2023 MLB Amateur Draft

[LHG]

It will be interesting to see how many players the Giants sign. Last year, they signed 17 of their picks (from round 1 to 17) and picked up another 4 non drafted free agents.
Also, considering that the top two picks are high schoolers, I would assume that we won't see many of these guys start in San Jose. I would guess maybe two at most.

 

[calsnowskier]

It will be interesting to see how many players the Giants sign. Last year, they signed 17 of their picks (from round 1 to 17) and picked up another 4 non drafted free agents.
Also, considering that the top two picks are high schoolers, I would assume that we won't see many of these guys start in San Jose. I would guess maybe two at most.

DSL is currently STACKED, so I would guess a lot of them will move to SJ next season. I fear we will be cutting loose a few decent prospects in the next couple years just due to minor league roster crunches. He are deep in the high minors with proximity dudes and we are deep in the low minors with raw lottery tix. And with the streamlining of teams from a couple years back, there just isn’t enough diamond-time for all these kids.

 

[LHG]

DSL is currently STACKED, so I would guess a lot of them will move to SJ next season. I fear we will be cutting loose a few decent prospects in the next couple years just due to minor league roster crunches. He are deep in the high minors with proximity dudes and we are deep in the low minors with raw lottery tix. And with the streamlining of teams from a couple years back, there just isn’t enough diamond-time for all these kids.

The rosters are larger now on all times (typically 28 to 30 players) but with that being said, the Giants did hold back a few DSL players that seemed to have earned a promotion to the ACL this year. Typically, once the season starts, there are not many guys in the DSL that get moved stateside, but there have been some exceptions.
The ACL Giants Black roster is quite threadbare right now. Last I checked, they only had about 9 pitchers, 2 catchers, 5 infielders and 3 outfielders. They have 7 fewer players than the ACL Giants Orange team and about 10 fewer players than what they carried last year after draftees were signed and assigned. There is room for quite a few guys from this year's draft already, so there may not be many NDFAs. However, to your point, 2024 will be tight in terms of roster spots in San Jose. Keep in mind that San Jose has 9 players on their 60 day IL and casualties will be a given by next April.

 

[LHG]

Five of the nine pitchers drafted in the 19th rounds are lefties.

 

[LHG]

2023	18	540	San Francisco Giants	Michael Rodriguez	LHP	North Greenville University	4YR	SC	N
2023	19	570	San Francisco Giants	Tom Kane	LHP	Maryland	4YR	MD	N
2023	20	600	San Francisco Giants	Nadir Lewis	OF	Princeton	4YR	NJ	N

 

[LHG]

Final count:
Pitchers - 9 (including Eldridge)
Catchers - 3
Infielders - 7 (including Eldridge)
Outfielders - 2

4 year colleges - 16
junior colleges - 2
high schools - 3

 

[LHG]

Scouting report on Walker Martin:

School: Eaton (Colo.) HS Source: HS

Commit/Drafted: Arkansas
Age At Draft: 19.4
BA Grade:55/Extreme
Tools:Hit: 55. Power: 50. Run: 55. Field: 50. Arm: 50.

Martin is one of the top prospects in the Four Corners region of the country, and in the 2022 summer showcase circuit he wowed scouts with a sweet, lefthanded swing. Martin has a lean and projectable, 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame and impressive feel for the barrel with line drive power in batting practice and some pull-side game power as well. He has sound hitting mechanics with quick bat speed through the zone and does an excellent job staying balanced in his lower half, with a steady, quiet head throughout his swing. Scouts raved about his hitting potential, and while he’s mostly a line drive, gap-to-gap hitter now it would be unsurprising to see him get to average power in the future. Martin’s 20 home runs this spring with Eaton High were tops in the country and he also hit .636. Martin has turned in above-average and plus run times in workout settings, and he’s also a terrific athlete with one of the best Loden scores in the prep class. A shortstop now, Martin will need to improve his hands and actions to stick at the position, but he could grow into the power that would allow him to profile nicely at third if he’s forced to move. The one glaring knock on Martin’s profile is his age. He’s one of the older high school players in the class and turned 19 in February. There hasn’t been a high school position player from Colorado drafted among the top three rounds this century, but Martin is in position to do just that. He’s committed to Arkansas.

 

[LHG]

Scouting report on Whitman:

School: Kent State Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.8
BA Grade:50/High
Tools:Fastball: 55. Slider: 60. Changeup: 50. Control: 55.

Whitman came to Kent State by way of Purdue and has blossomed as a key piece of the Golden Flashes’ weekend rotation. In 2023 he posted a 2.56 ERA over 15 starts and 81 innings, with a 29.1% strikeout rate and 8.4% walk rate, then pitched in the Cape Cod League after the season where he showcased loud stuff from the left side that has pushed him into day one consideration. Listed at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, Whitman has a fast arm and throws from a low-to-mid, three-quarter slot. Whitman’s delivery has improved since last spring and the operation as a whole is a lot cleaner. He averaged 92 mph this spring and touched 96, with above-average spin. His best pitch is a sharp slider in the low 80s that has two-plane break and will eclipse the 3,000 rpm range and earn plus grades from scouts. He used the pitch nearly 40% of the time with Kent State and generated whiffs at a 38% rate. His low-to-mid-80s changeup wasn’t used all that much, but scouts thought it was an average pitch in the Cape Cod League. Whitman checks off plenty of boxes with his size, delivery, three-pitch mix and potentially above-average strike-throwing ability. Many consider him the best college lefthander in the class.

 

[LHG]

Reports on Foster:
School: Auburn Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.8
BA Grade:40/High
Tools:Hit: 45. Power: 45. Run: 50. Field: 50. Arm: 50.

Foster had plenty of admirers in high school thanks to a refined swing from both sides of the plate and advanced defensive instincts. He ranked as the No. 112 player in the 2020 class, but made it to campus at Auburn, where he played in just 15 games in 2021 and had a career year in 2023 after a solid 2022 campaign. This spring, Foster hit .336/.429/.570 with 13 home runs, 13 doubles, a 19% strikeout rate and 11.4% walk rate. The 6-foot-1, 193-pound shortstop has solid raw power from both sides of the plate, but accesses his power much more consistently from the left side of the plate in games even though he’s had better overall performance from the right side. Foster has a fringy overall pure hit tool thanks to an overly aggressive approach at times and a decent amount of swing-and-miss. He has the tools to play all over the field, and slid from second base to shortstop this spring with fine supplemental tools as an average runner and steady defender with a solid arm. He’ll likely stick at shortstop in pro ball until someone pushes him off the position, at which point he could provide value as a utility infielder with some pop and switch-hitting capabilities.

Ahuna:
School: Tennessee Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.3
BA Grade:50/Extreme
Tools:Hit: 40. Power: 45. Run: 55. Field: 60. Arm: 60.

Ahuna is a Hawaii native who comes from a strong baseball tradition and was part of a banner year for Hawaiin prep prospects in 2020. He earned an All-Big 12 honorable mention after his 2021 freshman season with Kansas and then broke out massively in 2022 by hitting .396/.479/.634 with eight home runs and 16 doubles as a sophomore. Ahuna transferred to Tennessee for his 2023 junior season, and didn’t fully replicate his offensive showing in the SEC. He hit .312/.425/.537 with eight home runs, but his strikeout rate jumped from 20.8% in 2022 to 31.2% in 2023. Contact is the biggest question mark for the 6-foot-1, 175-pound lefty hitter. He had an overall miss rate of 38%, and looked confounded on off-speed stuff with lots of chases out of the strike zone. Ahuna does have whippy bat speed, but a big leg kick, steep bat path and questionable pitch recognition have created more concerns about his hit tool. He hits the ball hard and has decent power for his size, but will need to figure out a way to make more contact in pro ball. Scouting directors voted Ahuna the best defensive infielder in college entering the year and he excels at shortstop thanks to above-average speed and quickness, impressive actions, good body control as well as plus arm strength.

And McDaniel:
School: Maine Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 20.8
McDaniel hit .355/.520/.700 in 252 plate appearances with more walks (60) than strikeouts (52) for Maine to lead the America East Conference in walks and OBP while ranking second in slugging and OPS and third in stolen bases (32 in 38 attempts). He also doesn’t turn 21 until September, so he’s young for a college junior. McDaniel is one of the most patient hitters in the country Not only does he not chase much, he just doesn’t swing often, rarely offering at breaking stuff. When he does swing, it’s unorthodox and not the most efficient, starting with a big hanging leg kick. It has worked for him so far, though he rarely faced a pitcher this spring who threw above 90 mph, so he might have to condense some of his movements in pro ball. McDaniel makes quality contact, but it’s not big raw power, with a chance for 10-15 home runs. A plus runner, McDaniel is an offensive-minded player who isn’t especially rangy at second base and will need to be more consistent with his hands. Some scouts think he can be an adequate defender at second base, with speed that could lend itself to the outfield as well.

 

[LHG]

Schliger:
School: Maryland Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.8
BA Grade:45/High
Tools:Hit: 55. Power: 40. Run: 30. Field: 50. Arm: 50.

Shliger is a small, 5-foot-9, 180-pound catcher who had a monstrous 2022 season with Maryland and continued to impress in the Cape Cod League and in his 2023 draft year. During the 2023 season, Shliger slashed .336/.523/.582 with 11 home runs, 24 doubles, a 21% walk rate and 17.1% strikeout rate. Despite back-to-back seasons with 10-plus home runs with Maryland, Shliger stands out more for his ability to control the strike zone and manipulate his barrel. He rarely chases outside the zone but shows an adept ability to spray the ball into the gaps. Given his size and modest exit velocities so far, it’s unlikely that power becomes a big part of his offensive game, though it’s always possible he taps into more game power than you’d expect considering his feel for the barrel and batting eye. Defensively, Shliger has impressed with smooth receiving skills and average arm strength, though he gets rid of the ball quickly and is generally accurate on his throws. Shliger should be able to develop into an average defensive catcher based on his skill and athleticism behind the plate, though there are some concerns about his durability at the position on a pro schedule given his smaller size. Other scouts note that while he is shorter, he has plenty of strength on his frame.

Bandura:
School: Princeton Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.9
A hamstring injury limited Bandura to just eight games in 2022. After the season, he played in the Coastal Plain League and hit just .198/.287/.247 in 96 plate appearances. The 2023 season has been a breakthrough for Bandura, who added strength and showed better barrel awareness en route to hitting .363/.454/.665 in 219 plate appearances for Princeton. At 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, Bandura has a well-proportioned build with more physical projection remaining. He has a fluid lefty swing with good bat control, showing the ability to square up all pitch types routinely with a high contact rate and a solid eye for the strike zone. Bandura has above-average power with exit velocities up to 110 mph. It’s consistently high quality contact because of his ability to hit the ball on the sweet spot routinely, producing an average exit velocity of 93 mph this spring. With a swing path that helps him generate loft, Bandura is able to tap into that power in games and drive the ball for power to all fields. Bandura’s track record is limited and it’s only been against Ivy League pitching, but he has hit well against the better stuff he has faced. A right fielder, Bandura is a fringe-average runner who will need to sharpen his jumps and routes.

Vanderhei:
School: Texas Christian Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: D-backs ’19 (38)
Age At Draft: 22.1
After three seasons at Kansas, Vanderhei entered the transfer portal and moved to Texas Christian for his 2023 senior season. He pitched as a starter and reliever for the Horned Frogs, but posted a 6.75 ERA in 42.2 innings, with a 21.2% strikeout rate and 12.3% walk rate. At 6-foot-6, 185 pounds, Vanderhei has a ton of room to add physicality and strength at the next level, but he also needs to clean up his delivery a bit and prevent his front side from flying open too early. He throws his fastball in the 91-94 mph range mostly, though the pitch has been up to 97 at peak velocity. The pitch has very little carry and didn’t fool batters much at all this spring, with a .330/.457/.564 line against it. Vanderhei had much better results with a mid-80s slider, which generated a 53% miss rate and has short, biting action and high spin in the 2,500 rpm range. He’s thrown a mid-80s changeup occasionally, but used the pitch less than 5% of the time this spring. Vanderhei could have some success as a two-pitch reliever who pitches more off his slider in pro ball, but he’ll need to improve the fastball to do so.

Payton:
School: Louisville Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.9
BA Grade:40/High
Tools:Hit: 45. Power: 50. Run: 45. Field: 40. Arm: 45.

Louisville produced back-to-back high-end catching prospects in 2021 and 2022, with Henry Davis selected No. 1 overall in 2021 and Dalton Rushing selected No. 40 overall in 2022. Payton is next in line at the Louisville catching factory, and like the two players preceding him has an impressive offensive resume. He led Louisville with a .350 average, 89 hits and 23 doubles in 2022, then played with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team and in the Cape Cod League during the summer. He had another strong offensive season in 2023, when he slashed .374/.472/.642 with 12 home runs and 10 doubles. Payton has lots of strength in a filled-out, 5-foot-11, 200-pound frame, with the ability to drive the ball out to the pull side and the opposite field, though he’s done most of his damage middle-in, with a tendency to leak out and open up on his front side after a toe tap—which can hurt his ability to cover the outer third. Payton did well against 92-plus mph velocity in 2022, but struggled against that pitch type in 2023. He’s an aggressive hitter who will expand the zone and also has a high miss rate against breaking stuff and offspeed offerings, leading to more fringe-average hitting projections. Payton needs to work on his actions and receiving to stick behind the plate in pro ball. He has fringy arm strength and has a long exchange times, and could also clean up the direction with his footwork. He moves well for a catcher and could potentially play an outfield corner if he has to move from behind the plate.

 

[tzill]

Final count:
Pitchers - 9 (including Eldridge)
Catchers - 3
Infielders - 7 (including Eldridge)
Outfielders - 2

4 year colleges - 16
junior colleges - 2
high schools - 3

I suspect they were simply going with the highest player on their board at each pick, but this approach 8/3/7/2 seems about right. Seems that Eldridge will almost certainly be a 1b, not a pitcher.

Loading up on college pitching is probably the most efficient way to go. Given that there is room on the A+ and AA rosters, it makes sense.

 

[pachyderm]

goodwork guys

 

[LHG]

Doesn't mean much in terms of actual results, but it is kinda nice to see someone thinks the Giants pulled off a good draft.

These teams scored the best '23 Draft hauls

SEATTLE -- The Reds had poor luck in MLB's inaugural Draft Lottery last December. Despite having the fourth-worst record, they came away with the seventh overall selection in a year with five players who would be legitimate No. 1 overall pick candidates in most Drafts. Cincinnati held out some mild

www.mlb.com

 

[calsnowskier]

Doesn't mean much in terms of actual results, but it is kinda nice to see someone thinks the Giants pulled off a good draft.

These teams scored the best '23 Draft hauls

SEATTLE -- The Reds had poor luck in MLB's inaugural Draft Lottery last December. Despite having the fourth-worst record, they came away with the seventh overall selection in a year with five players who would be legitimate No. 1 overall pick candidates in most Drafts. Cincinnati held out some mild

www.mlb.com

Pre-draft rankings are like assholes. That author is applying their rankings against the rankings out together by the 30 organizations who spend more for catering during a planning meeting for the draft than this person makes in 3 years. Come back 5-7 years and tell me who had the best draft. Heck, start reviewing annually starting 3 years after, and I will gladly read your review. But before a single draftee has even been handed a pen to put to paper?

GTFO

 

[LHG]

Pre-draft rankings are like assholes. That author is applying their rankings against the rankings out together by the 30 organizations who spend more for catering during a planning meeting for the draft than this person makes in 3 years. Come back 5-7 years and tell me who had the best draft. Heck, start reviewing annually starting 3 years after, and I will gladly read your review. But before a single draftee has even been handed a pen to put to paper?

GTFO

Tell me how you really feel about knee-jerk draft rankings.

 

[calsnowskier]

Tell me how you really feel about knee-jerk draft rankings.

Give me time to put something together…

 

[LHG]

Give me time to put something together…

 

[pachyderm]

From espn:

San Francisco Giants

Along with the Marlins, the Giants were my other winner of the draft in my early takeaways. The easy sales pitch is landing two first-round talents in prep 1B/RHP Bryce Eldridge (20) and prep SS Walker Martin (26) with their first two picks. Eldridge is a potential above-average hitter with 30-homer power as a first baseman and a third or fourth starter if it all clicks on the mound, but he's also almost certainly a usable reliever with a power fastball/slider combo. Martin is one of the highest variance prospects in the prep class as he's a multi-sport athlete without much summer circuit exposure but has a great lefty swing and a plus speed/power combo.

Beyond that, the Giants took a bunch of solid college talents of different sorts. Kent State lefty Joe Whitman (38) is a late-rising fringe first-round talent that has above-average stuff and projected starter quality command. JC righty Josh Bostick (229) was already known by teams but took a pre-draft step forward on the Cape, ticking the upper-90's as a solid 6-foot-4 former shortstop. Tennessee SS Maui Ahuna (84) has everyday-caliber tools but has been tinkering with his swing enough that a pro environment is what he needs. Auburn SS Cole Foster (89) has long had solid tools and performed this year like a potential low-end regular or strong utility type. Between fifth-rounder Maine 2B Quinn McDaniel (152), sixth-rounder Maryland C Luke Shliger (180) and 11th-rounder Louisville C Jack Payton (231), there's probably one solid MLB contributor, too.

Kiley McDaniel's MLB draft recap for all 15 National League teams

From the early-round stars to the late-round steals, here's what stands out in every NL club's 2023 class.

www.espn.com

 

[tzill]

Every draft summary I've read gives the Giants a top grade.

Means nothing of course and we won't know for six years or so, but it's still encouraging.

 

[calsnowskier]

Every draft summary I've read gives the Giants a top grade.

Means nothing of course and we won't know for six years or so, but it's still encouraging.

I think you need to give it at least 3 years before STARTING the grading process.

I think we can objectively look at the 2008 draft as a success (I have labeled it as one of the greatest draft classes ever on multiple occasions) and I think that our 2020 class is sizing up to be on a comparable level. Maybe this 2023 class will be viewed similarly, but that assessment is 100% impossible to make at least until the signing period is over and certainly until there have been on-field surprises (both positive and negative).

Anyone claiming any particular team had a great draft at this point is just blowing smoke. Though, I think it would be fair to look at a class and reasonably declaring it a bust. The Giants viewed the draft as a huge waste of money in the ’90s and early ‘00s (Michael Tucker, anyone?)