A Look at the San Francisco Giants Last Five First Round Draft Picks

Apr 22, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Chris Stratton (34) and catcher Buster Posey (28) talk in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The Rockies won 12-3. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

With the 20th overall pick of the 2012 MLB Draft, the San Francisco Giants selected Chris Stratton out of Mississippi State.

In his last year with the Bulldogs he threw 109.2 innings and had a 2.38 ERA with a record of 11-2 and 127 strikeouts.

Some projections at that time had Stratton as a potential number three starter in the big leagues. Many scouts thought he had the best breaking pitch in the 2012 draft with his devastating slider.

He began his pro career at Low-A where he had a 2.76 ERA in 16.1 innings with 16 strikeouts. The next season he started 22 games and went 9-3 with a 3.27 ERA in 132 innings with 123 strikeouts.

He split time between High-A and Double-A in 2014 and saw his ERA jump up to 4.80 in 122 innings with 120 strikeouts.

Things got a little better in 2015 when he had a 3.95 ERA in 148 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, but his K/9 dropped significantly.

Last year he had a 3.87 ERA in 125.2 innings at Triple-A before getting his first taste of the big leagues. He pitched 7 innings for the San Francisco Giants — all out of the bullpen — with a 3.60 ERA and 6 strikeouts.

He began this season at Triple-A where he made two starts, which were both rough. He then was re-called to the big leagues where he tossed three perfect innings in relief on April 22 against the Colorado Rockies.

He enters the year as the Giants 23rd best prospect according to MLB.com. I think Stratton has the ability to be a back-of-the-rotation starter. But if not, he should be a solid arm out of the bullpen for a while with the Giants.

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