San Francisco Giants: Best MLB draft picks of the 2000s

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San Francisco Giants Buster Posey looks at something.

Giants catcher Buster Posey. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

San Francisco Giants best draft picks: No. 1 Buster Posey

As good as the other Giants to make this list have been, catcher Buster Posey still shines the brightest. And it’s no surprise he appears right next to Madison Bumgarner, as the duo make up one of the best batteries in baseball history.

Posey was taken in the first round of the 2008 draft, fifth overall, out of Florida State University. For his career, he’s been worth 41.8 WAR.

He made his debut the following season, before earning playing time in a majority of the Giants’ games in 2010. That year he was named the NL Rookie of the Year, hitting .305/.357/.505 with 18 home runs. That season alone was good for 3.9 WAR.

Since then, Posey warned the NL MVP award in 2012 and six All-Star roster appearances (2012-13 and 2015-18). That MVP year was a monster one at the plate: .336/.408/.549 for a 171 OPS+.

Posey has earned for Silver Slugger awards, and through 11 year has a line of .302/.370/.456 (128 OPS+). He has hit 140 home runs. He’s eighth in franchise history in doubles with 280.

Most amazing, while it might feel like Posey has been around forever, he’s still just in his age 33 season in 2020. He ranks 10th in franchise history in offensive WAR already and sits in a 10th place tie for defensive WAR as well. Those numbers are just going to keep climbing.