San Francisco Giants: 2019 MLB Draft Preview, Part 1
The Others: Kameron Misner, RF, Missouri and Matthew Allan, RHP, Seminole HS (Fla.)
Missouri outfielder Kameron Misner has as much upside as anyone in the 2019 draft.
That means that if he’s expected to still be available at No. 10 overall, there are some serious red flags. While he has the tools to be a star, Misner has hit a dismal .222/.353/.315 since the beginning of SEC play. That raises some obvious questions about how he’ll handle the jump to pro ball. Still, if everything clicks, the upside is tough to ignore.
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According to FanGraphs, the Giants have given Misner a long look. Since there’s a good chance he could fall to the 20s if they don’t select him, they may be able to sign to a below-slot deal.
Misner is the inverse prospect of Stott. If he reaches his ceiling he’ll be a star, but the odds of that happening are not particularly high.
Meanwhile, prep right-hander Matthew Allan is the consensus top high school pitcher in this class, but that title isn’t what it normally is.
This year’s crop of pitching may be the worst in draft history. Allan ranks outside the top 15 on both Baseball America and FanGraphs boards.
Of the prep arms, Allan doesn’t have the best stuff—that title belongs to Daniel Espino—but he’s been by far the most consistent. He has a prototypical 6’3″, 210-pound innings-eater frame with a fastball that hovers around the mid-90s with a potential 65- to 70-grade curveball.
His commitment to Florida means he probably won’t be willing to sign for much below-slot. But, if the Giants want a high school pitcher with a balance of upside and risk, Allan is probably the best choice.
Building a trade with the New York Yankees. Next
In our next draft preview piece, I’ll go over what I would do with the pick, which admittedly goes against the general consensus. Then, in the final installment, we’ll circle back to everyone that has been tied to the Giants in the first round or otherwise, on the eve of the draft. Stay tuned!