| AB | 51 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .333 |
| OBP | .462 |
| SLG | .392 |
| HR | 0 |
- Full name Marco Jose Luciano
- Born 09/10/2001 in San Francisco De Macoris, Dominican Republic
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 178 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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BA Grade: 55/High
Track Record: When the Giants signed him in 2018, Luciano immediately vaulted into the upper tier of their system. Since then, most of the bumps in his path have revolved around health. An offseason stress fracture in his back kept him out all of spring training and delayed his regular season debut at Double-A until early May. After a slow start, Luciano hit his stride at midsummer, then earned a promotion to Triple-A on July 18. Eight days later, he received his first big league callup.
Scouting Report: No matter where he winds up on the diamond, Luciano’s bat will lead the way. He’s a well-built player with plenty of raw and usable power that could play up further if he becomes a little bit more disciplined in the batter’s box. Injuries have limited his experience severely, and he has not played more than 100 games in a season since 2021. The time on the IL has somewhat stunted his development and kept him from getting the requisite at-bats against high-quality pitching he’ll need in order to reach his ceiling. He’ll also need to refine his approach to be a little less aggressive early in counts. To stick at shortstop--where he played primarily during his look in the big leagues--he’ll have to work hard to maintain his range and focus on taking better angles to the ball. He has more than enough arm for the left side, but his speed is no better than below-average. If he has to move off the position, his plus throwing arm will play just fine at third base and his bat would likely profile at either outfield corner.
The Future: After getting his feet wet this season, Luciano will likely get a long look in San Francisco in 2024. If he reaches his ceiling, he’ll be a force in the middle of the lineup and the diamond.
Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 40 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60 -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/High
Track Record: Luciano has been the Giants' top prospect for four consecutive seasons, yet he might just be beginning to scratch the surface of his talent. He was lauded as an amateur for his offensive gifts, which included the potential to hit for both average and power while sticking on the left side of the infield. The Giants paid $2.6 million to sign Luciano and he smashed the Rookie-level Arizona League in his 2019 pro debut, then earned a quick cameo at short-season Salem-Keizer before a hamstring tweak ended his season. After spending the 2020 season as one of the youngest players at an alternate training site, Luciano put together a standout 2021 campaign at Low-A San Jose before running into some resistance at High-A Eugene. Luciano's 2022 season was interrupted by a back injury that limited him to just 57 non-rehab games, but he showed offensive and defensive skills.
Scouting Report: First and foremost, Luciano's value will be in the batter's box. After running roughshod through the California League in 2021, he got into trouble against older pitchers who were better equipped to execute a game plan. Luciano countered in 2022 by learning how pitchers were going to attack him and making better swing decisions. He still could stand to be a bit more selective, but a 90th percentile exit velocity of 106.2 mph shows that his impact potential is among the upper echelon of minor leaguers. Scouts say Luciano doesn't have to over-swing to get to that power, either. Instead, he can take a controlled swing and let his natural strength shoot balls over the fence with surprising ease for someone his age. Instead of trying to hit every ball out of the park, he's content to shorten up and settle for singles when appropriate. The next improvements for Luciano involve becoming a little more adept at handling pitches in on his hands or in the upper part of the strike zone. If upper-level pitchers can execute there, scouts expect Luciano's rate of swing-and-miss to get a tick higher. Defensively, Luciano is looking more like a player who can play an average shortstop instead of having to move to third base--an ideal development considering the Giants have standout third baseman Casey Schmitt already in the pipeline. He's become more sure-handed at shortstop, looks more confident playing the position and is a good bet to cleanly field balls he can reach. His range isn't standout, and there is still the possibility that his body will get big enough to force him off the position. He has the plus arm strength to handle either position on the left side of the infield. He is a below-average runner.
The Future: Luciano was promoted to Double-A Richmond for the Eastern League playoffs and will return to the level in 2023. If he continues making strides against advanced pitching, he could be a centerpiece in the middle of future San Francisco lineups.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60 -
Track Record: For the two seasons prior to Luciano’s signing, the Giants weren’t allowed to sign any international prospect for $300,000. When the restrictions expired, the team opened its wallet and signed a star-studded class that included Luciano as well as outfielders Luis Matos and Jairo Pomares. The Giants skipped Luciano over the DSL and immediately to the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he thrived and ranked as the league’s No. 2 prospect behind only the Padres’ CJ Abrams. He finished the year with a cameo at short-season Eugene. In 2020, Luciano was invited to San Francisco’s alternate training site. He was the youngest player in camp, and the assignment was especially significant because spots were finite and he had no real chance to contribute to the big league team. Luciano started slowly in 2021 before catching fire at Low-A San Jose, where he ranked as the league’s No. 2 prospect behind Oakland’s Tyler Soderstrom. He scuffled somewhat after a promotion to High-A and then again during a stint in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: Luciano has developed a reputation as a bit of a slow starter, but once he gets going it’s easy to see why he’s valued so highly. He has a strong ability to make a game plan at the plate, and if he gets a pitch in his zone he’s going to crush it. His raw power is easily double-plus, and he’s capable of hitting balls out to any part of the park. That said, plenty of refinement is needed before he reaches his ceiling. Though Luciano can recognize breaking balls, he will sometimes get over-eager and chase out of the zone. There are some moving parts in his load that can cause his timing to get out of whack, but he has the hand speed to catch up to even the best fastballs. His 90.1 mph average and 115 mph maximum exit velocities in 2021 show a player capable of doing plenty of damage when he connects. Defensively, Luciano has roughly a coin flip’s shot of staying at shortstop. He has the arm strength for the left side, but his internal clock leaves much to be desired. His feet don’t often catch up with his body, either, leaving him in awkward positions to make throws across the diamond. Rival managers in the Low-A West saw plenty of athleticism and ability in the field, but those traits still need to be honed into consistent, usable skills. None of this is unexpected for a player who didn’t turn 20 until season’s end and missed out on a key year of in-game development because of the coronavirus pandemic. Luciano isn’t the speediest runner and grades out as below-average at his best. If he does have to move off of shortstop, third base is the likeliest destination because of his arm strength and the way his power is likely to profile at the position.
The Future: After ending 2021 in High-A, Luciano is likely to return to the level to begin 2022. He’ll look to make his play more consistent and show more frequent peeks at the perennial all-star-caliber player he can be when everything is working the way it did during most of his time at San Jose.
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Hitting: 60. Power: 70. Running: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
TRACK RECORD: After two years under international signing restrictions, the Giants opened their wallet in 2018 to sign a star-studded international class that included Luciano and outfielders Luis Matos and Jairo Pomares. Luciano was the undisputed gem and quickly showed why in his 2019 pro debut when he demolished the Rookie-level Arizona League, made a cameo at short-season Salem-Keizer and asserted himself as the most promising prospect in the Giants’ system. Luciano got his first look at Oracle Park in January, when he was part of a group the Giants brought in for a preseason minicamp. He got there again when he was added to the 60-man player pool following baseball’s resumption from the coronavirus pandemic shutdown. Because the minor league season was canceled, Luciano spent the summer at the team’s alternate training site getting at-bats against a wide variety of pitchers before heading to instructional league in the fall.
SCOUTING REPORT: Luciano is one of the game’s most electrifying prospects. He uses huge bat speed and strength to produce tons of loud contact—he was one of just five players 17-and-younger who hit double-digit home runs in 2019—and reached a peak exit velocity of 118 mph at the alternate site. While Luciano has immense strength and feel for the barrel, there is still work to be done. He understandably struggled facing pitchers with much more experience at the alternate site. Initially, he struggled to get balls in the air, but as he learned how to make a plan at the plate and better understand how pitchers would attack him, he started taking better at-bats. Defensively, he has a chance to stay at shortstop, but his bat might push him too quickly to get the necessary development at the position. He shows fine actions and has plenty of arm strength, but hasn’t quite mastered making throws on the run. If Luciano has to move, his plus arm will make third base an option. He is a fringe-average runner right now, which might also hasten a move off shortstop. His strong pre-pitch positioning could mitigate a lack of range.
THE FUTURE: Luciano’s bat is that of a potential everyday, middle-of-the-order standout. He has all-star potential even if he has to move to third base. If he can make the defensive improvements necessary, he could one day join the Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. as a second Dominican superstar shortstop in the National League West. He is likely to open the 2021 season at low Class A. -
TRACK RECORD: The Giants spent $6 million to sign Lucius Fox in 2015, thus putting themselves in the international penalty box for the next two signing periods. Once they were free of those restrictions, they quickly signed three of the top available talents: Venezuelan outfielder Luis Matos, Cuban outfielder Jairo Pomares and Luciano, the second-ranked player on the market behind only Victor Victor Mesa. The Giants paid $2.6 million to acquire Luciano, who dabbled in the outfield as an amateur but moved back to shortstop before signing. In 2019, the 17-year-old skipped over the Dominican Summer League and headed straight to the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he ranked as the league's No. 2 prospect. In 35 games in the AZL, Luciano slammed nine doubles and 10 home runs and produced a 1.055 OPS, which ranked fourth in the league. He was promoted to short-season Salem-Keizer for its playoff run but had his year end because of a hamstring injury.
SCOUTING REPORT: Luciano has already proven himself as a prodigious offensive talent. His raw power—which, according to one evaluator, sounds like “a cannon going off ”—ranks as double-plus. He produces that power through picturesque swing mechanics which feature a quiet hand load, huge bat speed and big-time strength that allows him to snap the barrel through the zone with controlled violence. Even before he had begun to add muscle to his wiry frame, Luciano's strength was apparent in his hands, wrists and forearms. Beyond his physical gifts, Luciano has tremendous aptitude for the game. He quickly recognizes sequences and patterns and rarely allows pitchers to beat him the same way twice. Whereas his offensive game is advanced for a player his age, Luciano still needs plenty of work in the field. His instincts are strong and his arm projects as plus, but he still needs to clean up his footwork in order to stay at shortstop. If he has to move off shortstop his arm strength will make him a good fit for third base, and he has the athleticism to possibly move to the outfield. The AZL coaching staff worked with Luciano on the smaller details of shortstop, including prepitch positioning and learning how to slow the game down.
THE FUTURE: Luciano is just the latest in a growing line of players from the Dominican Republic whose talent puts them on an accelerated development track. His skills are so scintillating that he could start 2020 at low Class A Augusta. -
Track Record: Luciano was ranked as the No. 2 international prospect in the 2018 class, trailing only the Marlins' current No. 1 prospect Victor Victor Mesa. Luciano signed for $2.6 million, which was the Giants' largest international signing bonus since spending $6 million to sign Lucius Fox in 2015.
Scouting Report: A plus athlete with tremendous offensive upside, Luciano will begin his pro career as a shortstop, although there are some who believe he will eventually outgrow the position. If that's the case, Luciano has the hands to play third base, but also the athleticism to play either center or right field. For now, the 17-year-old is a plus runner with an above-average arm who will get every chance to stick at shortstop. Luciano has strong hands and quick bat speed, leading scouts to project plus power to all fields as a potential above-average hitter. There were some swing-and-miss concerns with Luciano early in the scouting process, but he has a strong sense for the strike zone and a compact swing.
The Future: Luciano will likely stay back in extended spring training before making his stateside debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League later in 2019. There is a chance he could play in the Dominican Summer League, but the preference, as of now, seems to be having Luciano go ahead and get accumulated in the U.S. as an advanced 17-year-old international prospect.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Though Luciano’s performance at High-A didn’t jump off the page, evaluators around the league were clearly impressed by his tools, especially his immense raw power. Luciano generates that power with plenty of strength, but also lightning-quick hands that allow him to turn on fastballs of any velocity. To get to that power more often, and to sharpen his overall hitting ability, Luciano must refine his approach. When he did connect, his power led to screaming line drives to the deepest recesses of ballparks. But he often got over-eager and chased pitches out of the zone, resulting in a poor strikeout-to-walk ratio of more than five-to-one. Shortstop isn’t out of the question for Luciano, but he’ll have to do plenty of work to stick there. He has the quickness and arm strength to stay there but needs to improve his instincts and reads off the bat. He has the bat to profile at third base—or any other position. -
Luciano entered the season considered the league’s best prospect and largely lived up to the billing. He finished second in the league with 18 home runs despite being promoted to High-A in early August and ranked second with a .930 OPS. Luciano’s short, fast, balanced swing generated tremendous power and loft to all fields, especially the opposite way. He had holes in his swing that could be exploited, particularly high and low, but he showed the ability to adjust and frequently delivered in clutch situations. “He takes a good, aggressive swing and it’s no question he’s up there to do damage,” Modesto manager Eric Farris said. “The intent he has in his swing is impressive and he was able to put some charges into some balls.” Luciano flashed impressive athleticism to go with good hands and plus arm strength at shortstop, but other times he was a stiff, upright defender with poor throwing accuracy. How his body develops will determine whether he remains at the position. -
Luciano reported to the Giants’ minor league facility in the summer of 2018, not long after signing on July 2 for $2.6 million. There were times during his first spring training that his rawness prompted questions as to whether he should begin his pro career in the Dominican Summer League. Luciano erased those concerns and proved to be one of the most electric talents in the Arizona League, showcasing premier bat speed and plus-plus raw power that resulted in 10 home runs during his time in the AZL. As with any young shortstop whose body is still developing, Luciano faces questions about his future position, but there are signs he can become a solid defender at the position, and his first pro season was an important test. "He learned how to position himself, and he learned how to slow the game down,” said Giants Orange manager Alvaro Espinosa, himself a slick-fielding shortstop during his playing career.
Top 100 Rankings
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Power Hitter in the San Francisco Giants in 2020
- Rated Best Hitter for Average in the San Francisco Giants in 2020
Scouting Reports
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BA Grade/Risk: 60/High
Track Record: Luciano has been the Giants' top prospect for four consecutive seasons, yet he might just be beginning to scratch the surface of his talent. He was lauded as an amateur for his offensive gifts, which included the potential to hit for both average and power while sticking on the left side of the infield. The Giants paid $2.6 million to sign Luciano and he smashed the Rookie-level Arizona League in his 2019 pro debut, then earned a quick cameo at short-season Salem-Keizer before a hamstring tweak ended his season. After spending the 2020 season as one of the youngest players at an alternate training site, Luciano put together a standout 2021 campaign at Low-A San Jose before running into some resistance at High-A Eugene. Luciano's 2022 season was interrupted by a back injury that limited him to just 57 non-rehab games, but he showed offensive and defensive skills.
Scouting Report: First and foremost, Luciano's value will be in the batter's box. After running roughshod through the California League in 2021, he got into trouble against older pitchers who were better equipped to execute a game plan. Luciano countered in 2022 by learning how pitchers were going to attack him and making better swing decisions. He still could stand to be a bit more selective, but a 90th percentile exit velocity of 106.2 mph shows that his impact potential is among the upper echelon of minor leaguers. Scouts say Luciano doesn't have to over-swing to get to that power, either. Instead, he can take a controlled swing and let his natural strength shoot balls over the fence with surprising ease for someone his age. Instead of trying to hit every ball out of the park, he's content to shorten up and settle for singles when appropriate. The next improvements for Luciano involve becoming a little more adept at handling pitches in on his hands or in the upper part of the strike zone. If upper-level pitchers can execute there, scouts expect Luciano's rate of swing-and-miss to get a tick higher. Defensively, Luciano is looking more like a player who can play an average shortstop instead of having to move to third base--an ideal development considering the Giants have standout third baseman Casey Schmitt already in the pipeline. He's become more sure-handed at shortstop, looks more confident playing the position and is a good bet to cleanly field balls he can reach. His range isn't standout, and there is still the possibility that his body will get big enough to force him off the position. He has the plus arm strength to handle either position on the left side of the infield. He is a below-average runner.
The Future: Luciano was promoted to Double-A Richmond for the Eastern League playoffs and will return to the level in 2023. If he continues making strides against advanced pitching, he could be a centerpiece in the middle of future San Francisco lineups.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60 -
BA Grade/Risk: 60/High
Track Record: Luciano has been the Giants' top prospect for four consecutive seasons, yet he might just be beginning to scratch the surface of his talent. He was lauded as an amateur for his offensive gifts, which included the potential to hit for both average and power while sticking on the left side of the infield. The Giants paid $2.6 million to sign Luciano and he smashed the Rookie-level Arizona League in his 2019 pro debut, then earned a quick cameo at short-season Salem-Keizer before a hamstring tweak ended his season. After spending the 2020 season as one of the youngest players at an alternate training site, Luciano put together a standout 2021 campaign at Low-A San Jose before running into some resistance at High-A Eugene. Luciano's 2022 season was interrupted by a back injury that limited him to just 57 non-rehab games, but he showed offensive and defensive skills.
Scouting Report: First and foremost, Luciano's value will be in the batter's box. After running roughshod through the California League in 2021, he got into trouble against older pitchers who were better equipped to execute a game plan. Luciano countered in 2022 by learning how pitchers were going to attack him and making better swing decisions. He still could stand to be a bit more selective, but a 90th percentile exit velocity of 106.2 mph shows that his impact potential is among the upper echelon of minor leaguers. Scouts say Luciano doesn't have to over-swing to get to that power, either. Instead, he can take a controlled swing and let his natural strength shoot balls over the fence with surprising ease for someone his age. Instead of trying to hit every ball out of the park, he's content to shorten up and settle for singles when appropriate. The next improvements for Luciano involve becoming a little more adept at handling pitches in on his hands or in the upper part of the strike zone. If upper-level pitchers can execute there, scouts expect Luciano's rate of swing-and-miss to get a tick higher. Defensively, Luciano is looking more like a player who can play an average shortstop instead of having to move to third base--an ideal development considering the Giants have standout third baseman Casey Schmitt already in the pipeline. He's become more sure-handed at shortstop, looks more confident playing the position and is a good bet to cleanly field balls he can reach. His range isn't standout, and there is still the possibility that his body will get big enough to force him off the position. He has the plus arm strength to handle either position on the left side of the infield. He is a below-average runner.
The Future: Luciano was promoted to Double-A Richmond for the Eastern League playoffs and will return to the level in 2023. If he continues making strides against advanced pitching, he could be a centerpiece in the middle of future San Francisco lineups.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60 -
BA Grade: 65/Very High
Track Record: For the two seasons prior to Luciano's signing, the Giants weren't allowed to sign any international prospect for $300,000. When the restrictions expired, the team opened its wallet and signed a star-studded class that included Luciano as well as outfielders Luis Matos and Jairo Pomares. The Giants skipped Luciano over the DSL and immediately to the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he thrived and ranked as the league's No. 2 prospect behind only the Padres' CJ Abrams. He finished the year with a cameo at short-season Eugene. In 2020, Luciano was invited to San Francisco's alternate training site. He was the youngest player in camp, and the assignment was especially significant because spots were finite and he had no real chance to contribute to the big league team. Luciano started slowly in 2021 before catching fire at Low-A San Jose, where he ranked as the league's No. 2 prospect behind Oakland's Tyler Soderstrom. He scuffled somewhat after a promotion to High-A and then again during a stint in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: Luciano has developed a reputation as a bit of a slow starter, but once he gets going it's easy to see why he's valued so highly. He has a strong ability to make a game plan at the plate, and if he gets a pitch in his zone he's going to crush it. His raw power is easily double-plus, and he's capable of hitting balls out to any part of the park. That said, plenty of refinement is needed before he reaches his ceiling. Though Luciano can recognize breaking balls, he will sometimes get over-eager and chase out of the zone. There are some moving parts in his load that can cause his timing to get out of whack, but he has the hand speed to catch up to even the best fastballs. His 90.1 mph average and 115 mph maximum exit velocities in 2021 show a player capable of doing plenty of damage when he connects. Defensively, Luciano has roughly a coin flip's shot of staying at shortstop. He has the arm strength for the left side, but his internal clock leaves much to be desired. His feet don't often catch up with his body, either, leaving him in awkward positions to make throws across the diamond. Rival managers in the Low-A West saw plenty of athleticism and ability in the field, but those traits still need to be honed into consistent, usable skills. None of this is unexpected for a player who didn't turn 20 until season's end and missed out on a key year of in-game development because of the coronavirus pandemic. Luciano isn't the speediest runner and grades out as below-average at his best. If he does have to move off of shortstop, third base is the likeliest destination because of his arm strength and the way his power is likely to profile at the position.
The Future: After ending 2021 in High-A, Luciano is likely to return to the level to begin 2022. He'll look to make his play more consistent and show more frequent peeks at the perennial all-star-caliber player he can be when everything is working the way it did during most of his time at San Jose.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60. -
Track Record: For the two seasons prior to Luciano’s signing, the Giants weren’t allowed to sign any international prospect for $300,000. When the restrictions expired, the team opened its wallet and signed a star-studded class that included Luciano as well as outfielders Luis Matos and Jairo Pomares. The Giants skipped Luciano over the DSL and immediately to the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he thrived and ranked as the league’s No. 2 prospect behind only the Padres’ CJ Abrams. He finished the year with a cameo at short-season Eugene. In 2020, Luciano was invited to San Francisco’s alternate training site. He was the youngest player in camp, and the assignment was especially significant because spots were finite and he had no real chance to contribute to the big league team. Luciano started slowly in 2021 before catching fire at Low-A San Jose, where he ranked as the league’s No. 2 prospect behind Oakland’s Tyler Soderstrom. He scuffled somewhat after a promotion to High-A and then again during a stint in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: Luciano has developed a reputation as a bit of a slow starter, but once he gets going it’s easy to see why he’s valued so highly. He has a strong ability to make a game plan at the plate, and if he gets a pitch in his zone he’s going to crush it. His raw power is easily double-plus, and he’s capable of hitting balls out to any part of the park. That said, plenty of refinement is needed before he reaches his ceiling. Though Luciano can recognize breaking balls, he will sometimes get over-eager and chase out of the zone. There are some moving parts in his load that can cause his timing to get out of whack, but he has the hand speed to catch up to even the best fastballs. His 90.1 mph average and 115 mph maximum exit velocities in 2021 show a player capable of doing plenty of damage when he connects. Defensively, Luciano has roughly a coin flip’s shot of staying at shortstop. He has the arm strength for the left side, but his internal clock leaves much to be desired. His feet don’t often catch up with his body, either, leaving him in awkward positions to make throws across the diamond. Rival managers in the Low-A West saw plenty of athleticism and ability in the field, but those traits still need to be honed into consistent, usable skills. None of this is unexpected for a player who didn’t turn 20 until season’s end and missed out on a key year of in-game development because of the coronavirus pandemic. Luciano isn’t the speediest runner and grades out as below-average at his best. If he does have to move off of shortstop, third base is the likeliest destination because of his arm strength and the way his power is likely to profile at the position.
The Future: After ending 2021 in High-A, Luciano is likely to return to the level to begin 2022. He’ll look to make his play more consistent and show more frequent peeks at the perennial all-star-caliber player he can be when everything is working the way it did during most of his time at San Jose.
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Luciano entered the season considered the league’s best prospect and largely lived up to the billing. He finished second in the league with 18 home runs despite being promoted to High-A in early August and ranked second with a .930 OPS. Luciano’s short, fast, balanced swing generated tremendous power and loft to all fields, especially the opposite way. He had holes in his swing that could be exploited, particularly high and low, but he showed the ability to adjust and frequently delivered in clutch situations. “He takes a good, aggressive swing and it’s no question he’s up there to do damage,” Modesto manager Eric Farris said. “The intent he has in his swing is impressive and he was able to put some charges into some balls.” Luciano flashed impressive athleticism to go with good hands and plus arm strength at shortstop, but other times he was a stiff, upright defender with poor throwing accuracy. How his body develops will determine whether he remains at the position. -
Though Luciano’s performance at High-A didn’t jump off the page, evaluators around the league were clearly impressed by his tools, especially his immense raw power. Luciano generates that power with plenty of strength, but also lightning-quick hands that allow him to turn on fastballs of any velocity. To get to that power more often, and to sharpen his overall hitting ability, Luciano must refine his approach. When he did connect, his power led to screaming line drives to the deepest recesses of ballparks. But he often got over-eager and chased pitches out of the zone, resulting in a poor strikeout-to-walk ratio of more than five-to-one. Shortstop isn’t out of the question for Luciano, but he’ll have to do plenty of work to stick there. He has the quickness and arm strength to stay there but needs to improve his instincts and reads off the bat. He has the bat to profile at third base—or any other position. -
Hitting: 60. Power: 70. Running: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
TRACK RECORD: After two years under international signing restrictions, the Giants opened their wallet in 2018 to sign a star-studded international class that included Luciano and outfielders Luis Matos and Jairo Pomares. Luciano was the undisputed gem and quickly showed why in his 2019 pro debut when he demolished the Rookie-level Arizona League, made a cameo at short-season Salem-Keizer and asserted himself as the most promising prospect in the Giants' system. Luciano got his first look at Oracle Park in January, when he was part of a group the Giants brought in for a preseason minicamp. He got there again when he was added to the 60-man player pool following baseball's resumption from the coronavirus pandemic shutdown. Because the minor league season was canceled, Luciano spent the summer at the team's alternate training site getting at-bats against a wide variety of pitchers before heading to instructional league in the fall.
SCOUTING REPORT: Luciano is one of the game's most electrifying prospects. He uses huge bat speed and strength to produce tons of loud contact—he was one of just five players 17-and-younger who hit double-digit home runs in 2019—and reached a peak exit velocity of 118 mph at the alternate site. While Luciano has immense strength and feel for the barrel, there is still work to be done. He understandably struggled facing pitchers with much more experience at the alternate site. Initially, he struggled to get balls in the air, but as he learned how to make a plan at the plate and better understand how pitchers would attack him, he started taking better at-bats. Defensively, he has a chance to stay at shortstop, but his bat might push him too quickly to get the necessary development at the position. He shows fine actions and has plenty of arm strength, but hasn't quite mastered making throws on the run. If Luciano has to move, his plus arm will make third base an option. He is a fringe-average runner right now, which might also hasten a move off shortstop. His strong pre-pitch positioning could mitigate a lack of range.
THE FUTURE: Luciano's bat is that of a potential everyday, middle-of-the-order standout. He has all-star potential even if he has to move to third base. If he can make the defensive improvements necessary, he could one day join the Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. as a second Dominican superstar shortstop in the National League West. He is likely to open the 2021 season at low Class A. -
Hitting: 60. Power: 70. Running: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
TRACK RECORD: After two years under international signing restrictions, the Giants opened their wallet in 2018 to sign a star-studded international class that included Luciano and outfielders Luis Matos and Jairo Pomares. Luciano was the undisputed gem and quickly showed why in his 2019 pro debut when he demolished the Rookie-level Arizona League, made a cameo at short-season Salem-Keizer and asserted himself as the most promising prospect in the Giants’ system. Luciano got his first look at Oracle Park in January, when he was part of a group the Giants brought in for a preseason minicamp. He got there again when he was added to the 60-man player pool following baseball’s resumption from the coronavirus pandemic shutdown. Because the minor league season was canceled, Luciano spent the summer at the team’s alternate training site getting at-bats against a wide variety of pitchers before heading to instructional league in the fall.
SCOUTING REPORT: Luciano is one of the game’s most electrifying prospects. He uses huge bat speed and strength to produce tons of loud contact—he was one of just five players 17-and-younger who hit double-digit home runs in 2019—and reached a peak exit velocity of 118 mph at the alternate site. While Luciano has immense strength and feel for the barrel, there is still work to be done. He understandably struggled facing pitchers with much more experience at the alternate site. Initially, he struggled to get balls in the air, but as he learned how to make a plan at the plate and better understand how pitchers would attack him, he started taking better at-bats. Defensively, he has a chance to stay at shortstop, but his bat might push him too quickly to get the necessary development at the position. He shows fine actions and has plenty of arm strength, but hasn’t quite mastered making throws on the run. If Luciano has to move, his plus arm will make third base an option. He is a fringe-average runner right now, which might also hasten a move off shortstop. His strong pre-pitch positioning could mitigate a lack of range.
THE FUTURE: Luciano’s bat is that of a potential everyday, middle-of-the-order standout. He has all-star potential even if he has to move to third base. If he can make the defensive improvements necessary, he could one day join the Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. as a second Dominican superstar shortstop in the National League West. He is likely to open the 2021 season at low Class A. -
Hitting: 60. Power: 70. Running: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
TRACK RECORD: After two years under international signing restrictions, the Giants opened their wallet in 2018 to sign a star-studded international class that included Luciano and outfielders Luis Matos and Jairo Pomares. Luciano was the undisputed gem and quickly showed why in his 2019 pro debut when he demolished the Rookie-level Arizona League, made a cameo at short-season Salem-Keizer and asserted himself as the most promising prospect in the Giants’ system. Luciano got his first look at Oracle Park in January, when he was part of a group the Giants brought in for a preseason minicamp. He got there again when he was added to the 60-man player pool following baseball’s resumption from the coronavirus pandemic shutdown. Because the minor league season was canceled, Luciano spent the summer at the team’s alternate training site getting at-bats against a wide variety of pitchers before heading to instructional league in the fall.
SCOUTING REPORT: Luciano is one of the game’s most electrifying prospects. He uses huge bat speed and strength to produce tons of loud contact—he was one of just five players 17-and-younger who hit double-digit home runs in 2019—and reached a peak exit velocity of 118 mph at the alternate site. While Luciano has immense strength and feel for the barrel, there is still work to be done. He understandably struggled facing pitchers with much more experience at the alternate site. Initially, he struggled to get balls in the air, but as he learned how to make a plan at the plate and better understand how pitchers would attack him, he started taking better at-bats. Defensively, he has a chance to stay at shortstop, but his bat might push him too quickly to get the necessary development at the position. He shows fine actions and has plenty of arm strength, but hasn’t quite mastered making throws on the run. If Luciano has to move, his plus arm will make third base an option. He is a fringe-average runner right now, which might also hasten a move off shortstop. His strong pre-pitch positioning could mitigate a lack of range.
THE FUTURE: Luciano’s bat is that of a potential everyday, middle-of-the-order standout. He has all-star potential even if he has to move to third base. If he can make the defensive improvements necessary, he could one day join the Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. as a second Dominican superstar shortstop in the National League West. He is likely to open the 2021 season at low Class A. -
TRACK RECORD: The Giants spent $6 million to sign Lucius Fox in 2015, thus putting themselves in the international penalty box for the next two signing periods. Once they were free of those restrictions, they quickly signed three of the top available talents: Venezuelan outfielder Luis Matos, Cuban outfielder Jairo Pomares and Luciano, the second-ranked player on the market behind only Victor Victor Mesa. The Giants paid $2.6 million to acquire Luciano, who dabbled in the outfield as an amateur but moved back to shortstop before signing. In 2019, the 17-year-old skipped over the Dominican Summer League and headed straight to the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he ranked as the league’s No. 2 prospect. In 35 games in the AZL, Luciano slammed nine doubles and 10 home runs and produced a 1.055 OPS, which ranked fourth in the league. He was promoted to short-season Salem-Keizer for its playoff run but had his year end because of a hamstring injury.
SCOUTING REPORT: Luciano has already proven himself as a prodigious offensive talent. His raw power—which, according to one evaluator, sounds like “a cannon going off ”—ranks as double-plus. He produces that power through picturesque swing mechanics which feature a quiet hand load, huge bat speed and big-time strength that allows him to snap the barrel through the zone with controlled violence. Even before he had begun to add muscle to his wiry frame, Luciano’s strength was apparent in his hands, wrists and forearms. Beyond his physical gifts, Luciano has tremendous aptitude for the game. He quickly recognizes sequences and patterns and rarely allows pitchers to beat him the same way twice. Whereas his offensive game is advanced for a player his age, Luciano still needs plenty of work in the field. His instincts are strong and his arm projects as plus, but he still needs to clean up his footwork in order to stay at shortstop. If he has to move off shortstop his arm strength will make him a good fit for third base, and he has the athleticism to possibly move to the outfield. The AZL coaching staff worked with Luciano on the smaller details of shortstop, including prepitch positioning and learning how to slow the game down.
THE FUTURE: Luciano is just the latest in a growing line of players from the Dominican Republic whose talent puts them on an accelerated development track. His skills are so scintillating that he could start 2020 at low Class A Augusta. SCOUTING GRADES Hit: 60. Power: 70. Run: 40. Field: 50. Arm: 60. BA GRADE 65 Risk: V. High -
TRACK RECORD: The Giants spent $6 million to sign Lucius Fox in 2015, thus putting themselves in the international penalty box for the next two signing periods. Once they were free of those restrictions, they quickly signed three of the top available talents: Venezuelan outfielder Luis Matos, Cuban outfielder Jairo Pomares and Luciano, the second-ranked player on the market behind only Victor Victor Mesa. The Giants paid $2.6 million to acquire Luciano, who dabbled in the outfield as an amateur but moved back to shortstop before signing. In 2019, the 17-year-old skipped over the Dominican Summer League and headed straight to the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he ranked as the league's No. 2 prospect. In 35 games in the AZL, Luciano slammed nine doubles and 10 home runs and produced a 1.055 OPS, which ranked fourth in the league. He was promoted to short-season Salem-Keizer for its playoff run but had his year end because of a hamstring injury.
SCOUTING REPORT: Luciano has already proven himself as a prodigious offensive talent. His raw power—which, according to one evaluator, sounds like “a cannon going off ”—ranks as double-plus. He produces that power through picturesque swing mechanics which feature a quiet hand load, huge bat speed and big-time strength that allows him to snap the barrel through the zone with controlled violence. Even before he had begun to add muscle to his wiry frame, Luciano's strength was apparent in his hands, wrists and forearms. Beyond his physical gifts, Luciano has tremendous aptitude for the game. He quickly recognizes sequences and patterns and rarely allows pitchers to beat him the same way twice. Whereas his offensive game is advanced for a player his age, Luciano still needs plenty of work in the field. His instincts are strong and his arm projects as plus, but he still needs to clean up his footwork in order to stay at shortstop. If he has to move off shortstop his arm strength will make him a good fit for third base, and he has the athleticism to possibly move to the outfield. The AZL coaching staff worked with Luciano on the smaller details of shortstop, including prepitch positioning and learning how to slow the game down.
THE FUTURE: Luciano is just the latest in a growing line of players from the Dominican Republic whose talent puts them on an accelerated development track. His skills are so scintillating that he could start 2020 at low Class A Augusta. -
Luciano reported to the Giants’ minor league facility in the summer of 2018, not long after signing on July 2 for $2.6 million. There were times during his first spring training that his rawness prompted questions as to whether he should begin his pro career in the Dominican Summer League. Luciano erased those concerns and proved to be one of the most electric talents in the Arizona League, showcasing premier bat speed and plus-plus raw power that resulted in 10 home runs during his time in the AZL. As with any young shortstop whose body is still developing, Luciano faces questions about his future position, but there are signs he can become a solid defender at the position, and his first pro season was an important test. "He learned how to position himself, and he learned how to slow the game down,” said Giants Orange manager Alvaro Espinosa, himself a slick-fielding shortstop during his playing career. -
Luciano has a rare combination of power and athleticism for a 16-year-old. Ranked as Baseball America’s No. 2 international prospect 2018, Luciano signed for $2.6 million, making him the Giants’ biggest international signing since they spent $6 million to sign Lucius Fox in 2015. Luciano will have to prove he can stay at shortstop over the long term, but his power and bat speed should be fine if he eventually has to move to third base or the outfield.
Career Transactions
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San Francisco Giants optioned SS Marco Luciano to Sacramento River Cats.
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San Francisco Giants optioned SS Marco Luciano to Sacramento River Cats.
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San Francisco Giants optioned SS Marco Luciano to Sacramento River Cats.
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San Francisco Giants optioned SS Marco Luciano to Sacramento River Cats.
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San Francisco Giants recalled SS Marco Luciano from Sacramento River Cats.
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San Francisco Giants recalled SS Marco Luciano from Sacramento River Cats.
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Sacramento River Cats activated SS Marco Luciano.
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SS Marco Luciano assigned to Sacramento River Cats from Richmond Flying Squirrels.
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SS Marco Luciano assigned to Sacramento River Cats from Richmond Flying Squirrels.
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Richmond Flying Squirrels activated SS Marco Luciano from the 7-day injured list.
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Richmond Flying Squirrels placed SS Marco Luciano on the 7-day injured list.
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San Francisco Giants optioned SS Marco Luciano to Richmond Flying Squirrels.
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Richmond Flying Squirrels activated SS Marco Luciano.
