Carson Whisenhunt - 7/25/23

Somewhat of a mystery heading into the year, Whisenhunt has been a bright spot in the Giants organization

Prospect Spotlight 🔦

Carson Whisenhunt SP – Age: 22 – B/T: L/L, 6’3’’ 209 – Giants (Double-A)

• Born: 10/20/2000, Winston Salem, NC

• Draft: 2022, San Francisco Giants, Round: 2, Overall Pick: 66

• College: East Carolina

The 2022 draft was an odd one for the San Francisco Giants. They went for college pitchers with their first two picks, which tend to be relatively safer players compared to HS arms, though neither Reggie Crawford (Rd:1 Pick: 30) or Carson Whisenhunt (Rd:2 Pick: 66) played in their draft year. Their relative lack of experience gave their draft an air of mystery, and made them a priority follow at the start of the season. Today’s spotlight focuses on Carson Whisenhunt, who has shaken off the rust after barely pitching last year to having a strong first year of pro ball across three levels.

Before getting into his current season, let’s take a look at his abbreviated college career. At East Carolina, Whisenhunt made just one appearance his freshman year, recording a rare “Infinite” ERA, but exploded onto the scene his sophomore year, recording a 3.77 ERA in 62 innings, striking out 79 and walking 22. His changeup is what caught evaluators’ eyes the most, recording a 53% chase rate and a 59% whiff rate, easily making it one of college baseball’s best pitches.

Here is a blurb from my personal archives at how I looked at him heading into his junior year:

“Whisenhunt felt like the guy most likely to benefit from both a weak college pitching class as well as an increasing sentiment that player development can improve stuff but not control. Unfortunately he got suspended for the first weekend and it's hard to say now how that will affect his draft stock. From a talent standpoint he has plus control and a plus changeup, but it’s a fringy breaking ball and fastball. Generic release point, doesn't make his fastball play up. Feels more like a middle to late round 2 guy rather than a middle of the first round type.”

While I was correct that this was a weaker college pitching class, Whisenhunt was unable to capitalize on that due to a supplement suspension, which cost him his entire year. He was able to rebuild some of what he lost on the Cape in an up-and-down showing, posting a 7.88 ERA in 16 innings, striking out 21 while walking 6, but still showing an effective changeup, which had a 48% chase rate and a 36% whiff rate. Showing enough promise that his arsenal was back to where it was, the Giants felt comfortable taking him in the second and signing him to a well above slot signing bonus.

Let’s move on to the repertoire. I’ve talked about it plenty so far, but the jewel of Whisenhunt’s collection of pitches is his changeup.