Here’s a bold statement for you: the San Francisco Giants are quietly building a shortstop dynasty, and it’s about to shake up the baseball world. But here’s where it gets controversial—with a roster overflowing with young, elite shortstops, the Giants are sitting on a goldmine of talent, but how will they manage this wealth of skill? Let’s dive in.
Shortstops are the heart and soul of any baseball team—the infield captains, the athletic powerhouses, and often the team leaders. They’re the players who make the impossible plays look routine, and the Giants have been stacking their system with these game-changers. The latest addition? Luis Hernández, a 17-year-old Venezuelan phenom who signed a staggering $5 million bonus on MLB’s international signing day. Hernández isn’t just any prospect; he’s widely regarded as the top talent in Latin America, boasting maturity and athleticism beyond his years. And this is the part most people miss—this marks the second consecutive year the Giants have snagged the No. 1 Latin American prospect, following Josuar Gonzalez in 2025, who signed for nearly $3 million.
Joe Salermo, the Giants’ senior director of international scouting, couldn’t hide his excitement. ‘I don’t know if we can make this a habit—it’s a tough market, but we’re going to try,’ he said. Salermo’s team has been scouting these players for years—Gonzalez was just 13 when they first spotted him, and Hernández was 12. But here’s the kicker: despite their massive bonuses, these prospects require patience. Hernández, still a high school junior in age, will likely start in the Dominican Summer League, just like Gonzalez did. Yet, Salermo dreams of seeing them play together stateside soon, though the final call rests with the player development staff led by Buster Posey and Zack Minasian.
The Giants’ shortstop depth doesn’t stop there. Gavin Kilen, their top draft pick in July, and Jhonny Level, the star of their 2024 international class, are both shortstops. Kyle Haines, the Giants’ senior director of player development, puts it bluntly: ‘The number of shortstops we have from A ball down—it’ll probably be hard for any team to match what we have.’ But here’s the million-dollar question—with so much talent, where will everyone play?
Gonzalez, Level, and Kilen have all logged significant time at shortstop, but they’ve also played other positions to increase their versatility. Then there’s Maui Ahuna and Walker Martin, both drafted in 2023, who have shown promise at shortstop and other infield spots. Even Zane Zielinski, a defensively advanced prospect, is in the mix. Here’s the controversial take—while the Giants are deep at shortstop, they’re not as stacked at the upper levels, thanks to Willy Adames holding down the position in the majors through 2031. But is that enough?
The Giants’ strategy isn’t new. During Brian Sabean’s tenure, they drafted shortstops like Brandon Crawford, Joe Panik, and Matt Duffy, all of whom transitioned to other positions successfully. Even Buster Posey played shortstop in college. But here’s the twist—while shortstops are prized for their all-around athleticism, the Giants are betting that this versatility will pay off, even if it means moving players to other positions.
Here’s the thought-provoking question for you—with so many elite shortstops in their system, are the Giants setting themselves up for future success, or are they creating a logjam that could stifle development? And if they do move players to other positions, will it dilute their impact? Let us know in the comments—this is a debate worth having.
For now, the Giants are playing the long game, and it’s a strategy that could pay dividends. If you want to stay updated on this and other Bay Area sports stories, sign up for the Section 415 email newsletter and subscribe to the podcast. The future of the Giants’ infield is here, and it’s anything but ordinary.
