San Francisco Chronicle

Prospects missing chance

- By John Shea John Shea is The Chronicle’s national baseball writer.

One consolatio­n for a team going through a rotten season is taking a look at the hottest prospects in big-league games.

The Giants can’t get that right, either. Christian Arroyo has a broken hand. Austin Slater has a torn adductor in his hip/groin area. Steven Duggar has missed most of the season with hip and elbow injuries. Ryder Jones was drilled on the wrist, then the other wrist. Joan Gregorio was suspended for testing positive for performanc­e-enhancing drugs.

All had chances for serious big-league time, especially with the Giants buried in the cellar.

“It would’ve been nice to have kept these guys healthy, not just for here but in Sacramento, to continue their developmen­t,” manager Bruce Bochy said.

Monday, another top prospect was shelved. Pitcher Tyler Beede was scratched 15 minutes before his start with Triple-A Sacramento with a strained groin. He was hurt while warming up in Tacoma, Wash.

Beede was the Giants’ top draft pick in 2014 and seemed destined for a call-up this season. He has a 4.79 ERA in 19 starts, but he was coming off seven shutout innings against El Paso.

“He’s been a little off and on with his consistenc­y,” Bochy said. “It’s getting better, from my reports, with his command and other pitches, and he’s attacking the strike zone a little bit better.”

Bochy mentioned Jarrett Parker and Mac Williamson as other players missing time with injuries. Parker won a platoon job in left field out of spring training but played just nine games before he got hurt.

“We’ve had so many guys who are missing important playing time,” Bochy said. “With that said, a few of those — I don’t want to go into who — it’s going to be important to play winter ball so we can get a better read and evaluation where we’re at with them.”

Briefly: Pitcher Johnny Cueto, on the disabled list with blisters on his fingers, played catch and will throw again Tuesday . ... Reliever Mark Melancon (pronator strain) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday and could face hitters over the weekend . ...

Jae-Gyun Hwang will report to Sacramento on Tuesday. The third baseman will be worked in at multiple positions. Pablo

Sandoval also is to join Sacramento after going 2-for-9 in three games with Class A San Jose.

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