The Giants did not have picks in rounds 2 or 3 due to signing Blake Snell and Matt Chapman as free agents. So their first pick on Day 2 was in the 4'th round, #116 overall. Here is a quick profile of the 7 players they drafted today:
Round 4, #116. Dakota Jordan OF, College(Mississipi St). DOB: 5/9/2003. B-R, T-R. 6' 2", 220 lbs.
2023: .307/.397/.575, 10 HR, 25 BB, 46 K, 184 PA.
2023(NECL): .379/.514/.517, 7 BB, 7 K, 37 PA.
2024: .354/.459/.671, 20 HR, 44 BB, 84 K, 290 PA.
MLB Pipeline ranked him at #34 and several analysts had him as the top prospect going into Day 2. Might be the most tooled up player in the draft. 2-sport athlete as a WR in football. Light tower power, one of the fastest players in the draft. Eric Longerhagen reports he ran a 4.2(home to first? 40 yd?) and a 60 arm. Significant swing and miss in his game which might be one reason he fell to the Giants. Another reason might be he is a draft-eligible sophomore which gives him more negotiating leverage. After drafting Tibbs in round 1, it appears the Giants are well-positioned to offer Jordan a well above slot bonus. Has significant work to do in pitch recognition and swing path but the sky is the limit for this plus-plus athlete.
Round 5, #149. Jakob Christian OF, College(San Diego). DOB: 9/17/2002. B-R, T-R. 6' 5", 220 lbs.
2022(Point Loma Nazarene): .322/.426/.585, 13 HR, 29 BB, 54 K, 244 PA.
2022(NWDS): .226/.357/.366, 2 HR, 15 BB, 29 K, 115 PA.
2023(Point Loma Nazarene): .408/.506/.901, 28 HR, 23 BB, 46 K, 233 PA.
2024(San Diego): .364/.460/.828, 26 HR, 28 BB, 47 K, 235 PA.
Tall, lean RH power hitter with long levers and some swing and miss in his game. MLB scouting report refers to a "grooved swing." Basic profile similar to Pat Burrell. Can Pat the Bat help unlock his incredible potential? Will probably need some development time.
Round 6, #178. Robert Hipwell 3B, College(Santa Clara). DOB: 3/6/2003. B-L, T-R. 6' 3", 220 lbs.
2022: .150/.191/.350, HR, BB, 9 K's, 21 PA.
2023: .329/.500/.706, 14 HR, 45 BB, 42 K's. 198 PA.
2024: .273/.442/.515, 3 HR, 18 BB, 21 K, 86 PA.
2024(MLBD): .245/.385/.359, HR, 10 BB, 18 K, 65 PA.
Another power hitting college corner player. Was well-positioned to be a first round pick when he was hit with a PED suspension near the end of his sophomore season extending into the first half of his junior season which is why his stock dropped. Much like Carson Whisenhunt, the Giants jumped on the buy-low opportunity and may have gotten a huge bargain in Round 6. Has the arm to play 3B but maybe not the mobility. Bat might be good enough for 1B or DH.
Round 7, #208. Greg Farone LHP, College(Alabama). DOB: 5/3/2002. 6' 6", 240 lbs.
2021(CCBL): 0-0, 2.45, 3.2 IP, 2 BB, 6 K's.
2022(PGCL): 0-1, 6.75, 4 IP, 2 BB, 4 K's.
2023(Louisville): 1-4, 4.80, 50.2 IP, 35 BB, 65 K.
2024(Alabama): 4-3, 5.02, 71.2 IP, 24 BB, 68 K.
Big lefty with a plus FB that works well up in the zone. Secondary stuff needs development. Future Stars Series promoted him as a sleeper arm in the draft. He'll likely be a project but with a high ceiling. Giants have a decent track record with pitchers like that.
Round 8, #238. Niko Mazza RHP, College(Southern Mississippi). DOB: 2/20/2022. 5'11", 194 lbs.
2022: 0-0, 5.06, 5.1 IP, 3 BB, 6 K.
2022(CCBL): 1-1, 5.28, 15.1 IP, 6 BB, 12 K.
2023: 5-2, 4.34, 74.2 IP, 46 BB, 89 K.
2024: 9-3, 3.99, 90.1 IP, 36 BB, 95 K.
Short for a pitcher and a slow developer but worked his way into the Friday SP role with Southern Mississippi. Scouting reports are a bit sketchy but what I can glean he has a low-mid 90's FB but with a plus breaking ball and plus-plus changeup. FB has been too hittable but could become a plus pitch with the right coaching. Probably projects as a bullpen arm.
Round 9, #268. Zane Zielinski SS, College(Ill Chicago). DOB: 7/28/2001, B-R, T-R, 6' 3", 175 lbs.
2021(Smr): .317/.387/.366, 2 HR, 13 SB, 22 BB, 52 K, 231 PA.
2022(Smr): .285/.369/.330, 2 HR, 20 SB, 28 BB, 24 K, 253 PA.
2023: .247/.348/.305, 9 SB, 16 BB, 50 K, 184 PA.
2023(NWDS): .220/.318/.253, 4 SB, 12 BB, 18 K, 109 PA.
2024: .363/.449/.583, 8 HR, 10 SB, 32 BB, 47 K, 268 PA.
Prep Baseball Report Under the Radar College Hitter, Zielinski can not only stick at the SS position, he's a plus defender despite his long frame. Still filling out a projectable frame his power is finally starting to emerge as he cuts down on his K rates. Could be a major sleeper in this draft.
Round 10, #298. Cade Vernon RHP, College(Murray State). DOB: 1/17/2002. 6' 3", 210 lbs.
2021: 0-2, 5.86, 35.1 IP, 8 BB, 23 K.
2022: 2-4, 6.00, 42 IP, 15 BB, 22 K.
2023: 5-6, 4.87, 77.2 IP, 29 BB, 75 K.
2024: 8-3, 4.67, 90.2 IP, 18 BB, 85 K.
Was not able to find a scouting report but ideal size for a pitcher with solid K and BB ratios from a lower level D1 program.
NBC Sports Bay Area has Dakota a day one prospect ranked #34. Steal of the draft.
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