How I would approach the MLB Draft if I were running the San Francisco Giants
The team has the #4 and #29 overall picks
With the MLB Draft starting on July 11th I decided to give my first pass as to how I would operate if I were running the San Francisco Giants.
The Top 3
Roch Cholowsky-SS-UCLA
Vahn Lackey-C-Georgia Tech
Grady Emerson-SS-Fort Worth Christian HS (TX)
These are the clear top three in this class. The Giants have been rumored to be trying to push Cholowsky down to 4, but at the end of the day I don’t see why any of the top three teams wouldn’t just draft him and then dare him to turn down an figure bonus and return to College for his Senior year. Emerson and Lackey I think will go in the top three as well. They are polished bats with upside and that is what teams are prioritizing at the top of the draft.
Slot Guys
Jackson Flora-RHP-UC Santa Barbara
Eric Booth Jr-OF-Oak Grove HS (MS)
Flora is the top pitcher in the class and the only one I would consider at 4. I think the Giants have shown they can attract pitchers to Oracle Park, so it they would be better served taking a hitter. That said Flora is, in a vacuum, definitely a worthy pick at 4 so it’s worth discussing. Booth Jr has an exciting Power/Speed combination and has had an excellent spring. I think he is clearly the 2nd best high school prospect in the class. Neither Flora nor Booth Jr will fall too much beyond this pick, so taking them would not afford the Giants much in the way of cost savings should they look to go overslot at 29.
Below Slot Guys
Tyler Bell-SS-Kentucky
AJ Gracia-OF-Virginia
Both of these guys are projected to go in the 10-15 range so taking them at 4 could give the Giants some savings for 29. Bell went to Kentucky after being drafted 66th overall by the Rays in 2024. He has hit well at Kentucky and is currently playing with a torn labrum in his non throwing shoulder. Gracia has hit exceptionally well in the ACC for 3 years (2 at Duke, this year at Virginia). There is room for him to add power, but I think he has the base to be able to do that. The one draw back is that he is probably a LF, but he should be above average at that position.
Guys I would Pass on
Jacob Lombard-SS-Gulliver Prep HS (FL)
Justin Lebron-SS-Alabama
Ryder Helfrick-C-Arkansas
Drew Burress-OF-Georgia Tech
Sawyer Strosnider-OF-TCU
Every Other Pitcher
With Lombard and Lebron, I just do not trust the hit tool. Lombard is a good athlete and could figure it out. He has drawn comparisons to Ethan Holliday (both in terms of tools and lineage) and in last year’s draft I preferred JoJo Parker to Holliday, so it could just be a preference thing on my end. Lebron had 2 very good years at Alabama before struggling this season. He entered this draft year as the chief competition to Cholowsky for the #1 pick, so if you think that his problems are fixable then it isn’t outlandish to consider him here, but my risk tolerance isn’t that high.
Helfrick is a defense first catcher who is having a strong offensive year. I don’t see him as more than a bottom of the order hitter, and it would be an odd look to take a player with that profile so soon after trading Patrick Bailey.
Burress, like Gracia has hit in the ACC for 3 straight years. With Burress though, I worry about his size (he’s listed at 5’9) and how that will impact him, both offensively and defensively. If you’re not concerned with taking a player that height then he absolutely belongs next to Gracia. Strosnider gives me enough questions about his hit tool and defense to keep him a notch below Gracia.
Finally, as I mentioned the Giants have shown they can attract pitchers to Oracle Park. Aside from Flora, I don’t think any pitchers merit conversation at #4 but if the Giants really like an arm, it should be easier to float him down to 29.
Some quick names to target at 29
Carson Bolemon-LHP-Southside Christian HS (SC)
Cade Townsend-RHP-University of Mississippi
Trevor Condon-OF-Etowah HS (GA)
Logan Schmidt-LHP-Ganesha HS (CA)
Kaden Waechter-RHP-Jesuit HS (FL)
James Clark-SS-St. John Bosco HS (CA)
Tyler Spangler-SS-De La Salle HS (CA)
Bo Lowrance-3B-Christ Church Episcopal HS (SC)
Daniel Jackson-C-University of Georgia
Ty Head-OF-North Carolina State