2017 MLB Draft

[calsnowskier]

19. San Francisco Giants: OF Heliot Ramos, Leadership Christian Academy (P.R.)
Callis: I saw Ramos put on an absolute show at the Under Armour All-America game at Wrigley Field last summer. He has one of the better power-speed combinations in the Draft, but there are more mixed opinions on him than most of the players taken ahead of him. Some teams saw him as a first-round talent, while others worried about his hitting ability.

 

[calsnowskier]

Jacob Gonzalez, HS 3B


Two HS hitters with the first 2 picks. I wonder if they have changed their philosophy a bit on the drafting side. They are able to sign pitcher FA, but can't get hitters to come, so they need to concentrate on developing hitters. Last year they pretty much ignored pitching in the draft and they have gone offense so far this year...

 

[Stokes1931]

Jacob Gonzalez, HS 3B


Two HS hitters with the first 2 picks. I wonder if they have changed their philosophy a bit on the drafting side. They are able to sign pitcher FA, but can't get hitters to come, so they need to concentrate on developing hitters. Last year they pretty much ignored pitching in the draft and they have gone offense so far this year...

Now if only we could develop hitters....

 

[calsnowskier]

Now if only we could develop hitters....

 

[calsnowskier]

Jacob Gonzalez is Luis Gonzalez younger son. Apparently his older brother is also available in this draft, but is a college bat instead. Reports are surfacing that the Giants were considering taking JG at 19 with an under-slot agreement. I guess that means that they have been talking to him quite a bit and signability should not be much of an issue.

So what does the fact they took 2 HS players indicate? Is this a realization that the rebuild may be a bit longer than the apologists here want to admit (read: me)? These are both guys who will likely stay in the oven for 5+ years.

 

[SFGRTB]

Heliot Ramos.

HS OF bat.

Analysts don't seem impressed, but they are acknowledging that the Giants go against the grain, and are more often than not right when they do.

Interesting 2 picks.

The Giants are going against the grain of the baseball writer scouts, which they usually do, but also against the grain of their usual style. 2 high school bats.

Both are very much Giants style of players though.

 

[SFGRTB]

There were a few guys that I really liked sitting there with the Giants up (Peterson, Kendall, Bubba Thompson), so it was somewhat disappointing to hear Ramos called, but this kid is very interesting. Giants went all-in on upside for this pick, which they haven't done in a long time.

One of the youngest players in this draft (he's only 17, 3 months younger than Arroyo at the time he was drafted), and he is already BIG. There is some major upside here, a potential 5-tool guy in CF. This is the type of exciting pick I was hoping for from the Giants.

Here's some video:


He's a project for sure though. Years away from contributing. I'm curious if the Giants will push him hard this year and get him into some game action.

As for the Jacob Gonzalez pick, another prep bat. Giants haven't done that since Arroyo and Ryder Jones in 2012. Gonzalez is a big-time power bat, probably limited to 1B down the line but he'll be at 3rd for now. But it's really all about the power for him. It will be his carrying tool.

Also interesting, Giants went right-handed power with both picks.

What do these 2 picks mean for the rest of the draft? Both guys should be slot or under-slot guys, so look for the Giants to go big tomorrow at some point. I think what this also signals for the Giants is they are willing to take a risk this year after playing it safe for a few drafts, and that they are looking at the trade market and see that they'll be able to add to the farm system to mitigate some risk.

 

[SFGRTB]

Day 2 starts in a little bit here, it will be rounds 3-10. Still plenty of intrigue to be had as the Giants could make a splash after (likely) saving some money yesterday. Also look for the Giants to go hard after some college talent. This is where the Giants have done well in the past (Crawford, Belt, Duggar, Duffy, Quinn, Coonrod, Slater, Blach, Williamson, Johnson...).

Since I was so on point with who we were going to target yesterday (ha), here are some names to look out for today:

Prep

Nick Allen - SS
Greg Jones - SS
Alex Scherff - RHP
Garrett Mitchell - OF

College

Jake Thompson - RHP
Michael Gigliotti - OF
Evan Skoug - C
Luis Gonzalez - OF (would it be weird to draft both brothers?)
Tristan Beck - RHP
K.J. Harriston - 1B
Riley Adams - C

Plus a few obscure guys that will be cost-saving picks.

 

[LHG]

Day 2 starts in a little bit here, it will be rounds 3-10. Still plenty of intrigue to be had as the Giants could make a splash after (likely) saving some money yesterday. Also look for the Giants to go hard after some college talent. This is where the Giants have done well in the past (Crawford, Belt, Duggar, Duffy, Quinn, Coonrod, Slater, Blach, Williamson, Johnson...).

Since I was so on point with who we were going to target yesterday (ha), here are some names to look out for today:

Prep

Nick Allen - SS
Greg Jones - SS
Alex Scherff - RHP
Garrett Mitchell - OF

College

Jake Thompson - RHP
Michael Gigliotti - OF
Evan Skoug - C
Luis Gonzalez - OF (would it be weird to draft both brothers?)
Tristan Beck - RHP
K.J. Harriston - 1B
Riley Adams - C

Plus a few obscure guys that will be cost-saving picks.

I like the idea of drafting brothers. Kind of a cool concept, especially if both become major league quality players and bring back the Alou brother feel.

However, I really hope they put some focus on pitching. This is the organization's strength. I appreciate that they've got after hitters these past couple of years and hope a few pan out, but I'd like to see the pitching get re-stocked this year.

 

[SFGRTB]

I like the idea of drafting brothers. Kind of a cool concept, especially if both become major league quality players and bring back the Alou brother feel.

However, I really hope they put some focus on pitching. This is the organization's strength. I appreciate that they've got after hitters these past couple of years and hope a few pan out, but I'd like to see the pitching get re-stocked this year.

Well, Luis Gonzalez was drafted by the White Sox before the Giants had a chance. Giants pick coming up here soon.

 

[SFGRTB]

Giants go High School again, wow.

LHP Seth Corry.

Get's up to 96 with the fastball and has a real good curveball. Command is erratic. Another high-risk, high-reward guy.

 

[SFGRTB]

This is the first time this group has drafted 3 straight prep players to open a draft. John Barr's first draft was in 2008. The last time the Giants went prep-prep-prep was 2007.

Also, seems like Jacob Gonzalez is almost a sure thing to sign:

 

[SFGRTB]

Giants go to college:

4th round: Garrett Cave - RHP out of the University of Tampa

Good value pick here. Probably going to end up as a power reliever, but the Giants will probably have him start out of the gate. Mid-high 90s fastball, hard slider (cutter?), and curveball. Cape Cod performer. He's also one of the younger college players. All these picks are still very Giants-y picks, despite the 3 prep players.

Here's a scout's report on him.

And this:

MLB Draft prospects: Tampa's Garrett Cave

"I throw a four-seam and two-seam fastball, a curveball, change-up, and a cutter. The pitch I really have all of my confidence and heart in is my fastball. It has been a pitch that has always worked for me, especially since God has blessed me with the ability to throw hard. I have great confidence in my off speed as well but when I know I can put away a batter with a well placed fastball, thats what I love to do. The pitch that I need to keep working on is the cutter only because I started throwing it this summer. It has shown a lot of potential and Im excited to start utilizing it."

This pick is drawing a lot of praise from around the block

 

[LHG]

This is the first time this group has drafted 3 straight prep players to open a draft. John Barr's first draft was in 2008. The last time the Giants went prep-prep-prep was 2007.

Also, seems like Jacob Gonzalez is almost a sure thing to sign:

He looks like a kid, except for those hands.

 

[SFGRTB]

Heliot Ramos has signed for the slot, $3,101,700.

Giants To Sign Heliot Ramos | BaseballAmerica.com

 

[calsnowskier]

Heliot Ramos has signed for the slot, $3,101,700.

Giants To Sign Heliot Ramos | BaseballAmerica.com

At slot????

I love the early sign, but when you reach on a kid, you would hope to get a bit of a discount.

 

[SFGRTB]

At slot????

I love the early sign, but when you reach on a kid, you would hope to get a bit of a discount.

Getting prep kid in the 1st round at or below slot is a win. It's not like this kid was in the 80's. He was in the 30's/40's, but in the top 20 for some scouts. Giants clearly had him high.

Arroyo signed for the slot.

 

[SFGRTB]

5th round- Jason Bahr, RHP out of University of Central Florida

Another reliever type. 98 K's in 60 innings.

He was cut from the team twice, but difference coaching regimes brought him back.

Don't have much about his stuff.

 

[SFGRTB]

6th round- Bryce Johnson, CF out of Sam Houston State.

Speed guy. Switch hitter. 3 career homeruns.

 

[SFGRTB]

7th- Logan Harasta, RHP out of University of Buffalo.

This is one big pup. 6'7" 235 lbs. He's a junior, but one of the youngest juniors of his class (20, turns 21 in August). Power arm, but a lack of control. Another Giant favorite. His numbers are pretty terrible tbh, but he must have a live arm. The body is certainly interesting. Reliever in college, gotta think the Giants are very interesting in starting him though.

8th- John Gavin, LHP out of Cal State Fullerton.

Another huge dude. 6'6" 230 lbs. He's a starter through and through. Good control/command, more of a finesse pitcher. Think Ty Blach. He's a Bay Area kid. Born in San Jose, went to Saint Francis high. His favorite team is the Giants, favorite big league ball park is AT&T, favorite place to pitch is San Jose Municipal (The home of the San Jose Giants and Spartans). So this is a pretty cool moment for him.

9th- Aaron Phillips, RHP out of Saint Bonaventure.

Yet another big kid. 6'5" 215 lbs. He becomes the highest baseball player drafted out of Saint Bonaventure. That's about all I got.

Size. Size. Size.

10th- Rob Calabrese, C out of the University of Illinois Chicago.

He was the Horizon league player of the year. Seems to be a bat first guy. Don't know much about him though.

And that wraps up day 2. Giants go through 10 rounds and it really was a very different type of draft for them. Tons of upside arms, 3 high schoolers, no college seniors. Last time that happened was in 2012. They went very young in this draft, targeting 3 prep players with their first 3 picks, and younger college players. Not many "safe" picks per say. But they also stuck to their guns, going after power pitchers and power bats, though no SS is interesting.

The next 30 rounds is a free for all, no more signing bonuses that are negotiable. That occurs tomorrow.