There R Giants

With minor league playoff season in full gear, it seems only right to dedicate this week’s podcast to men leading their teams into the post-season. I was able to speak with Eugene Manager Jacob Heyward during the team’s final hometand before the playoffs (which ended sadly for his squad, though they fought hard throughtout), and with Richmond Manager Dennis Pelfrey during his team’s final homestand as well (they start their run in the Eastern League playoffs tonight). Both men talk about the year that has passed — how they define success, the satisfaction they take in players who have moved on up, and what they hope their players take from competing for league titles. This is a really fun one with two of my favorite people in the Giants’ organization. Enjoy! There R Giants is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rogermunter.substack.com/subscribe

To get you ready for Game One of the Eugene Emeralds’ quest for their third NWL Championship this decade, I have a conversation today with the Game One starter, Henry Lalane, who is a new arrival in the Giants’ organization. With the help of pitching coach Luis Piño, who served as translator, Henry talked me through his baseball history, how he keeps his mechanics locked in, health issues he’s gone through, and what his proudest achievement in 2026 is. Then Piño gets the mic turned on him, as he talks me through the transition from player to coach. Make sure to tune in tonight for the first playoff games for both Eugene and San Jose. There R Giants is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rogermunter.substack.com/subscribe

This week’s episode features a couple of conversations I had last week with young players who have been promoted recently from Eugene to Richmond, outfielder Lisbel Diaz, and catcher Jancel Villarroel. Both earned their promotions with outstanding first half performances in the NWL. Diaz is tied for the lead in the Giants’ system with 26 home runs on the year, while Villarroel, who came over from the Astros this winter, hit over .300 with an .856 OPS in Eugene. I talk with both players about their baseball journeys, from Cuba for Diaz (who speaks with me in his second language), and from a small island off the mainland of Venezuela for Villarroel who speaks with me in Spanish, with an assist from Dayson Croes, who served as interpreter). As an aside, I’m happy to see that the Substack transcript generator seems to have recognized Spanish and done what looks to me like a pretty solid job of generating an accurate transcription of Villarroel’s side of the conversation. You might want to copy some of those out of the transcript and pop them into an online translator to get a fuller version of his comments. There R Giants is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rogermunter.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is Justin Allegri, who has been one of the voices of the San Jose Giants for more than 10 years. Justin and I talk about the amazing crop of shortstops who have come through the San Jose roster this year, as well as how the pitching sets up for the team’s coming defense of its Cal League title. There R Giants is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rogermunter.substack.com/subscribe

Kerry Crowley and I sift through the what’s worth watching over the final months of a dismal season, and then shift our focus down to San Jose, where the real excitement for the organization is performing nightly. There R Giants is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rogermunter.substack.com/subscribe

A trio of brand new Squirrels, who transferred the top of the Eugene Emeralds’ lineup 3,000 miles to the east last week. We talk transitions, development, competing, and being good teammates on this week’s edition of the pod. There R Giants is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rogermunter.substack.com/subscribe

Giants Senior Director of Amateur Scouting, Michael Holmes joins me to talk about the Giants’ 2026 exciting draft class, and the many months of hard work that went into it. Great job by his entire scouting department injecting a lot of new talent into the system! I really appreciate Michael taking some time to talk with me about the new kids coming into the org. There R Giants is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rogermunter.substack.com/subscribe

Kerry and Roger present A Guide to Watching the Dog Days of a Dying Season There R Giants is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rogermunter.substack.com/subscribe

It’s here! The annual favorite as MLB’s great Jim Callis joins me to talk over the Giants’ 2026 draft. We have arms to discuss! Lots of them. Come for the Jackson Flora gushing, stay for Jim’s hot take regarding Carson Bolemon. This is a fun one! There R Giants is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rogermunter.substack.com/subscribe

Go hence, and have more talk of these sad things. For never was a story of more woe than the 2026 San Francisco Giants. Kerry and I go to Shakespearean lengths to try to figure out what is ailing this organization. There R Giants is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rogermunter.substack.com/subscribe

On this week’s podcast, I chat with Emeralds’ play by play man, Jacob Archer, to talk over Eugene’s amazing first half. There R Giants is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rogermunter.substack.com/subscribe

It’s a whole lot of Bryce Eldridge talk on the latest KROG podcast, as Kerry Crowley and I kick around what the emergence of their top prospect means for the franchise going forward. There R Giants is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rogermunter.substack.com/subscribe

It’s another week of gathered player interviews from CarMax Park in Richmond, VA. As the Squirrels close in on a first half title, I talk with a couple of new Richmond players and one who is newly returned to get their views on how their year of development has been going so far. There R Giants is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rogermunter.substack.com/subscribe

On this week’s podcast, we’re talking Richmond Flying Squirrels and their magical first half. First I speak with Richmond manager Dennis Pelfrey regarding the success his group has had, not only with the W-L record, but also with helping prepare their players to move onwards and upwards. Then I talk with Richmond Director Communications, Trey Wilson, about the team’s spectacular new stadium and the fun ride this first half has been. There R Giants is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rogermunter.substack.com/subscribe

It’s a Richmond Flying Squirrel bonanza, as I roll out a bunch of player interviews from the past two homestands. I talk with Parks Harber about his health, his experience in big league camp, and his work in the outfield. Virginian Ty Hanchey relives a magical moment in front of friends and family. Joe Whitman talks about the growth he’s made since last year. And Mitch White recounts the long road to his dream of being a professional. It’s a great group of really likable young men who have traveled really disparate baseball journeys — but who are all aiming for the same destination. Parks Harber (3:15)Ty Hanchey (13:40)Joe Whitman (25:20)Mitch White (35:20) There R Giants is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rogermunter.substack.com/subscribe

Joe Doyle, draft expert from Overslot Baseball dot com and the MLB Draft Podcast, joins me to talk a little 2026 draft. Joe and I get into why floating Roch Cholowsky “isn’t a thing,” the chance of things getting squirrelly in the top three, and how the new #29 pick (and its associated bonus pool money) could affect the Giants’ draft strategy. It’s always a good one when Joe joins me on the pod! There R Giants is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rogermunter.substack.com/subscribe

Of course, I needed to post this immediately after we recorded yesterday, otherwise I was just tempting the Gods with that “Lou Brown winning streak” stuff. But otherwise, Kerry and I had a lot to dig into with the Giants’ content-generating ways of late! There R Giants is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rogermunter.substack.com/subscribe

Perfect timing for this week’s pod, as the two heroes from last night’s walk-off victory at CarMax Park both sat down with me this week to discuss comebacks and walk offs (naturally) as well as what makes this Richmond team such a special group and what sort of work is going on in the background to help drive success. Two extremely impressive young men who are a joy to talk to — and I hope to listen to as well! There R Giants is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rogermunter.substack.com/subscribe

I’ve already share these interviews in video format, but I know folks come to my content from different places and with different preferences for consuming information, so I’m going to include them as a standalone podcast as well. These interviews with Richmond Flying Squirrels pitchers Greg Farone and Tyler Vogel were conducted in the first week at home at the brand new CarMax Park as the pair has both just gotten into one game each. Since then Farone has started two more games and Vogel has established himself as the team closer, picking up four Saves already on the year. There R Giants is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rogermunter.substack.com/subscribe

I’m joined this week by my friend, Wrenzie Regodon, who you probably know as Giant Prospective on Twitter or at his Patreon site. As usual, we spend a long time looking over all four of the affiliate rosters and picking out the most interesting parts of the rosters, as well as tabbing sleepers, stars, and other players who catch our eyes! It’s a long one so settle in! Sacramento (2:00)Richmond (20:00)Eugene (38:00)San Jose (51:00) There R Giants is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rogermunter.substack.com/subscribe