San Francisco Giants prospect Dakota Jordan returned to Double-A Richmond on Saturday and immediately showed off his power.
Dakota Jordan did not need much time to make his presence felt after returning to the field.
The San Francisco Giants prospect launched a home run in his first game back with Double-A Richmond on Saturday, providing an encouraging sign after spending roughly a month on the Injured List.
Jordan, ranked as the Giants' No. 7 prospect, had not played since being promoted to Richmond from High-A Eugene in July. His return came against Portland, and although the Flying Squirrels fell 14-3, Jordan provided one of the few highlights for Richmond with his 19th homer of the season.
The long ball was his first in 10 games at the Double-A level and continued what has been an impressive power season for the 2024 fourth-round Draft pick.
Jordan remains fourth among Giants minor leaguers in home runs and has produced a .525 slugging percentage, which ranks third among qualified hitters in the organization. His power is only one part of the overall package, however.
The outfielder also possesses some of the best speed in the Giants' system. Jordan has already stolen 20 bases this season, giving him a strong combination of power and athleticism that makes him an intriguing prospect as he continues moving through the organization.
That combination helped Jordan earn a selection to the Futures Game earlier this year following an excellent start to the season with Eugene.
Across 397 plate appearances between Eugene and Richmond, Jordan is batting .289 with an .870 OPS. Those numbers demonstrate the offensive potential that has made him one of the more interesting position-player prospects in the Giants' system.
His return to action should give him valuable time to get back into a regular routine while continuing his adjustment to Double-A pitching.
There is still an important area of development that Jordan will need to address as he advances, though. His power and speed are legitimate strengths, but making consistent contact remains a significant part of his development.
Jordan struck out in each of his other three at-bats Saturday after his home run. He now has 108 strikeouts across both levels this season, resulting in a 27.2 percent strikeout rate.
That rate is considerably higher than the current major-league average, making his ability to improve his contact rate something to monitor as he faces increasingly advanced pitching.
Even with that concern, Jordan's overall offensive profile remains intriguing. Few players can combine the speed to steal 20 bases with the power to approach 20 home runs while still being only 22 years old.
The next step will be turning those tools into more consistent production. If Jordan can continue developing his approach at the plate while maintaining his power and speed, he could become an increasingly important part of the Giants' long-term plans.
For now, simply getting back on the field is a positive development. His first game back produced an immediate power display, giving the Giants another encouraging glimpse of what Jordan can bring when healthy.
