River Cats and Giants Offseason Update (12/5-12/19) — Part 1 

The San Francisco Giants have been busy over the past few weeks, with seven Minor League free agent signings that could impact the River Cats next season.

The most notable signing was infielder Donovan Walton. The 28-year-old Walton has 61 games at the Major League level, 24 with San Francisco. He played 20 games with Sacramento in 2022.

Walton, who started at second base, third base, shortstop, and left field last season, is a .179 hitter in the Majors with 17 runs, 11 doubles, three homers, and 20 RBIs. He hit .289 with 70 runs, 30 doubles, 15 home runs, 72 RBIs, and an .872 OPS in 101 career Triple-A games with Tacoma and Sacramento.

Another familiar name was catcher Ricardo Genovés, who returned to the Giants on an MiLB deal on Dec. 11.

Genovés, the River Cats’ Opening Day catcher in 2022, has spent parts of the last two seasons in Sacramento. The 23-year-old is a .265 hitter in 44 Triple-A games, with 16 runs, nine doubles, four homers, 24 RBIs, and a .745 OPS.

The Giants signed two infielders from outside the organization in Brady Whalen (Dec. 13) and Armando Alvarez (Dec. 10).

Whalen, who is from Camas, Washington, was selected in the 12th round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals.

The 24-year-old reached Double-A for the first time in 2022, batting .306 with 20 runs, 11 doubles, three triples, 15 RBIs, and an .835 OPS in 29 games for Springfield.

He is a career .246 hitter in the Minors, with 219 runs, 91 doubles, eight triples, 39 home runs, 244 RBIs, and a .731 OPS in 432 games.

Alvarez, a two-time MiLB.com Organization All-Star with the Yankees (2018 and 2019), has hit .261 in 263 Triple-A games, totaling 125 runs, 63 doubles, 34 home runs, 151 RBIs, and a .760 OPS.

The 28-year-old has played 458 games at third base, 55 at first, 14 at second, and even started a game at shortstop and left field in his Minor League career.

Former Seattle righty Ljay Newsome signed with San Francisco on Dec. 10.

The 26-year-old Newsome totaled 12.1 innings in 2022, striking out five over 5.2 frames with Triple-A Memphis (St. Louis).

Newsome, the Mariners’ 26th round pick in 2015, has a 6.53 ERA, 25 strikeouts, and a 1.45 WHIP in 30.1 MLB innings.

Another former Seattle farmhand, righty Nick Duron, also joined the organization on Dec. 10.

The 26-year-old, who was selected in the 31st round by Boston in 2015, made his MLB debut with the NL Champion Philadelphia Phillies last season, tossing a scoreless inning.

He was excellent for Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2022, posting a 2.77 ERA, seven saves, 63 strikeouts, and a 1.52 WHIP in 48.2 innings.

The Giants added a young southpaw that could join the River Cats at some point in 2023.

Lefty Raymond Burgos, an 18th round pick by Cleveland in 2016, joined the Giants’ organization on Dec. 12 after seven years in the Guardians’ system.

The 24-year-old reached High-A for the first time last season, going 8-3 with a 2.08 ERA, 67 strikeouts, and a 1.14 WHIP in 65.0 innings for the Lake County Captains.

Overall, Burgos has pitched 43 of his 64 games out of the bullpen, with a 3.04 ERA, 184 strikeouts, and a 1.31 WHIP in 171.2 MiLB innings.