You can close the book on the trade that sent veteran pitcher Alex Cobb to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for pitching prospect Jacob Bresnahan and an unnamed player. On Monday, FanSided’s Robert Murray reported that Nate Furman, a fast infield prospect, would be named later.
SF Giants add speedy infield prospect to complete trade with the Guardians
Cobb had not appeared for the Giants prior to the deal. He had hip surgery in the offseason and is on track to return at the start of the season. However, he had a few hiccups that pushed his start date back.
The right-handed pitcher did return for the Guardians. He allowed four earned runs in 10.1 innings before returning to the injured list with a fractured nail.
This decision was made with the Giants’ long-term goals in mind. The club intended to give Hayden Birdsong a more extended look, but they needed to clear a roster position first. Cobb was unfortunately traded despite having a fantastic career with San Francisco.
On the other hand, the Giants obtained Bresnahan and Furman. Bresnahan was selected in the thirteenth round of last year’s draft out of Summer High School. He agreed to a $375,000 signing bonus, which was far higher than the slot value. The Guardians liked his upside.
Since joining the Giants, he has allowed 20 earned runs, 15 strikeouts, and 11 walks in 12.2 innings. The findings have not been favorable. However, he is only in his age-19 season, so he has a lot of room for growth.
However, the Giants also acquired Furman as part of the trade. In 176 plate appearances in High-A, the left-handed bat hit 338/.417/.500 (164 wRC+) with a 10.2 percent walk rate, 17.6 percent strikeout rate, and.162 ISO before being promoted to Double-A. He struggled during his brief stint at that level before suffering a shoulder injury. Furman is now on the 60-day disabled list in the minors.
In the batter’s box, the 23-year-old has the profile of a top-of-the-order hitter. He uses a simple posture with an exaggerated leg kick. Furman has a nice swing and will hit a lot of line drives, particularly to the pull side. He has a contact stroke and will see a lot of pitches, but his power potential is limited.
Furman is an above-average runner who puts the opposition under pressure with his speed. That has resulted in some success on the bases, as he stole 37 bags over two levels in 2023, but he has just 10 steals in 12 opportunities this season.
Furman has all-around experience on the diamond, but his range and arm strength are below average. This will most likely limit him to second base with infrequent starts on the right side of the field.
