2024 Draft

[Hangman]

Giants approach to the draft is need to focus on OF so lets scout the OF and draft everyone. We need middle infield, lets scout middle infield and draft everyone. We need Pitchers. Lets scout pitchers and draft everyone.

Who know, we might get lucky

 

[calsnowskier]

Darby (14th):
"While Santa Barbara has earned a well-deserved reputation for producing prospects on the mound who really know how to pitch, it hasn't had a position player get taken in the top three rounds since Chris Valaika was a third-rounder back in 2006. Darby, coming off a solid sophomore season for the Gauchos and a strong showing in the Cape Cod League last summer, had the chance to break that dry spell, but an inconsistent spring has hurt his stock. A left-handed-hitting infielder, Darby makes a ton of contact. He doesn't chase much and has posted high zone-contact rates along with good exit velocities, which should stand out for the data inclined, and he did the same with a wood bat on the Cape, though his miss and chase rates did creep up in his junior season. He can get a little pull-happy and could be an even better hitter if he can use the entire field more consistently. He'll show off big raw power in batting practice to all fields, but it's yet to show up in games much. A solid average runner who is better underway, Darby had worked to improve his defense and lower his center of gravity at third base, rather than mostly bending at the waist. He's moved over to first base for most of the spring, which puts even more pressure on his bat."
Jenkins (16th):
"The group of college hitters who have hit 20-plus homers in two straight seasons is a select one, a list that includes future first-round picks Charlie Condon, Jac Caglianone, Nick Kurtz and Tommy White. Jenkins is a lesser known member of the fraternity, having mashed 21 homers for Maine as a sophomore in 2023 and 22 more dingers this spring to earn him first-team All-America East Conference honors for the second year in a row. A big, 6-foot-4 left-handed first baseman, Jenkins puts up the kind of numbers, with good analytics underneath, that teams that value college performance are bound to look at. He does it with a lot of funkiness in his swing, using an unorthodox upright setup with low hands. But while no one would teach those kinds of mechanics, he makes a ton of contact and is really fast out front. He also has good strike zone knowledge and draws walks, helping him tap into his plus-plus raw power. It's mostly classic pull power with loft to right field, the kind of thing current team models like, though he does struggle more against spin. Because of his size and lack of speed, Jenkins is definitely a first baseman only, but he's a solid defender there with an average arm. Teams that think what Jenkins does will work at the next level will certainly consider the power potential that profiles well at the infield corner at some point on Day 2, giving him the chance to join Black Bears hitters taken in the top 10 rounds like 2023 fifth-rounder Quinn McDaniel and, of course, Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña, taken in Round 3 back in 2018.:

Jenkins, it should be noted, was a college teammate of one of the Giants' picks from last year - Quinn McDaniel.

It is going to be really funny to see a bunch of 1st baseman playing the whole field for the ACL and San Jose.

Just for correction purposes…

Darby was the 12th rounder and Jenkins was the 14th rounder (not the 14th and 16th, respectively, as you stated)…

 

[stanford the manford]

Darby (14th):
"While Santa Barbara has earned a well-deserved reputation for producing prospects on the mound who really know how to pitch, it hasn't had a position player get taken in the top three rounds since Chris Valaika was a third-rounder back in 2006. Darby, coming off a solid sophomore season for the Gauchos and a strong showing in the Cape Cod League last summer, had the chance to break that dry spell, but an inconsistent spring has hurt his stock. A left-handed-hitting infielder, Darby makes a ton of contact. He doesn't chase much and has posted high zone-contact rates along with good exit velocities, which should stand out for the data inclined, and he did the same with a wood bat on the Cape, though his miss and chase rates did creep up in his junior season. He can get a little pull-happy and could be an even better hitter if he can use the entire field more consistently. He'll show off big raw power in batting practice to all fields, but it's yet to show up in games much. A solid average runner who is better underway, Darby had worked to improve his defense and lower his center of gravity at third base, rather than mostly bending at the waist. He's moved over to first base for most of the spring, which puts even more pressure on his bat."
Jenkins (16th):
"The group of college hitters who have hit 20-plus homers in two straight seasons is a select one, a list that includes future first-round picks Charlie Condon, Jac Caglianone, Nick Kurtz and Tommy White. Jenkins is a lesser known member of the fraternity, having mashed 21 homers for Maine as a sophomore in 2023 and 22 more dingers this spring to earn him first-team All-America East Conference honors for the second year in a row. A big, 6-foot-4 left-handed first baseman, Jenkins puts up the kind of numbers, with good analytics underneath, that teams that value college performance are bound to look at. He does it with a lot of funkiness in his swing, using an unorthodox upright setup with low hands. But while no one would teach those kinds of mechanics, he makes a ton of contact and is really fast out front. He also has good strike zone knowledge and draws walks, helping him tap into his plus-plus raw power. It's mostly classic pull power with loft to right field, the kind of thing current team models like, though he does struggle more against spin. Because of his size and lack of speed, Jenkins is definitely a first baseman only, but he's a solid defender there with an average arm. Teams that think what Jenkins does will work at the next level will certainly consider the power potential that profiles well at the infield corner at some point on Day 2, giving him the chance to join Black Bears hitters taken in the top 10 rounds like 2023 fifth-rounder Quinn McDaniel and, of course, Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña, taken in Round 3 back in 2018.:

Jenkins, it should be noted, was a college teammate of one of the Giants' picks from last year - Quinn McDaniel.

It is going to be really funny to see a bunch of 1st baseman playing the whole field for the ACL and San Jose.

UCSB undergrad here - Stanford stunk this year so I‘m full Hammerheads… Go Gauchos!

 

[LHG]

Just for correction purposes…

Darby was the 12th rounder and Jenkins was the 14th rounder (not the 14th and 16th, respectively, as you stated)…

Thank you for the correction.

 

[LHG]

Giants approach to the draft is need to focus on OF so lets scout the OF and draft everyone. We need middle infield, lets scout middle infield and draft everyone. We need Pitchers. Lets scout pitchers and draft everyone.

Who know, we might get lucky

It is an interesting approach. But I think they more focused on power hitters (or potential power hitters) because the scouting reports I'm reading on so many of the draft picks seem to suggest that hardly any of them are any better than left fielders or 1st basemen. Thus, my comment earlier.

 

[LHG]

By the way, the deadline to sign any draftees is Thursday, August 1st at 2 pm PDT. That gives the Giants approximately 16 days of negotiations.

 

[calsnowskier]

By the way, the deadline to sign any draftees is Thursday, August 1st at 2 pm PDT. That gives the Giants approximately 16 days of negotiations.

Holy shit. 2 weeks?

When was that timeframe instituted?

 

[LHG]

Holy shit. 2 weeks?

When was that timeframe instituted?

I don't remember. I just remembered enough that it was not that long of a timeframe and so I looked up this year's deadline.

 

[tzill]

I think it's a good thing. Force these stalling phukers to make a decision and get on with the year.

 

[calsnowskier]

I think it's a good thing. Force these stalling phukers to make a decision and get on with the year.

I dont disagree. But 2 weeks is FAST.

 

[tzill]

A couple of thoughts on drafting a lot of upperclassmen:

1. COVID probably pushed players to stay in college a little longer than before
2. FZ is motivated to show immediate progress before his extension is up in 2 years.
3. The overall class was pretty weak by all accounts.
4. Giants looking for a little more certainty than gambling on HS players.
5. That said, they have rolled the dice on Jordan and Jenkins.
6. Less pool money for the Chap and Snell signings means picking HS kids wouldn't have been smart as they typically have to be paid over slot to forego college.

 

[LHG]

A couple of thoughts on drafting a lot of upperclassmen:

1. COVID probably pushed players to stay in college a little longer than before
2. FZ is motivated to show immediate progress before his extension is up in 2 years.
3. The overall class was pretty weak by all accounts.
4. Giants looking for a little more certainty than gambling on HS players.
5. That said, they have rolled the dice on Jordan and Jenkins.
6. Less pool money for the Chap and Snell signings means picking HS kids wouldn't have been smart as they typically have to be paid over slot to forego college.

COVID really isn't a factor in this as most of these guys are only in their 3rd year of college. The impact from COVID was felt more in 2020 and 2021.

 

[LHG]

Looking back at the last 3 drafts (the 3 prior years where the draft was 20 rounds):

• The Giants signed their first 14 picks, and 20 players overall (including 3 non-drafted free agents) in 2021.
• They signed their first 17 picks, and 21 players overall (including 4 ndfas) in 2022
• They signed all 20 of their picks, and 25 players overall (including 5 ndfas) in 2023

Considering their history, could it be possible they sign another 6 to 7 ndfas (considering they only had 18 picks this year) or do they feel that there isn't as much need to restock the farm with additional players this year?

 

[calsnowskier]

Looking back at the last 3 drafts (the 3 prior years where the draft was 20 rounds):

• The Giants signed their first 14 picks, and 20 players overall (including 3 non-drafted free agents) in 2021.
• They signed their first 17 picks, and 21 players overall (including 4 ndfas) in 2022
• They signed all 20 of their picks, and 25 players overall (including 5 ndfas) in 2023

Considering their history, could it be possible they sign another 6 to 7 ndfas (considering they only had 18 picks this year) or do they feel that there isn't as much need to restock the farm with additional players this year?

Imho, if they are able to JUST get Tibbs and Jordan, I am happy. Given their history, I trust they will lock Jordan up, but I just can’t see how it is possible.

 

[LHG]

Imho, if they are able to JUST get Tibbs and Jordan, I am happy. Given their history, I trust they will lock Jordan up, but I just can’t see how it is possible.

I think most of the guys sign except for maybe Jordan and Polanco.

 

[LHG]

The 1, 2, 3, 8 and 10 picks have already signed. Tibbs should sign soon.

 

[LHG]

1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 14, 16 and 24 picks from 1st round have all signed

 

[LHG]

First round picks who have now signed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 16 and 24.

 

[LHG]

First round picks who have now signed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 16 and 24.

 

[tzill]

1st-rder James Tibbs signs w/@SFGiants for $4,747,500 (slot 13 = $5,272,300).