San Francisco Giants: Best all-time draft picks by round

By Dallin Duffy

Jun 9, 2019

Buster Posey #28 and Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants celebrate after defeating the Kansas City Royals to win Game Seven of the 2014 World Series by a score of 3-2 at Kauffman Stadium on October 29, 2014 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

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CINCINNATI, OH – JULY 31: The glove and hat of Carlos Beltran #15 of the San Francisco Giants sit on the dugout steps during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 31, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Round 2: LHP Bob Knepper, 1972

For whatever reason, the second round has very rough for the San Francisco Giants. Their best second-round selection was technically an outfielder and future MVP Barry Bonds, but he decided not to sign with San Francisco just yet to attend school and he was drafted sixth overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates three years later.

Bob Knepper is the defacto pick. The left-hander carved out a decent career, starting 146 games across his seven years in the orange and black and ending with 53 wins and a 3.71 ERA.

Honorable Mentions: Chris Brown (1979), Kirt Manwaring (1986)

Round 3: IF Mike Benjamin, 1987

Things don’t get any better in round three, as the Giants have only ever seen 16 picks from that round reach the majors.

Mike Benjamin is the only one who saw any steady playing time in the pros so he’s the pick. He was a fringe starter/bench guy for seven years in San Francisco and his .196 average over that time was far from great. He does have the franchise record for most hits in a game with six, though, there’s that.

Honorable Mentions: Jack Armstrong (1986)