Fall League stats — there’s a real chance he becomes a cornerstone as the franchise moves forward.
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Here is the source article for this story: Giants notes: ‘Fun to watch’ infield prospect from Camilo Doval trade opens eyes in Fall League
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