San Jose Giants Best Players of All Time

Kevin Smith

The San Jose Giants are a Minor League Baseball team that has been a part of the California League since 1988. Representing San Jose, California, the Giants are the Single-A affiliate of the Major League Baseball team, the San Francisco Giants.

Home games of the San Jose Giants are held at the Excite Ballpark, located in the heart of downtown San Jose. This professional team of rising stars provides a family-friendly atmosphere for fans and is an exciting way to experience some of the best up and coming players in the league.

Table of Contents

1. Pablo Sandoval

San Francisco Giants

Pablo Sandoval Career

  • Batting average: .278
  • Home runs: 153
  • Runs batted in: 639
  • 2× All-Star (2011, 2012), 3× World Series champion (2010, 2012, 2014), World Series MVP (2012), Babe Ruth Award (2012), Hit for the cycle on September 15, 2011

Pablo Sandoval was signed by the Giants as an amateur free agent in 2008. He made his MLB debut with San Francisco that year and has since played for the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves and most recently, the New York Yankees.

Sandoval is a three-time All-Star selection and won two Gold Gloves during his career with the Giants and Red Sox respectively.

 Injuries have limited him to just 98 games over the past two seasons but he still managed to hit 19 home runs both years despite not playing full campaigns.

The 36-year old first baseman/third baseman is now a free agent after spending 2019 with the Yankees where he batted .235/.309/.471 in 93 games before being traded to Toronto midway through 2020 season.. Pablo Sandoval is a three-time World Series champion with the San Francisco Giants.

He has hit for the cycle and been named MVP of the World Series in 2012. Pablo Sandoval was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2007, but he only played for them for two seasons before he was traded to San Francisco. 

In 2016, after spending four years with the Giants, Sandoval signed with Atlanta Braves as a free agent.

Pablo Sandova is one of baseball's most consistent hitters and is known for his power and speed on both sides of the plate.

Also Played For: 2009 major league baseball season, san francisco giants

2. Will Bednar

Will Bednar made his debut for the Giants in 2017 and has since shown great potential as a pitcher. He is mostly known for his fastball, but he also throws a curveball and changeup which have been very successful so far in his career.

Bednar was drafted by the Giants in the 3rd round of the 2017 MLB Draft and will continue to develop as one of their top pitchers moving forward. Will Bednar is a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was drafted in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft by the Pirates.

In 2017, he won his first major league championship with the Pirates. Bednar has a 2-1 record and 1 save in 3 postseason appearances so far Career stats: Wins: 5 Losses: 6 Saves: 1 ERA: 4 WHIP : 1 BB/9 : 7 K/9 : 2.

Also Played For: college world series

3. Matt Cain

Pitcher

Matt Cain Career

  • 3× All-Star (2009, 2011, 2012), 2× World Series champion (2010, 2012), Pitched a perfect game on June 13, 2012, San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame

Matt Cain is a pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. Cain made his MLB debut in 2005 and has been with the Giants ever since. 

He has a career record of 207-130 and has won two World Series with the Giants.

Cain is known for his strong arm and ability to strike out batters. Cain is also a very good hitter, having hit .296 with over 1,000 hits in his career. Cain is 37 years old and has several years left in his career.

He is a valuable member of the Giants team and is a fan favorite. Cain is married and has two children. Cain is a very consistent pitcher and is a key part of the Giants team. 

Matt Cain was a three-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion with the San Francisco Giants.

Matt Cain was selected in the first round of the 2005 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2006 and went on to win 104 games over the next six seasons. 

In 2012, Cain won his first Cy Young Award, becoming the first Giants pitcher to win the award. In 2016, Cain had his best season yet, winning his second Cy Young Award.

In 2017, Matt Cain announced his retirement from baseball. Matt Cain is a two-time National League All-Star and a seven-time member of the Giants' postseason roster. 

Matt Cain is a member of the Giants Wall of Fame. Matt Cain is married and has two children.

Also Played For: sacramento river cats

4. Andrew Susac

Andrew Susac Career

  • World Series champion (2014)

Susac was a highly touted prospect coming out of high school and was drafted in the first round by the Giants in 2010. Susac made his MLB debut in 2014 with the Giants and has been a regular in their backup catcher role.

Susac is a right-handed hitter and throws right-handed. Susac is a veteran catcher with plenty of experience in the majors. 

Susac is a good defensive catcher with a strong arm. Susac has been a valuable part of the Giants' bullpen in 2017, posting a 2.69 ERA in 38 innings.

Susac is an arbitration-eligible player this offseason and is likely to reach a long-term deal with the Giants. Susac is a talented player who has contributed significantly to the Giants over the past few years. 

Susac is a former first-round pick of the San Francisco Giants and played for their organization from 2014-2015 before being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. Susac had a breakout 2017 season with the Brewers, hitting 35 home runs and batting .269 with 109 RBIs. 

Susac was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 2018 and had another strong season, batting .304 with 16 home runs and 63 RBIs. Susac is set to join the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020 and is expected to continue his impressive play.

Also Played For: oregon state beavers baseball

5. Ray Black

Pitcher

Ray Black made his MLB debut in 2015 with the Milwaukee Brewers. Black has a 4.81 ERA in 109 appearances over three seasons. The right-hander is primarily a reliever, but has also made a handful of starts.

Black was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 4th round of the 2009 MLB Draft. Black and his wife, Brittney, have one child. Ray Black is a pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. Black has played for the Giants since 2018.

Black has a 2-3 record with the Giants. Black's earned run average is 5.53. Black has struck out 54 batters in 62 innings pitched. Black is scheduled to pitch for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2020.

 Black is a left-handed pitcher. Black was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the sixth round of the 2018 MLB Draft. Black will be a member of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2020.

6. Travis Ishikawa

Infielder

Travis Ishikawa Career

  • 2× World Series champion (2010, 2014)

Ishikawa was born in Seattle, Washington in 1983. Ishikawa made his MLB debut with the San Francisco Giants in 2006. Ishikawa played for the Pittsburgh Pirates until his retirement in 2015.

Ishikawa is a left-handed first baseman. Ishikawa has a batting average of .261 and a career total of 486 hits. Ishikawa has also thrown out 43% of attempted base stealers during his career.

Ishikawa is currently a hitting coach for the Giants. Ishikawa is married and has two children. Ishikawa is known for his strong throwing arm. Ishikawa is a right-handed hitter who has played for the San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, and New York Yankees.

Ishikawa has a batting average of .255 and has hit 23 home runs in his career. Ishikawa was a key part of the Giants' 2010 World Series victory, and he was also a part of the Yankees' 2013 World Series victory. 

Ishikawa is a three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner. Ishikawa will be a free agent after the 2015 season.

7. Kyle Crick

Pitcher

Kyle Crick

Kyle Crick was drafted by the Pirates in the 3rd round of the 2012 MLB draft. He made his debut with the Pirates in 2016. Crick was traded to the Oakland Athletics in 2018.

He finished the 2018 season with the A's. Crick is a free agent and is currently looking for a new team. Kyle Crick has a fastball that tops out at 95 mph and a slider that can reach 80 mph.

He has also been known to throw a changeup and a curveball. Kyle Crick is a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher who is looking to find a new team to continue his career. Kyle Crick is a promising pitcher who is looking to continue his career in the future.

Kyle Crick made his MLB debut for the San Francisco Giants in 2017. Kyle Crick has a win-loss record of 9-11 and an earned run average of 3.56. Kyle Crick has struck out 201 batters in his MLB career. Kyle Crick has been a part of the Pittsburgh Pirates (2018-2021) and the Chicago White Sox (2022) teams.

Kyle Crick is a left-handed pitcher. Kyle Crick is 26 years old. Kyle Crick is from Fort Wayne, Indiana. Kyle Crick attended Indiana University. Kyle Crick is married.

8. Reyes Moronta

Pitcher

Reyes Moronta

Reyes Moronta made his debut in the big leagues with the Texas Rangers in 2016. He has since pitched in the majors for the Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Seattle Mariners.

Moronta has a fastball that averages around 93 mph, a slider, and a changeup. He has struggled with injuries in the past, but has shown promise when healthy. Moronta is a free agent at the end of the 2019 season.

He is expected to be a free agent target for teams looking for a starting pitcher. Reyes Moronta was born in Santiago, Dominican Republic. He has dual citizenship with the United States and Dominican Republic. Moronta has a wife and two daughters.

Reyes Moronta is a Christian. Moronta is a fan of the Dallas Cowboys. Reyes Moronta is a member of the Dominican Republic national baseball team. 

Reyes Moronta is expected to be a free agent target at the end of the 2019 season. He will likely be signed by a team looking for a starting pitcher.

9. Kelby Tomlinson

Second baseman

Kelby Tomlinson

Kelby Tomlinson is a utility player for the San Francisco Giants. He was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma on June 16, 1990. Tomlinson has played for the Giants since 2013.

He has played in a total of 256 games, with 124 starts. Tomlinson has batted right and thrown right. Tomlinson has a career batting average of .222 and a career throwing average of .225.

Tomlinson has been a Gold Glove Award winner. In 2018 he won the Silver Slugger Award. Tomlinson is a two-time All-Star. Kelby Tomlinson made his MLB debut with the San Francisco Giants in 2015.

After spending most of his career in the Minor Leagues, Tomlinson finally made it to the Majors and had a successful debut. 

Tomlinson hit .265 with 3 home runs and 47 RBI in his first season in the Majors.

In 2016, Tomlinson hit .269 with 11 home runs and 61 RBI. In 2017, Tomlinson hit .272 with 23 home runs and 89 RBI. 

In 2018, Tomlinson hit just .253 with 11 home runs and 52 RBI. Tomlinson is a versatile player who can play both first and second base.

Tomlinson is set to become a free agent at the end of the 2018 season. Tomlinson is a dynamic player who can hit for power and average.

10. Sergio Romo

Pitcher

Sergio Romo Career

  • All-Star (2013), 3× World Series champion (2010, 2012, 2014)

Romo, who was born in Brawley, California in 1983, made his MLB debut for the San Francisco Giants in 2008. He has since spent most of his career with the Tampa Bay Rays, appearing in 467 games (including playoffs) and posting a win-loss record of 42-36.

Romo has a career ERA of 3.71, but he has also been a reliable starter, posting a 2.92 ERA in the postseason. In addition to his pitching, Romo has also spent time in the infield (second base, shortstop, third base) and the outfield (left field, center field).

In 2022, Romo will be entering his tenth season in the MLB. He has been with the Giants organization since 2008 and has enjoyed a successful career as one of the team's closer. He has been a part of three World Series championships and has recorded a 3.21 ERA in over 700 innings.

He has been named an All-Star and has been recognized for his prowess in the postseason.

11. Heliot Ramos

Ramos was signed by the San Francisco Giants as an amateur free agent in 2018. He made his professional debut in 2018 with the AZL Giants. In 2019, Ramos was promoted to the Lakeland Flying Tigers of the Florida State League.

In 2019, Ramos was named to the Southern League All-Star Team. Ramos has played in 62 games for the Giants in 2019, batting .262 with 4 home runs and 17 RBI. Ramos is projected to start in center field for the Giants in the 2020 season.

Ramos was born in Maunabo, Puerto Rico, and he has represented Puerto Rico in international competition. Ramos attended the University of Miami, where he played college baseball for the Hurricanes. Ramos is a switch hitter who bats left-handed.

Ramos was signed by the Giants as an international free agent in September of 2018. Ramos made his MLB debut on April 10, 2022. Ramos had a batting average of 100 in his MLB career. Ramos had no home runs and zero RBIs in his MLB career. Ramos played for the Giants from 2022 to present.

Ramos was an infielder and played in 46 games for the Giants. Ramos was released by the Giants in August of 2024. Ramos retired from baseball in February of 2025. Ramos is currently a coach for the Nicaragua national baseball team.

12. Dan Runzler

Dan Runzler Career

  • World Series champion (2010)

Dan Runzler is a pitcher and pitching coach with the San Francisco Giants. He made his MLB debut in 2009 and has since pitched for the Giants, Miami Marlins, and Chicago White Sox.

Dan has a impressive record, having won 103 games in his career. He is also known for his intense work ethic, which has led to him being named to the National League All-Star team twice.

Dan is married to his wife, Kelly, and they have two children. He is a devout Christian and is involved with various charities. Dan is a native of Santa Monica, California and attended Santa Monica College.

He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the fourth round of the 2004 MLB Draft. Dan is a highly-rated pitching coach and has worked with some of the best pitchers in the game, including Jake Peavy and Madison Bumgarner.

Dan is a great ambassador for the game of baseball and is loved by both his players and fans. He is a key member of the Giants' coaching staff and is highly respected by his peers. 

Dan is a regular contributor to various media outlets and is always willing to share his knowledge and insights on the game of baseball.

Dan is a true professional and is always prepared to give his best effort on the field. He is a valuable member of the Giants' organization and is highly respected by his team and peers. 

Dan Runzler is one of the most successful and respected pitchers in the game and is a key member of the Giants' coaching staff. He is a tireless worker and is always prepared to give his best effort on the field.

Dan Runzler is a great ambassador for the game of baseball and is loved by both his players and fans.

Final Words

The San Jose Giants have had some great players over the years. Some of the best players to ever play for the Giants include Tim Lincecum, Buster Posey, and Madison Bumgarner.

They are currently playing in the California League, so they may not be as successful as they once were.

Photo of author

Kevin Smith

I am a dedicated learner who is constantly pursuing my dreams in many areas of life. I am a Finance major at the University of Maryland, a professional baseball player for the Toronto Blue Jays and the owner of my personal brand, Elevate Baseball. I hope to inspire younger learners of all sports and interests to tirelessly pursue their dreams, whatever that may be. LinkedIn

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