Draft 2022

[LHG]

19. Cade Perkins P HS Senior 18 yo
20. Ethan Long 1B ASU 4th year Senior 21 yo

totals:
Two Way Player - 1
Pitchers - 10
OF - 2
C - 3
2B - 1
SS - 1
1B - 2

So a fairly balanced draft. 10.5 pitchers, 9.5 hitters. 17 college, 3 HS.

Lets see how many they sign.

I wonder what the chances they sign Perkins. I would guess he's one of the picks who doesn't sign.

 

[Stokes1931]

The Athletic (Melissa Lockard) has a good breakdown of the Giants' 2022 draft picks.

Round 1, Pick No. 30: Reggie Crawford, LHP/1B, Connecticut

Crawford was one of the most interesting players taken on Day 1 of the draft. A dynamic athlete who pitched and played first base at UConn, Crawford is coming off of Tommy John surgery and heads to pro ball with a likely future on the mound but only 20 1/3 innings of college pitching experience. Crawford did get time in summer ball and with Team USA on the mound, but he enters pro ball with a lot less polish than is typical of a first-round college pitching draft pick. That being said, the upside is significant with Crawford, who can touch 100 from the left side. As a hitter, Crawford hit 13 home runs in 51 games for UConn in 2021. He has a lot of swing and miss, but if the pitching doesn’t work out, there’s offensive talent to fall back on.

Holmes joked on Tuesday that this might be known as the two-way player draft. While the Giants aren’t likely to develop their own Shohei Ohtani out of this group of picks, Holmes said there is a benefit to bringing in players who were accomplished as both pitchers and position players in either high school or college.

“Athleticism is something that we really try to focus on because we think it helps guys make adjustments and it helps them improve,” Holmes said.

Crawford had his Tommy John surgery last fall, so he will be more than a year removed from the surgery next spring and should be ready to start next season on time. The Giants are likely to move cautiously with Crawford, so look for him to begin his career with Low-A San Jose.

Round 2, Pick No. 66: Carson Whisenhunt, LHP, East Carolina

Like Crawford, Whisenhunt missed the 2022 season, but unlike Crawford, Whisenhunt is healthy and could be one of the first Giants draft picks to report to a full-season affiliate this summer. After being suspended for the college season due to a positive test for a banned substance, Whisenhunt did what he could to stay fresh and then returned to competitive action this summer in the Cape Cod League. His numbers weren’t great on the Cape — 7.88 ERA in 16 innings — but he showed good life with the fastball and struck out 21.

At 6-foot-3, 210, Whisenhunt has a starter’s build and a starter’s arsenal with a good changeup and a curveball that at times this summer flashed plus. He commands his pitches well. Whisenhunt is another alum of Team USA and should have no trouble transitioning to the lower levels of minor-league baseball. Since he’s thrown recently, he could jump into a full-season affiliate rotation not long after he signs.

Rd. 3, Pick No. 106: William Kempner, RHP, Gonzaga

The Giants began Day 2 with San Jose native Kempner, who spent three seasons on the Gonzaga staff. He missed much of this season with a finger ligament injury, but returned to make eight starts and had a 3.00 ERA in 36 innings with 48 strikeouts and 21 walks. Kempner is only 6-foot, but he has a well-built lower half that he uses to generate significant velocity. His fastball has tickled triple digits and has held firm at 95 even in starts. He also has a slider and changeup.

Kempner’s cross-fire delivery makes his release point difficult to pick up, but it can also impact his command. If he can’t improve his command, he’ll end up a reliever, but even as a floor, that’s a solid one, as his stuff should play well in the later innings.

Rd. 4, Pick No. 136: Spencer Miles, RHP, Missouri

Miles spent three seasons pitching at Missouri, a program known for churning out pro-ready hurlers. His ERA was ugly in his 145 collegiate innings (6.27), but he went to the Cape last summer and had a 2.55 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings. Miles is another hard thrower and he’s done a mix of starting and relieving. Like with Kempner, Miles’ command will determine whether he can remain a starter.

“Spencer is a really athletic kid who we liked the way he moved down the mound, his delivery, the way he controlled his moves down the slope,” Holmes said. “We saw really power stuff from him — fastball and breaking ball.”

Rd. 5, Pick No. 166: Liam Simon, RHP, Notre Dame

Simon was part of a Notre Dame squad that made it to the College World Series this season. The 6-4, 230-pound right-hander was mostly a reliever at Notre Dame, though he did make eight starts in three seasons, seven coming this season. In 30 2/3 innings this year, he had a 4.99 ERA and a 56:28 K:BB. He threw another 13 1/3 innings on the Cape this summer, posting a 4.05 ERA with 11 strikeouts and six walks. Like Kempner and Miles, Simon has the potential for at least two plus pitches, with a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and can touch 98, a decent slider and a developing changeup. He has been inconsistent with his delivery throughout his collegiate career, something Holmes attributed to his lack of regular reps.

“One thing about him at Notre Dame, he never really got into a consistent role. There was some starting, there was some relieving. His innings are really kind of low for a guy that was there for three years like he was,” Holmes said. “We think there’s still some useful miles there. He didn’t log a ton of innings over his career. It’s just a matter of getting him in position to get comfortable within himself within his delivery. But it’s undeniable with the type of stuff that he has and we’re really excited about it.”

Rd. 6, Pick No. 196: Hayden Birdsong, RHP, Eastern Illinois

In a bit of serendipity, the last Giants draft pick out of Eastern Illinois was Kyle Haines, the team’s current farm director, back in 2004. Birdsong, the 6-4 right-hander, had a rough 2021 season at EIU but bounced back to post a 3.35 ERA and strike out 66 in 45 2/3 innings this season for the Panthers. Birdsong improved his secondary pitches this season, as well. He’s probably a reliever in the pros, but he has the arm strength and the ability to miss bats and could move quickly, a la R.J. Dabovich.

Rd. 7, Pick No. 226: Zach Morgan, C, Fresno State

Morgan, the first position player taken by the Giants this season, is a Stockton native who had a huge season for the Bulldogs, raising his OPS from .733 in 2021 to 1.046 this season. Morgan walked (25) more than he struck out (17) and had 29 extra-base hits in 253 plate appearances. Holmes said Morgan’s ability to make consistent contact was part of what interested the Giants, and he believes the Giants’ player development group will be able to work with Morgan to add strength and turn some of his doubles power into home run power.

Defensively, Morgan has a chance to stick behind the plate. He was a Buster Posey finalist for catcher of the year and an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove finalist in college this season. He has a sturdy catcher’s frame at 6-foot, 180, and he has a strong arm and quick feet. Morgan has some experience at third base, as well.

Rd. 8, Pick No. 256: Wade Meckler, OF, Oregon State

Meckler was the Beavers’ iron man in 2022, playing in all 66 games. A leadoff hitter, Meckler walked more than he struck out and hit .347 with a .456 OBP. A grinder with good speed (12 stolen bases in 16 attempts), Meckler can play all three outfield positions and some infield, as well. He doesn’t have a lot of over-the-fence power, but, like with Morgan, the Giants believe they can get him to tap into more once he’s in a pro training program.

Rd. 9, Pick No. 286: Jack Choate, LHP, Assumption College (Mass.)

A 6-8 left-hander, Choate pitched for a Division II program but put up eye-popping numbers, striking out more than 16 batters per nine innings. He has a similar pitch mix to Sean Hjelle coming out of college, but from the left side, although his command is not as good as Hjelle’s was in the 2018 draft. Choate’s fastball sits in the low-90s but gets on hitters quicker than that because of his height and he gets good separation between the fastball and his two secondary pitches — a slider and a changeup. Tall pitchers can be a challenge to develop, but the Giants have done well with Hjelle and 6-9 Carson Ragsdale. Choate will be a bit of a project to get his command tighter, but he has a lot of upside.

Rd. 10, Pick No. 316: John Bertrand, LHP, Notre Dame

The Giants dipped back into the Notre Dame pitching program to select Bertrand, a 6-3 left-hander who pitched three years at Furman and spent the past two years as a graduate student on the Notre Dame staff. He was outstanding for the Fighting Irish, and in 2022, he had a 2.81 ERA in 109 innings with a 111:21 K:BB. He’s a high makeup guy who began his career as a walk-on at Furman and was once cut from the team. He stuck with it and managed to lead a team to the College World Series while also earning two master’s degrees. Bertrand’s strength is his command but he can touch 94 with the fastball and could get to more in a professional training program. He’ll save the Giants’ bonus pool money at this slot but should be a solid addition to their pitching group.

 

[Stokes1931]

Part 2

Rd. 11, Pick No. 346: Sam Bower, RHP, Saint Mary’s College

Saint Mary’s College is turning into Running Backs U. for starting pitchers. In the recent Futures Game, two Gaels pitched — Ky Bush and Kyle Waldichuk — and Corbin Burnes and Tony Gonsolin already have the school well-represented on the big-league side. Bower was one of three Gaels taken in this year’s draft, and the Giants are hopeful he adds to the growing legacy of professional success for Saint Mary’s pitchers.

Bower probably would have gone in Day 2 had an assortment of injuries not derailed his junior season and limited him to just 10 1/3 innings. Holmes said the Giants are confident that none of the injuries are long-term issues. The 6-3 right-hander has a starter’s mix with a plus changeup and a fastball that sits in the low 90s but can touch 95. The Giants may be able to get more velocity out of him as he enters their pitcher development program. He has good command and should have a relatively fresh arm after not pitching that much during the college season.

Rd. 12, Pick No. 376: Tyler Vogel, RHP, Jacksonville University

Vogel is a 6-foot right-hander who was the Jacksonville closer last season. He has a starter’s arsenal with a fastball, two breaking balls and a changeup, but his size and his command issues (24 walks) make the bullpen a more likely spot for him in the pros. He’s got a quick arm and his fastball can touch the high 90s, so he could be a fast-moving reliever if he can find the strike zone more consistently.

Rd. 13, Pick No. 406: Thomas Gavello, C, Pacific

The Danville native was announced as a catcher but played a lot of third base for Pacific. At 5-10, 180, he doesn’t have the size of a typical third baseman, but he is a good athlete with a strong arm and some juice in his bat. He hit only .247 but crushed 11 home runs in 49 games and had a .393 OBP this season. He profiles as a super-utility type as a pro.

Rd. 14, Pick No. 436: Nomar Diaz, C, Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy (Florida, PR)

A product of the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy, Diaz was one of only three high school players the Giants selected, and all three were taken on Day 3. The 18-year-old is a 6-1, 175-pound right-handed hitter who Holmes says already has the mobility, arm strength and blocking ability to be a good defensive catcher.

“He’s got the perfect type of makeup for the catching position,” he said.

The Giants like Diaz’s offensive potential, as well, although Holmes indicated his glove was ahead of his bat at this point. Diaz is committed to Florida SouthWestern State College, a program that saw a few players taken in this year’s draft, but he is expected to sign.

Rd. 15, Pick No. 466: Tanner O’Tremba, OF, Arizona

O’Tremba spent two years at Texas Tech before transferring to Arizona in 2021. He was a part-time player that season for the Wildcats, but thrived in a full-time role in 2022, posting a career-best .351/.446/.591 line with 11 home runs and 31 walks in 64 games. O’Tremba is a smaller, stockier corner outfield type in that Kole Calhoun mold. He has some swing and miss in his game, but he has a nose for getting on base and the power gains he made this season were very intriguing. He can probably only play center in a pinch, but should rack up a lot of offense in the corners.

Rd. 16, Pick No. 496: Andrew Kachel, 2B, Fresno State

The second Bulldog to join the Giants in the draft is Kachel, who was a three-year player for Fresno State. The Gilory native is an offensive-minded second baseman who can also play some third. His offense took a bit of a step back this season but he still hit 11 home runs in 52 games and posted a .395 OBP. His strikeouts went up this year but he still walked a fair amount. The left-handed hitting Kachel put up some elite exit velocities during his time at Fresno State despite being 6-0, 180. He has a strong arm but doesn’t have the foot speed for shortstop. He should jump right into full-season ball.

Rd. 17, Pick No. 526: Justin Bench, SS, Mississippi

Bench — no relation to Johnny — is fresh off of a College World Series championship run with Ole Miss. He played four years at Mississippi and was a key cog in their lineup the last two seasons. In 2022, he hit .316/.409/.438 with four home runs. He is a versatile defender who can play all over the infield and in the outfield, mostly playing third base and center field. Bench doesn’t have a lot of power, but he has a knack for getting on base, even in the most painful of ways (17 HBP this season; 29 in 2021). He’s a gamer, who should be able to jump into full-season ball right away.

Rd. 18, Pick No. 556: Tanner Thach, 1B, Perquimans (NC) HS

Thach, a North Carolina high school product, is one of those two-way talents. As a high school senior, the left-hander had an 0.61 ERA and struck out 46 percent of the batters he faced. As a slugging first baseman, Thach hit .477 with 20 homers and 95 RBIs in 80 games. The Giants announced Thach as a first baseman when they took him, and Holmes confirmed that if he signs, he’ll start out as a position player.

He has a big-league body already at 6-3, 215 and is an excellent defensive first baseman. Holmes said the Giants also liked Thach’s ability to control the strike zone and believe he will continue to add power as he develops physically. He is committed to UNC—Wilmington, but the Giants are optimistic that they can sign him.

Rd. 19, Pick No. 586: Cade Perkins, LHP, Manhattan (KS) HS

Perkins, like Crawford, is an athletic left-handed pitcher who also had success as a position player for his high school team. The 6-1, 190-pounder can already run his fastball up to 93 and maintains a low-90s velocity in his starts. Perkins dominated the Kansas high school circuit, allowing only 22 baserunners in 48 1/3 innings and posting an 0.87 ERA. He struck out 102. He’s committed to Cowley County Community College, so the Giants have a solid chance of bringing him into the fold.

“He has size, he has athleticism,” Holmes said. “He really has a natural ability to spin a breaking ball.”

Rd. 20, Pick No. 616: Ethan Long, 1B, Arizona State

Long was the last player selected in the 2022 MLB Draft, but he’s hardly Mr. Irrelevant. The Arizona State product nearly eclipsed the ASU freshman home run record held by Barry Bonds last season when he hit 16 in 51 games and posted a 1.120 OPS. His offensive production took a step back this season, as he hit .294/.377/.525 with just seven home runs in 42 games. He was dealing with a hamate injury for part of the season, and the Giants feel that Long’s potential is more represented in his 2021 numbers than his 2022 stat line.

Another Team USA alum, Long has some experience on the mound, as well as first base. He isn’t fleet-of-foot, so he’s limited to the corner infield or left field, but if he can get back to the power production he showed as a freshman, his bat will play. Long still has two years of collegiate eligibility, but he’s already 21, so he’s a decent bet to sign.

“We think he’s a corner profile guy that’s got big power,” Holmes said. “We’re really excited that we can turn him over to Kyle (Haines) and his staff and think they can do some good things for him. He’s got the ability to play first, left field and he’s also got a little third base background, so there’s some versatility.”

 

[tzill]

Lockhard does a very good job tracking the minor leagues. I thought this was the key takeaway for the 7th round pick:

Defensively, Morgan has a chance to stick behind the plate. He was a Buster Posey finalist for catcher of the year and an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove finalist in college this season. He has a sturdy catcher’s frame at 6-foot, 180, and he has a strong arm and quick feet. Morgan has some experience at third base, as well.

 

[Stokes1931]

Lockhard does a very good job tracking the minor leagues. I thought this was the key takeaway for the 7th round pick:

Defensively, Morgan has a chance to stick behind the plate. He was a Buster Posey finalist for catcher of the year and an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove finalist in college this season. He has a sturdy catcher’s frame at 6-foot, 180, and he has a strong arm and quick feet. Morgan has some experience at third base, as well.

Well, there you go!

 

[The Q]

Here's who the Giants took at #30

83. Reggie Crawford, LHP, Connecticut

Crawford is the biggest wild card among the wild cards of the pitchers who’ve had Tommy John surgery in this draft class because he’s barely pitched, with just 20.1 innings in total across two springs with UConn, and two summers in collegiate leagues and with Team USA. He did strike out exactly half of the batters he faced in that span, sitting 94-97 mph and touching 99 mph, occasionally mixing in a fringy slider. He spent more time as a power-hitting first baseman for the Huskies who couldn’t hit a breaking ball, so the mound is probably his best bet for a big-league career. But even with the athleticism of the typical two-way player, how can you project him to start with just a huge fastball and very little track record?

Interesting pick. I thought they might go for Brock Jones from Stanford, since Susac (!!) was already off the board.

It looks like he projects to be a closer?

Crawford would not have been available for you guys if he didn't get hurt.

He was the breakout guy for team usa.

I think yall got a steal, but he is going to need some time to build up his innings and get more experience with his pitches.

 

[The Q]

Seems the write ups I'm finding are only for odd round picks.

After a year at Division II Assumption College in Massachusetts that saw him strike out 16.3 per nine innings, Choate helped himself even more by showing well in the New England Collegiate Baseball League this summer. Being 6-foot-8 and left-handed doesn't hurt, either. Choate is up to 93 mph with his fastball and leans on it heavily. He does have a solid upper-70s slider and 76-77 mph changeup, registering super-high whiff rates on his secondary stuff. Command (5 BB/9 in college) might hurt him, but his strike-throwing has improved over the years.

I really liked this kid.

I had him as a sleeper for this draft.

you guys did well getting 3 BIG college lefties.

I'm fans of all 3 of them.

 

[tzill]

The Giants have agreed to a deal with first-round pick Reggie Crawford for $2,297,500 (slot value for pick No. 30 = $2,486,800),

 

[LHG]

The Giants have agreed to a deal with first-round pick Reggie Crawford for $2,297,500 (slot value for pick No. 30 = $2,486,800),

I was expecting him to sign for less than that. Oh well, still under slot value.

 

[calsnowskier]

I was expecting him to sign for less than that. Oh well, still under slot value.

Did we draft anyone who was enough of a reach that we need the slot room? I don’t get the sense that we went after any John Riley’s or Kyle Harrison’s that need a bump to get them to sign.

 

[LHG]

Did we draft anyone who was enough of a reach that we need the slot room? I don’t get the sense that we went after any John Riley’s or Kyle Harrison’s that need a bump to get them to sign.

That I don't know. I guess we'll see how the rest of the draft turns out.

By the way, I hope Harrison doesn't turn out to be another Riley. So far, so good, though.

 

[calsnowskier]

That I don't know. I guess we'll see how the rest of the draft turns out.

By the way, I hope Harrison doesn't turn out to be another Riley. So far, so good, though.

Riley never got his pro feet under him. Never.

Harrison is ALREADY a better pick than Riley was.


Too bad. I was excited for Riley when we signed him.

 

[LHG]

Riley never got his pro feet under him. Never.

Harrison is ALREADY a better pick than Riley was.


Too bad. I was excited for Riley when we signed him.

Riley showed some flashes but could never completely put it together.

 

[tzill]

first 17 picks have signed. Among those whose financial details are available (rounds 1-6, 8-9), they are about 280k over slot, so we should continue to see some underslot signings.

 

[LHG]

first 17 picks have signed. Among those whose financial details are available (rounds 1-6, 8-9), they are about 280k over slot, so we should continue to see some underslot signings.

Here is what Baseball America shows:

ar	RD	Pick	Team	Pos	Player	School	Type	ST	Signed	Bonus	Reports
2022	1	30		LHP/1B	Reggie Crawford	Connecticut	4YR	CT	Y	$2,297,500	SCOUTINGBA
2022	2	66		LHP	Carson Whisenhunt	East Carolina	4YR	NC	Y	$1,866,220	SCOUTINGBA
2022	3	106		RHP	William Kempner	Gonzaga	4YR	WA	Y	$522,500	SCOUTINGBA
2022	4	136		RHP	Spencer Miles	Missouri	4YR	MO	Y	$347,500	SCOUTINGBA
2022	5	166		RHP	Liam Simon	Notre Dame	4YR	IN	Y	$317,500	SCOUTINGBA
2022	6	196		RHP	Hayden Birdsong	Eastern Illinois U	4YR	IL	Y	$187,500	SCOUTINGBA
2022	7	226		C	Zach Morgan	Fresno State	4YR	CA	Y	$122,500	SCOUTINGBA
2022	8	256		OF	Wade Meckler	Oregon State	4YR	OR	Y	$97,500	SCOUTINGBA
2022	9	286		LHP	Jack Choate	Assumption (Mass.)	4YR	MA	Y	$87,500	SCOUTINGBA
2022	10	316		LHP	John Bertrand	Notre Dame	4YR	IN	Y	$47,500	SCOUTINGBA
2022	11	346		RHP	Sam Bower	Saint Mary’s	4YR	CA	Y	$317,500	SCOUTINGBA
2022	12	376		RHP	Tyler Vogel	Jacksonville University	4YR	FL	Y	$125,000
2022	13	406		SS	Thomas Gavello	Pacific	4YR	CA	Y	$125,000	SCOUTINGBA
2022	14	436		C	Nomar Diaz	Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy	HS		Y	$125,000
2022	15	466		OF	Tanner O'Tremba	Arizona	4YR	AZ	Y	$75,000	SCOUTINGBA
2022	16	496		3B	Andrew Kachel	Fresno State	4YR	CA	Y	$125,000	SCOUTINGBA
2022	17	526		3B	Justin Bench	Ole Miss	4YR	MS	Y	$100,000

That leaves two high schoolers (18th, 19th) and a college senior (20th) left unsigned. I would assume Ethan Long (20th) will probably sign (unless he wants to improve his draft status for 2023 as a 5th year senior) but Tanner Thach (18th) and Cade Perkins (19th) decided to go to college.

Apparently, the Giants have also signed the following NDFAs:

• Davis Hare, RHP, Florida State
• Matt Higgins, OF, Bellarmine
• Carter Howell, OF, Augustana (S.D.)
• Hayden Wynja, LHP, Murray State