Why the Giants Are Quietly Excited About Parks Harber This Spring
When ESPN recently dropped a list of players to watch this spring-one name per team-it was filled with the usual suspects. Big-league stars like Alex Bregman.
Up-and-coming talents like Oneil Cruz. But when it came to the San Francisco Giants, the pick was a curveball: Parks Harber.
Let’s be honest-unless you’re deep into the Giants’ farm system or have a photographic memory for fringe trades, Harber’s name probably didn’t ring a bell. That’s fair.
He’s not on top prospect rankings, and he’s not knocking on the MLB door just yet. But that doesn’t mean the Giants aren’t paying close attention.
In fact, some within the organization were vocal about acquiring him from the Yankees in the Camilo Doval deal last summer. And once Harber landed in the Giants’ system, he wasted no time turning heads. In a short stint at High-A, he slashed a blistering .333/.454/.644-numbers that demand a second look, no matter the level.
Now 24, Harber enters spring training as something of an organizational wildcard. He’s primarily a corner infielder but has seen time in the outfield, offering a bit of versatility that could help him carve out a path.
The Giants haven’t locked him into one position yet, which makes this spring especially intriguing. It’ll be the first time many of the team’s top evaluators get to see him up close.
There’s also the matter of his background. Harber wasn’t drafted out of the University of North Carolina, which makes his rise even more compelling.
At 23, he was older than most of his competition in High-A, so there’s reason to temper expectations. But makeup matters, and the Giants’ player development staff is reportedly high on his intangibles-work ethic, coachability, and a mature approach at the plate.
Is he a lock to make the big leagues? Of course not.
The odds are long for any undrafted player. But every spring brings a few surprises, and Harber has the tools and the opportunity to be one of them.
He’s not just a name to file away-he’s someone the Giants are genuinely curious about.
So while the spotlight may still be on the usual stars this spring, don’t be surprised if Parks Harber earns a little more attention. Quietly, the Giants are watching. And now, maybe the rest of us should be too.