The San Francisco Giants have brought back Seth Corry, a left-handed pitcher who was once highly regarded as a top prospect within their organization, by signing him to a minor league contract.

Corry, who was initially drafted by the Giants in the third round of the 2017 MLB Draft, had been considered one of their top 10 prospects.

However, setbacks including the COVID-19 pandemic, issues with command, and injuries impeded his progress, preventing him from advancing to higher levels in the minors. Throughout his career, Corry has remained with the Giants. He faced an early-season setback due to shoulder surgery but made a comeback during the summer. His performance for the season, spanning 34 innings across 16 appearances in Rookie Ball, Single-A, and High-A, resulted in a 5.03 ERA, with 52 strikeouts and 18 walks. Despite struggles with control, Corry demonstrated his knack for strikeouts, consistent with his pre-injury form.

The Giants initially signed Corry away from a commitment to BYU with a lucrative $1 million signing bonus, and he quickly showcased his talent in the professional leagues. In his debut full-season ball in 2019, Corry excelled, amassing an impressive 172 strikeouts in 122.2 innings pitched, with a manageable 58 walks and an outstanding 1.76 ERA, all while still a teenager. His dominance only grew as the season progressed, culminating in a remarkable 0.99 ERA over his final 12 starts, accompanied by 86 strikeouts and just 16 walks.

By the end of the season, Corry had emerged as the clear top pitching prospect in the Giants’ organization and was on the cusp of breaking into the top 100 prospects in the minors. However, the cancellation of the 2020 minor-league season proved detrimental to his development. Upon his promotion to High-A at the start of the 2021 season, Corry struggled with significantly elevated walk rates, hindering his ability to prevent runs. Across 21 starts at High-A, he recorded 101 strikeouts but also issued 66 walks in 70 innings pitched, resulting in a 5.91 ERA. Unfortunately, his 2022 season was cut short after just two appearances due to a severe shoulder injury that necessitated surgery, sidelining him for the majority of the following two seasons.

Despite these setbacks, the Giants remain optimistic about Corry’s potential. When performing at his peak, Corry displayed the ability to command three potential big-league pitches, including a promising curveball and changeup in addition to a solid low-to-mid 90s fastball. Should he refine his command to even a modest extent, Corry’s diverse pitch arsenal could elevate him to the status of a dependable fourth starter or impactful reliever.

Although Corry may have faded from the forefront of Giants fans’ minds, the organization is welcoming him back on a minor-league contract. At just 25 years old, there’s still ample opportunity for Seth Corry to reignite his prospect status and eventually contribute to the Giants’ pitching staff.