Two Giants farm clubs, including San Jose, capture championships

DENVER >> On the same night the Giants secured their 100th win, two of the franchise’s minor league affiliates hoisted championship trophies.

Shortly after the Giants wrapped up a 7-2 victory over the Rockies at Coors Field on Friday to become the fourth team in the franchise’s San Francisco era to reach the 100-win threshold, the Low-A San Jose Giants and High-A Eugene (Ore.) Emeralds each won their league championships.

San Jose became the LowA West champions, with a 7-2 win over the Fresno Grizzlies, a former Giants affiliate that is now the Low-A affiliate of the Rockies. Top outfield prospect and San Jose Giants 2021 team MVP Luis Matos launched a home run while 2020 first round draft pick Patrick Bailey also delivered a RBI single in the win.

San Jose, which was the organization’s High-A affiliate prior to 2021, won four titles in a six-year span from 2005-2010 including back-toback championships in 2009 and 2010. Developing successful homegrown prospects played a significant role in San Francisco winning World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014. Among those who came through San Jose were Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Brandon Crawford, Pablo Sandoval, Sergio Romo and Ryan Vogelsong.

The Eugene Emeralds, who became the Giants’ High-A affiliate prior to the start of the 2021 season, defeated the Spokane Indians 5-0 in Game 4 of a best-of-five series behind five strong innings from one of the franchise’s top pitching prospects, Ryan Murphy, and a towering home run from the organization’s No. 1 overall prospect, Marco Luciano, to secure the High-A West title.

Neither the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats nor the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels reached the championship this year, but it’s a strong sign for the organization’s future that two of its affiliates were able to win titles in 2021.