MLB Draft Reviews: 2022 Giants Draft

1.  Reggie Crawford LHP, College.

As we discussed in last post, the Giants swung for the fences on a 2-way athlete which is a very reasonable approach if you are drafting in the #30 slot.  Crawford was on the fast track as a reliever but then underwent reconstructive elbow surgery in September and will likely most or all of 2025.

2.  Carson Whisenhunt LHP, College.

2024(AAA):  3-5, 5.42, 104.2 IP, 11.61 K/9, 4.56 BB/9, 1.12 GB/FB.

The Giants took chances in the first two rounds on players whose stock dropped for different reason.  With Reggie Crawford it was TJ surgery his junior year of college.  With Whisenhunt it was a PED suspension.  The injury bug came back to bite Crawford but Whisenhunt appears to be on a track to the major leagues(those actually pretty good numbers considering the extreme hitter-friendly environment of the PCL).  Whisenhunt's big pitch is the changeup which Fangraphs grades out as a 70 now with a future 80.  The fastball is not as good but still low-mid 90's.  The curveball needs improvement to be a viable third pitch.  There are pitchers ahead of him on the SP depth chart but he's on track to make his MLB debut, if needed, sometime around mid-season.

3.  William Kempner RHP, College.

2024(AFL):  0-0, 7.36, 3.2 IP, 3 BB, 7 K.

Missed all of the 2024 regular season with foot and shoulder injuries.  Made 4 appearances in the AFL.  College reliever who is on the reliever track.  Could move fast if he can stay healthy.

4.  Spencer Miles RHP, College.

2024(ACL):  0-0, 4.91, 7.1 IP, 12.27 K/9, 2.45 BB/9, 3.33 GB/FB.

Missed all of 2023 and most of 2024 with back issues.  

5.  Liam Simon RHP, College.

2024(ACL):  1-2, 112.19, 10.1 IP, 13.94 K/9, 16.55 BB/9.

Hard throwing college reliever who the Giants appeared to be converting to a bulk-innings guy when he underwent TJ surgery early in 2023.  Came back for a rehab assignment in July 2025 and was wild.  Hopefully that smooths out in his first full season back in 2025.  Potential fast mover on the reliever track.

6.  Hayden Birdsong RHP, College.

2024(AA):  4-2, 2.05, 48.1 IP, 11.36 K/9, 3.72 BB/9.

2024(AAA):  1-0, 5.00, 9 IP, 14.00 K/9, 6.00 BB/9.

2024(MLB):  5-6, 4.75, 72 IP, 11.00 K/9, 5.38 BB/9.

I forgot that Hayden Birdsong was drafted out of college.  He looks so young I just assumed he must be an overslot HS draftee like Kyle Harrison.  He is the second member of the Giants 2022 draft class to reach the majors after Wade Meckler.  He sure showed flashes of ace potential with a mid-90's FB he throws up in the zone and a hammer curveball and a pretty decent changeup too.  There was inconsistency you might expect from a rookie.  Although his place in the rotation is not assured, he seems to be near the top of the large mix of young Giants pitchers for the rotation of the future.

7.  Zach Morgan C, College.

2024(A+):  .206/.328/.302, 3 HR, 5 SB, 14.2 BB%, 17.2 K%, 239 PA.

2024(AA):  .226/.293/.333, 2 HR, 3 SB, 8.6 BB%, 23.7 K%, 93 PA.

If I remember correctly he was a bat-first college catcher.  As is often the case with catching prospects, the bat has not developed and even regressed.

8.  Wade Meckler OF, College.

2024(ACL):  .228/.343/.263, 5 SB, 13.4 BB%, 19.4 K%, 67 PA.

2024(A):  .235/.339/.314, HR, 13.6 BB%, 16.9 K%, 59 PA.

2024(A+):  .429/.526/.500, 21.2 BB%, 15.8 K%, 19 PA.

2024(AA):  .324/.405/.378, 11.9 BB%, 23.8 K%, 42 PA.

2024(AAA):  .268/.357/.508, 8 HR, 3 SB, 9.7 BB%, 12.8 K%, 196 PA.

Meckler was the first of the 2022 Giants draftees to reach the majors in 2023 on the strength of his excellent contact and plate discipline skills.  Unfortunately he lacked power and MLB pitchers took advantage by pounding the strike zone on him.  He reportedly vowed to bulk up and get stronger.  That did not seem to make much difference through 4 rehab stops but he put on an impressive power surge for Sacramento over the final 6 weeks of the season while maintaining the contact and plate discipline.  Meck is kind of the forgotten man but he's still on the 40-man roster and the numbers scream for him to get another shot at least as a 4'th OF option.  You can now consider me the official driver of the Wade Meckler Bandwagon.

9.  Jack Choate LHP, College.

2024(A+):  1-3, 2.90, 77.2 IP, 10.08 K/9, 2.20 BB/9.

2024(AA):  1-4, 5.82, 34 IP, 10.85 K/9, 4.76 BB/9.

Big, tall left with a low arm slot.  Per Eric Longenhagen his FB is fringy but backed by a much better sweeper and changeup.  Has worked as a SP so far but arm slot and pitch mix may project him more as a lefty reliever type although the changeup gives him a great weapon against RH batters too.

10.  John Bertrand LHP, College.

2024(AA):  7-9, 4.32, 146 IP, 7.34 K/9, 2.47 BB/9, 1.96 GB/FB.

2024(AAA):  1-0, 1.80, 10 IP, 5.40 K/9, 4.50 BB/9, 3.33 GB/FB.

FB hovers around 90 MPH so he depends on a 6-pitch mix which allows him to be an effective SP.  Has performed above expectations. Profile reminds me of Forever Giant Ty Blach.

11. Sam Bower RHP, College.

Still in the organization on the San Jose Giants roster but has never pitched a pro inning due to injuries.

12.  Tyler Vogel RHP, College.

2024(A+):  3-1, 4.74, 24.1 IP, 8.03 K/9, 4.38 BB/9.

On the reliever track.  Was on the IL from 4/25- 7/13.  Unable to find info on nature of injury.

13.  Thomas Gavello 3B, College.

2024(A+):  .193/.322/.307, 7 HR, 9 SB, 11.8 BB%, 34.2 K%, 304 PA.

Disappointing stat line in A+ ball after a solid performance at A level in 2023.

14.  Nomar Diaz C, HS.

2024(ACL):  .250/.406/.458, HR, SB, 12.5 BB%, 25.0 K%, 32 PA.

Total of just 102 PA's over 3 pro seasons.

15.  Tanner O'Tremba OF, College.

2024(A+):  .194/.320/.312, 4 HR, 10 SB, 10.7 BB%, 30.4 K%, 224 PA.

Released 8/1/2024.

16.  Andrew Kachel 2B, College.

2024(A+):  .261/.383/.335, 2 HR, 11 SB, 13.6 BB%, 25.9 K%, 228 PA.

2024(AA):  .228/.343/.386, 2 HR, SB, 10.4 BB%, 23.9 K%, 67 PA.

Strong plate discipline numbers that did not drop off after late promotion to AA.  Should get a chance to see if he can improve his AA numbers in 2025.

17.  Justin Bench 3B, College.

2024(A):  .230/.337/.329, 2 HR, 3 SB, 8.5 BB%, 23.3 K%, 189 PA.

2024(A+):  .203/.261/.250, 2 SB, 2.8 BB%, 21.1 K%, 71 PA.

Released 8/2/2024.

18.  Tanner Thach 1B, HS.  Not Signed.

19.  Cade Perkins LHP, HS.  Not Signed.

20.  Ethan Long 1B, College.  Not Signed.

Summary:  Despite selecting at the back end of the draft and the apparent loss of first round pick Reggie Crawford, 2022 is shaping up to be another strong draft for the Giants with Hayden Birdsong and Carson Whisenhunt on tract to be at least mid-rotation MLB SP's.  Jack Choate has a good chance to be at least a lefty reliever and John Bertrand could have a Ty Blach/6'th starter type MLB career.  Wade Meckler looks like a potential 4'th OF.  Of course hitting on 1 or 2 first round picks can transform an organization and failing that hurts but if you look at the full draft, at least 3 of FZ's first 4 drafts were quite strong by drafting standards.  Scouting and drafting is a tough business!