Luciano’s big goal: majors in a year
One of the Giants’ top prospects has Trout and Tatis Jr. as role models
PHOENIX — Marco Luciano, one of the top prospects in the game at 19, already is getting muchtoosoon Hall of Fame tags hung on him. He’ll know what to shoot for, though: His role models are Mike Trout and Fernando Tatis Jr., one surefire Hall of Famer and another who’s off to that kind of start.
Tatis Jr., in particular, is a great example for Luciano. He’s a big shortstop, like Luciano, and he arrived in the majors at the age of 20 — which is what Luciano would like to do, stating firmly Tuesday before the Giants’ game against the Brewers that he believes he could be with the big club next year.
“I think if I continue doing what I’m doing right now, and I have a regular season, a full season, under me and I keep showing the team that I’m ready, I think a year would be my timetable,” Luciano said, with Erwin Higueros interpreting.
As for Tatis as an example, well, Luciano would be able to see a lot of the Padres’ infielder in the NL West. “He’s aggressive. He leaves everything on the field,” Luciano said. “And he’s doing everything in his power to help his team win.”
Luciano — listed as 6foot2 — might not be quite as tall as some of the shortstops to whom he draws comparisons, such as Alex Rodriguez (63) and Carlos Correa (64). Tatis — at 63, 217 pounds — is also a bit taller than Luciano, but Luciano is packing on enough muscle to keep pace in that department. He gained 7 pounds this winter, he said, and is up to 208 after working out
“I think if I continue doing what I’m doing right now ... I think a year would be my timetable.”
Marco Luciano,
Giants shortstop prospect, on when he hopes to reach the major leagues
harder than ever before this offseason.
Last year was a trial for minorleaguers because the pandemic canceled their seasons. Many of those in development believe even the best prospects will be behind by up to a year as a result, and Luciano has struggled at the plate this spring. After going 0for4 with three strikeouts Tuesday, he’s 1for12 with nine K’s. He said being limited to the Giants’ alternate site and instructional league play did not affect him.
“I was able to take part in spring training 2.0, all the coaches were very helpful, and I was able to be around major leaguers,” Luciano said. “So, overall, I don’t think it was a lost year for me.”
He said his lack of good contact this spring — Luciano bemoaned the fact his one hit, which came Monday, was an infield single — can be explained by a mechanical issue. “I’m swinging at good pitches,” he said, “but it’s my body: I’m tilting too much toward third.”
In reality, no one really expected a minorleaguer who has not played above LowA ball to hit bigleague pitching yet. And though Luciano thought last year was a productive one for him, it’s tough to imagine him playing above DoubleA this season. That makes a jump to the big leagues next year a tough ask, even with Brandon Crawford likely on the move as a free agent.
On the other hand, Luciano is gaining tremendous experience this spring, and he made his second start at shortstop Tuesday. His first came in a TV game against the Dodgers, under the lights, a very nice perk, given his age and level of experience.
Luciano is ranked as high as seventh overall among majorleague prospects, but he’s not spending any time worrying about how he stacks up with the game’s other top young players.
“I really don’t pay too much attention to where I am with other top prospects,” he said. “I just go about my business and trying to continue playing and getting better.”